CKAV-FM-1

On June 16, Gary Farmer, on behalf of an incorporated body to be known as Aboriginal Voices Radio was granted a licence for a new Type B FM native radio station at Toronto. The station would operate on frequency 106.5 MHz, with an effective radiated power of 250 watts (not the originally planned 205 watts). AVR’s proposal to also operate on CBL’s old 740 kHz frequency with a power of 50,000 watts, was denied. That frequency was awarded to CHWO 1250 in Oakville.

AVR proposed a diversified programming schedule that would have a higher spoken word content than most commercial radio stations in Toronto. The station’s programming would include a variety of music, open line programs, round table discussions, spirituality and teachings, language and cultural lessons as well as news programs from an aboriginal perspective.

On February 2, AVR received a national Native radio programming network licence to be known as Aboriginal Voices Radio Network (AVRN). The network would broadcast primarily in English, with regular inclusion of many of Canada’s 53 Native languages, as well as French, Spanish and other languages. It would distribute the programming of the new Aboriginal Voices FM station approved for Toronto.

On June 28, AVR received an extension of time to June 16, 2002 to commence operations for the Toronto FM station.

On November 14, AVR was granted an increase in effective radiated power increase the Toronto transmitter, from 250 watts to 350 watts.

CFIE 106.5 signed on the air on December 9

On July 14, AVR was granted an increase in effective radiated power for CFIE-FM, from 350 watts to 1,100 watts. 

On June 2, CFIE-FM Toronto’s licence was renewed to March 31, 2007.

The AVRN network licence was renewed August 21.

CFIE changed its call sign to CKAV-FM-1.

Studios and offices were located at 366 Adelaide St. E. , Suite 323.

On March 30, the CRTC renewed the licences of  CKAV-FM Toronto, CKAV-FM-2 Vancouver (and its transmitter at Abbotsford), CKAV-FM-3 Calgary, and CKAV-FM-9 Ottawa to April 30, 2007. The Commission heard the applications for renewal of these licences at the October 30, 2006 Public Hearing in Regina. However, it was not able to rule on these applications before the existing licences expired.   

On August 24, the CRTC renewed the licences for the Native Type B radio programming undertakings CKAV-FM Toronto, CKAV-FM-2 Vancouver, CKAV-FM-3 Calgary, CKAV-FM-4 Edmonton and CKAV-FM-9 Ottawa from 1 September 2010 to 31 August 2012. These short-term licence renewals would enable the Commission to review, at an earlier date, the licensee’s compliance with the Radio Regulations, 1986 and its conditions of licence. The Commission also imposed a mandatory order pursuant to section 12(2) of the Broadcasting Act requiring the licensee to comply at all times with the requirements contained in section 9(2) of the Radio Regulations, 1986, which deal with the filing of annual returns. 

CKAV changed its name from AVR to Voices 106.3.

On June 22, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CKAV-FM Toronto, until November 30, 2012.

On November 29, the CRTC renewed the broadcasting licences for the Type B Native radio stations CKAV-FM Toronto, CKAV-FM-2 Vancouver, CKAV-FM-3 Calgary, CKAV-FM-4 Edmonton and CKAV-FM-9 Ottawa, to August 31, 2015. This short-term renewal would enable the Commission to assess at an earlier date the licensee’s compliance with the Radio Regulations, 1986 and its conditions of licence.

On June 25, the CRTC revoked the broadcasting licences for the Type B Native radio stations CKAV-FM Toronto, CKAV-FM-2 Vancouver, CKAV-FM-3 Calgary, CKAV-FM-4 Edmonton and CKAV-FM-9 Ottawa held by Aboriginal Voices Radio Inc., effective 25 July 2015. The licensee would have to cease broadcasting by no later than the end of the broadcast day on that date. The Commission’s decision to revoke was based on AVR’s repeated and serious non-compliance with its regulatory obligations over four consecutive licence terms, as well as the Commission’s complete lack of confidence in the licensee’s ability to broadcast in compliance with those obligations going forward and therefore meet the unique needs of Aboriginal people. For the most recent licence term, AVR admitted to the following instances of non-compliance at the 13 May 2015 public hearing: failure to file complete and accurate program logs and logger tapes, failure to file annual returns for the 2013-2014 broadcast year for its five stations, failure to broadcast regular daily local newscasts on each station that included at least five distinct local news stories of direct and particular relevance to the Aboriginal community within the market served, failure to file complete annual updates on the achievement of its business objectives, and failure to file audited financial statements for each of its stations.

The Federal Court of Appeal granted Aboriginal Voices Radio a reprieve to the CRTC’s order that it shut down its radio stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. The four stations would remain on the air until a final disposition of the matter.