CFED-FM

On January 6, the CRTC approved the application by Société Radio Communautaire du Grand Edmonton Society for a broadcasting licence to operate a French-language community FM radio station targeting the French-language official language minority community in Edmonton, including French-speaking people of all ages and cultures, new immigrants and Francophiles. The station would broadcast 126 hours of programming each broadcast week, including at least 92.5 hours of local programming produced by and for the French-language OLMC in Edmonton. The remaining programming would originate from Réseau francophone d’Amérique and Radio France International. The licence would expire 31 August 2023, and the station would operate at 97.9 MHz (channel 250A1) with an average effective radiated power of 113 watts (maximum ERP of 180 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 38 metres). The station would broadcast 46 hours of spoken word programming each broadcast week, including 2.5 hours of local and regional news. In addition, it would devote 22% of its musical selections to a range of special interest music (world beat and international, jazz and blues, folk and folk-oriented, concert and non-classic religious music) and at least 63% of its musical selections each broadcast week to selections from emerging Canadian artists. With respect to volunteer training and participation, the applicant stated that it had met and developed partnerships with different organizations and entities representing the French-language Edmonton OLCM to solicit participation from volunteers. Training would be provided by employees, and the station would provide evaluations and tutoring to the volunteers on a regular basis.

CFED-FM Radio Cité 97,9 signed on the air October 6. The station launched with almost $700,000 in grants including $400,000 from Western Economic Diversification, $296,000 from Canadian Heritage and over $46,000 from the Community Radio Fund of Canada.