Please note our AGM held Dec 1st 7 PM at Robert’s.
Minutes
Directors Elected
Ken Zakreski
Gerry Mountain
John Hague
John Roman
Financial Statements presented
Archive for November, 2011
Ottawa, 2 November 2011
Gabriola Radio Society
Gabriola Island, British Columbia
Application 2010-1554-5, received 14 October 2010
Public hearing in the National Capital Region
18 July 2011
English-language community
FM radio station in Gabriola Island
The Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language community FM radio station in Gabriola Island, British Columbia.
MEDIA ADVISORY
November 12 2011
A small step for the CRTC, a giant leap for community radio on Gabriola Island
After more than a decade of drafting endless applications, holding dozens of public meetings, putting on fundraiser after fundraiser and negotiating with broadcasting industry giants, a small group of dedicated volunteers has finally succeeded in getting approval from the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission for Gabriola’s very own community run radio station, CKGI 98.7 FM.
“It’s almost unbelievable,” says Ken Zakreski, President of the Gabriola Radio Society. “All the hard work paid off at last. I want to thank everyone in the community, everyone who has donated time and money, and all the legal and technical experts who offered us their help, for their support.” Community is what will define CKGI, adds Zakreski. “CKGI has been created by Gabriolans, with immensely generous financial and in-kind support provided by local musicians and performers, as well as safety groups like the Gabriola Island Fire Trustees and by technical experts who support community radio.” Once CKGI is on the air, says Zakreski, the station will be showcasing local artists, broadcasting community notices and providing valuable up-to-the-minute information in emergency situations, among the services it will offer.
The hard work isn’t over for Zakreski and his fellow volunteers. CKGI has 18 months to establish the radio service, but Zakreski is confident that’s achievable. “The budget to get us up and running is $320,000, which will cover the cost of setting up a tower, studio and offices. Our estimated annual running costs will be $58,000.” CKGI is hoping to cover the running costs through a portion of property taxes following a referendum. If that doesn’t pan out, those sums will have to come from fundraising efforts and on-air advertising. “We’re planning our first big fundraiser of the year, on January 7 2012, entitled ‘You Turn Me On - I’m a Radio.’ We’re looking for musicians and performers willing to donate their efforts to the show, as well as volunteers to help work the show, by the way,” adds Zakreski.
CKGI also has to prepare for public hearings regarding the siting of its tower by Industry Canada, and finalize a suitable studio space. “We will be discussing all of this with Gabriolans as we go along, just as we have the whole way through,” says Zakreski. “After all, it’s going to be Gabriola’s community radio station, and we’d like as many people as possible to be part of it.”
In the meantime, CKGI invites everyone to join in the January 7 celebration of its hard-won right to broadcast through what Zakreski hopes will eventually become: “one of the finest community radio stations in Canada.”
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The Shingle cover
THE LITTLE STATION THAT DID
CRTC approves Gabe radio application
Monday, November 7, 2011
It took 11 years from concept to getting permission to proceed, but Gabriola Radio Society (GRS) got the green light from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecomunications Commission Wednesday to start up a community radio station on Gabriola.
In a Thursday interview, GRS President and instigator Ken Zakreski listed some of the hurdles the society has overcome along the way, including having numerous shows to raise money, waiting for the CBC to complete an application for a bandwidth, disputes with Rogers over bandwidth, amending and resubmitting applications, and finally waiting for the CRTC to make a decision on whether they would accept GRS’s application.
What’s next, Zakreski said, is “continuing with the plan”, beginning with their Jan. 7 “You turn me on – I’m a radio” fundraiser to kick off a year in which the society aims to raise $320,000 to establish a tower, studio, and offices on Gabriola. He said the show, which will be at the Haven, will begin with “an all-ages variety show, followed by an adult-oriented show”.
The society will also submit their proposal to the Islands Trust to erect a tower at the end of Chernoff Drive, Zakreski said, which will require a public meeting and approval from the federal minister.
Zakreski said they are looking for locations in the Village core at which to locate their studio. He said it needs to be somewhere close to the library. And close to a coffee shop. He said they have three potential locations short-listed.
As for the near future, Zakreski said “we are calling for volunteers for the show on Jan. 7”. He said performers, front-of-house volunteers, and someone to coordinate a silent auction are all needed to help out.
Zakreski said: “Thanks to everyone for their ongoing support – it took quite a bit of ‘keep on going’ to keep going”.
The station will be CKGI at 98.7 on the FM band.
Online source: www.FlyingShingle.com/cgi-bin/coranto/viewnews.cgi?id=20111107560155337586
