CIWS-FM

On September 11, WhiStle Community Radio (the capital ‘S” is deliberate)  was licensed to operate a low-power English-language Type B community FM station in Whitchurch-Stouffville. The station would broadcast 126 hours of programming during each broadcast week, including at least 119 hours of programming produced by the station and seven hours of programs acquired from other community stations. The primary language would be English, but the station would also devote at least two hours of programming during each broadcast week to French-language programs. Local programming would reflect the needs and interests of the community, including local and regional news, amateur sports, weather, emergency information, community announcements, interviews exploring issues of local concerns, current events, features and coverage of local council meetings or other community meetings of interest. As to music, the station would draw from a broad range of categories, including country, folk, jazz, blues and children’s music, and would broadcast live performances from local music venues. The new station would operate on a frequency of 102.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 50 watts.

WhiStle Community Radio received permission from the CRTC to change the antenna site. The station had proposed to use the Stouffville clock tower but would now use the flag pole at 34 Civic Avenue in Stouffville.

CIWS 102.7 “WhiStle Radio” signed on the air March 17. The station had originally planned to use the call letters CJIM. 

On November 29, the CRTC denied an application by WhiStle Community Radio to change the authorized contours of CIWS-FM, by changing the class from LP to A, changing the antenna’s radiation pattern from non-directional to directional, increasing the average effective radiated power from 50 to 193 watts (maximum ERP from 50 to 675 watts) and increasing the antenna’s effective height above average terrain from 12 to 138 metres. WCR noted it had recently concluded an agreement with the Whitchurch-Stouffville fire department, the York Regional Police and Emergency Message Services to be the emergency broadcaster. The applicant submitted that the amendment was necessary for CIWS-FM to be able to serve the entire geographic area within the municipal boundaries of the town of Whitchurch-Stouffville and function as the emergency broadcaster in the event of emergency situations, including major power outages. WCR further submitted that the proposed technical change would enable that station to provide a better advertising venue for local businesses.

On November 5, the CRTC denied CIWS-FM’s application to increase the average ERP from 50 to 175 watts (maximum ERP from 50 to 1,000 watts), change the antenna’s radiation pattern from non-directional to directional, and increase the EHAAT from 12 to 30 metres, and to relocate the transmitter.

On April 11, the CRTC approved an application by WhiStle Community Radio to amend the broadcasting licence for CIWS-FM in order to change the frequency from 102.7 MHz (channel 274LP) to 102.9 MHz (channel 275LP). WhiStle was required to vacate 102.7 MHz. The frequency change proposed would allow it to continue operating CIWS-FM.

In the spring, CIWS made the move from 102.9 to 102.7 MHz with power of 50 watts. The move was necessitated by the approval of a new station in Scarborough, using the old CIWS frequency.