CIWN-FM

On September 17, the CRTC approved an application by Saugeen Community Radio Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language community FM radio station in Mount Forest and Wellington North. The proposed station would operate at 88.7 MHz (channel 204A) with an effective radiated power of 1,648 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 73.1 metres). The licence would expire August 31, 2020.

Saugeen proposed to broadcast 126 hours of programming each broadcast week, of which 120 hours would be local, including 4 hours of Christian programming. The remaining programming would originate from the community station CFBW-FM Bluewater (5 hours) and from the Canadian Press (1 hour). Saugeen noted that it was its intention over time to replace 5 hours of programming from CFBW-FM with additional local programs produced by volunteers from the municipality of Wellington North. It further stated that it would adhere to a condition of licence requiring it to devote at least 40% of all selections from content category 2 (Popular Music) in each broadcast week to Canadian selections.

Spark FM (CIWN-FM – Saugeen Radio) began broadcasting with an Eclectic format in the fall.

In February, CIWN rebranded as The River.

John Harada (65) passed away on July 15. Harada worked at numerous stations over the span of a 35-year career – CKWR Waterloo, CFGO Ottawa, CKFM Toronto, CFCA and CKKW Waterloo, CKUL Halifax, CIHR Woodstock, and CFGX Sarnia. For the past three years, up until eight months ago when he started hosting mornings at WSRQ in Sarasota, Florida, Harada was the voice of afternoon drive on CIWN-FM.