CKAV-FM 8

On May 14, the CRTC approved an application by Aboriginal Voices Radio Inc. for an FM radio station in Kitchener-Waterloo that would feature programming in English, French and Aboriginal languages (English-, French- and Aboriginal-language Native Type B FM). The applicant proposed to operate the station at 102.5 MHz (channel 273A) with an effective radiated power of 460 watts. AVR was the licensee of a Native FM radio station in Toronto. The Commission had also approved applications by AVR for radio stations to be operated in Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver, although none of those three undertakings was yet in operation. AVR was also the licensee of Aboriginal Voices Radio Network (AVRN), which would distribute the programming of its Toronto station to other AVR radio stations. The programming proposed for Kitchener-Waterloo would be primarily that of AVRN, originating with the Toronto station. Launched in December 2002, it was broadcasting primarily Aboriginal music with no commercial messages, some news and a community events calendar. Full programming on the AVRN network would be available in March 2003, and distributed to each of the AVR stations as they were launched.

CKAV-FM-8 Signed on the air.

AVR surrendered its licenses for CKAV-FM-8 Kitchener and CKAV-FM-10 Montreal.