CHIM-FM

The idea for CHIM-FM was conceived by Roger de Brabant. At the time Christian broadcasting was illegal in Canada. 

The CRTC announced n June 3, that Christian radio stations would now be allowed in Canada. 

On October 27, Roger de Brabant, on behalf of a company to be incorporated was awarded a licence for a new English-language (Specialty) FM radio station at Timmins. It would broadcast on the frequency 102.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 84 watts. Mr. de Brabant proposed a locally-produced service operated entirely by volunteer staff. It would showcase Christian music 24 hours a day, with live on-air hosts during the morning drive period on weekdays. The applicant’s proposal included a commitment to broadcast the service entirely without commercial content, including any solicitation of funds.

CHIM-FM began testing on 102.3 MHz on Christmas Eve. 

CHIM-FM (“See-HIM”) officially signed on the air at 8:15 a.m. on April 7. 

On February 3, an application was denied for Roger de Brabant on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated to operate an FM low-power station at Timmins.The new station would have offered a variety (pop, rock, dance, contemporary, country) music format. The applicant already operated CHIM-FM in the market.

On April 17, Roger de Brabant (OBCI) received approval for a low-power FM station at Timmins, operating on the frequency 101.5 MHz, with an effective radiated power of 32 watts.

The CRTC approved applications by de Brabant’s 1158556 Ontario Ltd. to add rebroadcast transmitters for CHIM-FM at North Bay, Ontario (92.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 50 watts) and Red Deer, Alberta (93.1 MHz with ERP of 50 watts) on June 7. 

Roger de Brabant’s application to operate an FM station in Toronto was turned down by the federal regulator on June 16.  

On January 11, new low-power FM rebroadcast transmitters for CHIM-FM were approved for operation at Iroquois Falls (102.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 1.6 watts) and Kirkland Lake (99.1 MHz with ERP of 1.6 watts). CRTC approval was given January 25 for the addition of CHIM-FM transmitters at New Liskeard (103.5 MHz with effective radiated power of 1.3 watts) and Sault Ste. Marie (97.3 MHz with ERP of 50 watts).  On March 20, the CRTC approved the addition of rebroadcast transmitters for CHIM at Chapleau (92.7 MHz with effective radiated power of 1.3 watts), Elliot Lake (92.5 MHz with ERP of 1.3 watts) and Wawa (92.5 MHz with ERP of 1.3 watts). 

On July 9, CHIM-FM’s application to add a transmitter at Vancouver (92.9 MHz with ERP of 38 watts) was denied.

CRTC approval was given October 11 for CHIM-FM to add a rebroadcast transmitter at Kapuskasing, operating on 92.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 1.5 watts.

CHIM-FM applied to move its Kapuskasing transmitter. The relocation was due to the closure of the Kapuskasing Inn, the original transmitter site. The move was approved by the CRTC on December 18.

CHIM-FM received permission to change the location of its Sault Ste. Marie transmitter site from 360 Great Northern Road to 138 East Street. Antenna height would decrease from 56 to 9 metres. The move was required because the owner of the Great Northern Road tower changed his mind and no longer wanted CHIM’s equipment on his property. The Sault Ste. Marie transmitter had been in operation for four years. 

On January 23, the CRTC denied CHIM’s application for the operation of a transmitter at Cochrane. If it had been approved, the new transmitter would have operated at 102.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 37 watts. In its recent evaluation of CHIM-FM’s licence renewal application, the Commission found that, during the licence term under consideration, the licensee had been in non-compliance with section 9(2) of the Radio Regulations, 1986 pertaining to the filing of annual reports as well as with its condition of licence requiring contributions to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ former Canadian talent development plan. Accordingly, the Commission imposed a short-term licence renewal on CHIM-FM from January 1, 2008 to August 31, 2011.

On August 31, the CRTC renewed the licence of CHIM-FM Timmins and its transmitters CHIM-FM-1 North Bay, CHIM-FM-2 Iroquois Falls, CHIM-FM-3 Kirkland Lake, CHIM-FM-4 New Liskeard, CHIM-FM-5 Red Deer, CHIM-FM-6 Sault Ste. Marie, CHIM-FM-7 Elliot Lake, CHIM-FM-8 Chapleau, CHIM-FM-9 Wawa and CHIM-FM-10 Kapuskasing, until August 31, 2012. This short-term renewal would allow for an earlier review of the licensee’s compliance with the Radio Regulations, 1986 and its conditions of licence. The Commission also issued mandatory orders pursuant to section 12(2) of the Broadcasting Act requiring the licensee to comply at all times with the requirements set out in section 9(2) of the Regulations, which relates to the filing of annual returns, and with sections 15(2) and 15(4) of the Regulations, which relate to contributions to Canadian content development initiatives.

On June 22, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CHIM-FM Timmins and its transmitters CHIM-FM-1 North Bay, CHIM-FM-2 Iroquois Falls, CHIM-FM-3 Kirkland Lake, CHIM-FM-4 New Liskeard, CHIM-FM-5 Red Deer, CHIM-FM-6 Sault Ste. Marie, CHIM-FM-7 Elliot Lake, CHIM-FM-8 Chapleau, CHIM-FM-9 Wawa and CHIM-FM-10 Kapuskasing, until November 30, 2012. 

On October 23, the CRTC denied the application to renew the licence for CHIM-FM Timmins and its transmitters CHIM-FM-1 North Bay, CHIM-FM -2 Iroquois Falls, CHIM-FM-3 Kirkland Lake, CHIM-FM-4 New Liskeard, CHIM-FM-5 Red Deer, CHIM-FM-6 Sault Ste. Marie, CHIM-FM-7 Elliot Lake, CHIM-FM-8 Chapleau, CHIM-FM-9 Wawa and CHIM-FM-10 Kapuskasing, which were to expire November 30, 2012. The Commission was unconvinced as to the seriousness with which the licensee took its regulatory obligations. The Commission was similarly not convinced that the licensee’s attitude toward its regulatory obligations would change going forward. The Commission reviewed the various measures it could adopt to ensure that broadcasting licensees meet their obligations where it finds that they are in non-compliance, such as mandatory orders, short-term renewal, suspension and non-renewal of the licence. In this instance it was clear that the licensee was not complying with a mandatory order and a condition of licence that were imposed only a year ago. The licensee’s approach to its regulatory obligations over the course of the licence term left the Commission with no reason to believe that it would comply with either its present obligations or new ones if it were granted even a short-term renewal. The Commission was similarly not convinced that a suspension would be effective as there was no evidence to suggest that the licensee would not revert to its present practices once it resumed broadcasting. Accordingly, in line with the current expiry date of CHIM-FM’s broadcasting licence, the licensee must cease broadcasting by no later than the end of the broadcast day on 30 November 2012.