CKTZ-FM

The Cortes Island Radio Society was formed, and out of this came Cortes Community Radio.

On October 18, the CRTC approved an application by Cortes Community Radio Society for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language community FM radio station in Cortes Island. CCRS was a not-for-profit corporation controlled by its board of directors. The station would operate on frequency 89.5 MHz (channel 208A1) with an effective radiated power of 80 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height above average terrain of 104.3 metres). CCRS indicated that the station would broadcast 126 hours of programming during each broadcast week, including 106 hours of station-produced programming and a maximum of 20 hours of acquired programming from other community and campus stations. Spoken word programming would consist of news, as well as educational programming and programming concerning local politics, public issues requiring community involvement, weather, local emergencies and social events. The station’s musical programming would be drawn from a range of content from categories 2 (Popular Music) and 3 (Special Interest Music), including specialty music programs. The applicant indicated that it would be prepared to accept a condition of licence requiring it to devote no less than 40% of its musical selections from content category 2 in each broadcast week to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety. The applicant stated that volunteers would play an important role in the operation of the station, including hosting music shows and spoken word programs, delivering news and creating features and radio productions. CCRS stated that given that it would have between 35 and 100 permanent volunteers operating the station all year long, it would place great emphasis on the training of volunteers by allowing them to attend professional conferences and providing them with continuous training opportunities. The licence would expire August 31, 2018.

CKTZ-FM was on the air before the end of the month but announced at the start of November that it had suspended broadcasting to comply with Industry Canada regulations regarding the testing of its facilities. CKTZ would be off the air for a few weeks, which would be followed by a period of on-air testing. Broadcast testing began on December 8.

The station signed on the air December 30. CKTZ was on the air 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and served Cortes, Quadra, Maurielle, and Read islands as well as Campbell River and Lund. The station offered many live locally made programs as well as a very eclectic mix of automated music.