5 minute read
KOOTENAY CO-OP RADIO CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
Jan Inglis and David Everest in the KCR studio, ca. 1999. Photo: Fred Rosenberg
by Bill Macpherson
Think about it. A quarter century is a long time.
Now, consider starting a local radio station from scratch, growing it continuously while embracing the town (now small city) and its residents fully, expanding to service a region and in the process moving not once, not twice, but five times. Absolutely, that’s cause for some well-deserved pats on the back.
Which is exactly what Kootenay Co-op Radio (KCR) intends to do this year if all goes as planned. And rest assured, the milestone will be celebrated. Marked with more than a desultory cake with a plastic 25 in the middle, certainement. This celebration will be ongoing throughout the year—fun and inclusive.
After all, it’s quite the accomplishment.
“The seed of the idea started even earlier than twenty-five years ago,” says co-founder, former station manager and current programmer Zoë Creighton. “A bunch of us thought a local radio station would act as a catalyst for the community, so we took the bull by the horns and said, ‘Let’s make it happen!’ We definitely didn’t know the magnitude of our undertaking, which was probably a good thing.”
Early pioneers beside Creighton included Terry Brennan, Tara Cunningham and Anne DeGrace. Getting a licence from the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) was a struggle unto itself. The volunteers found creative ways to maintain momentum, “trialling” their broadcasts prior to the licence being formally granted.
“We started out in 1999 in the station manor, that lovely Victorian home on the northwest corner of Vernon and Baker,” said Creighton. “Next move—and you can imagine what moving a radio station with its studios, equipment and the like entails—was to the building that now houses the Yellow Deli. Then to the Jam Factory, then to the corner brick building at Front and Hall.
“The running joke was that we kept creeping eastward but always near the tracks. Finally, we purchased our present location through the generosity of members who set up Friends of Kootenay Coop Radio to creatively finance the deal. We renovated the upstairs completely and,” she laughs, “here is where we intend to stay!”
It is indeed a cosy and welcoming space. Improvements continue to be undertaken though. Currently, the downstairs is being renovated to create a live performance venue for events that are brought in by KCR members—indigenous drumming, storytelling, spoken word, poetry/story slams—in short, anything that brings people together and fosters inclusivity.
Being part of the community and welcoming residents to participate has been a long-standing raison d’être for KCR. It has always been member-owned and member-operated, relying heavily on volunteers and support from the greater community to broadcast 24/7, 365 days of the year.
Indeed, there are only three paid staff members: operations & programming manager Ed Zych; advertising & sponsorship coordinator Amélie Saquet-Davidson; and administrator Paula Shandro. Nearly 100 volunteers keep the station eclectic, vibrant and humming.
Some of the program hosts have been with KCR since the beginning; being connected with and attuned to the needs of community organizations and their clientele is extremely important to all involved.
“Our on-air folks come from all walks of life,” says Saquet-Davidson with evident pride. “We have students from the high school, seniors, people with disabilities, artists. Our intent is to work collaboratively with organizations and be reflective of the uniqueness of the West Kootenay communities we call home.”
Another palpable cause for celebration this year is the recent partnership with internet service provider Columbia Wireless, allowing KCR to broadcast from a tower high up on Elephant Mountain. Zych was instrumental in making this project a reality and enthuses over the resulting technical improvement.
“Now listeners in the southwest as well as in the Slocan Valley can tune in, thanks to the new transmitter. We’ve even heard from listeners in the Christina Lake area. It has really expanded our audience, something we’re always trying to do. Eventually, the hope is that every West Kootenay resident can tune in to us.”
Digital outreach numbers are impressive. Although thousands of online followers are currently blocked due to Meta’s response to Bill C-18, KCR connects with 2,000 newsletter subscribers and averages 4,000 website visits monthly. With a legion of devotedly loyal listeners, KCR is the pulse of the West Kootenay.
It’s something they take pride in being, and the intent is to mark the anniversary and collective accomplishments with listener/ community-focused events. The scope of the events is dependent on funding approval but here are some that are in the works:
A book project celebrating the station’s highlights over the years and featuring a raft of Fred Rosenberg photos;
Collectors’ item design work—riffing on the 25th anniversary— that will grace merchandise available for purchase;
An invitation for residents to submit their thoughts on why a community radio station is personally important. The testimonials will be posted on KCR’s website;
A series of monthly interactions for patrons and programmers in local pubs/cafés;
A series of live concerts in the downstairs space and, fingers crossed, a one-time concert at a larger venue.
So, renew your membership, support this most worthy operation in every way and celebrate a quarter century of music, information, culture and inclusivity from a revered local icon.
Kootenay Co-op Radio, 308A Hall St., Nelson, kootenaycoopradio.com
93.5 FM Nelson, 101.5 FM Lower Slocan Valley/Castlegar, 107.5 FM New Denver/Silverton, 96.5 FM Crawford Bay/North Kootenay Lake
