CICW-FM

On April 29, the CRTC approved the application by Centre Wellington Community Radio Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language community FM radio station in Elora and Fergus. CWCR was a not-for-profit corporation controlled by its board of directors. The station would operate at 92.9 MHz (channel 225A1) with an average effective radiated power of 85 watts (maximum ERP of 200 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 54.2 metres). The applicant indicated that, during each broadcast week, the station would broadcast 126 hours of programming, of which a minimum of 121 hours would be locally produced. The programming would include spoken word and musical selections. CWCR indicated that the spoken word programming would consist of weather, news and sports. Additionally, CWCR would develop programs to serve the interests of the community. Centre on Wellington, an example of such a program, would discuss a variety of issues on economic development, as well as proceedings at municipal council meetings, elections and other special events. The station’s musical programming would be drawn from a range of content category 2 and 3 musical selections, including specialty music programs. The applicant indicated that it would be prepared to accept a requirement, as a condition of licence, that it devote during each broadcast week not less than 40% of its musical selections from content category 2 to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety. With respect to the promotion of local Canadian talent, the applicant stated that it would work with local organizations to develop broadcast features that could be scheduled and promoted to listeners. Additionally, CWCR would promote emerging Canadian talent through its local programming initiatives by showcasing the music and biographical information of emerging artists and, wherever possible, by featuring locally and regionally based artists. CWCR stated that it was committed to the development of volunteers and that volunteers would play an important role in the operation of the station. Station duties would include hosting music shows and spoken word programs, delivering news, creating features, engaging in radio production and other related duties. Further, the applicant would have a volunteer committee, under the guidance of a volunteer coordinator, to encourage community participation in the operation of the station. The licence would expire August 31, 2017.

On October 28, Centre Wellington Community Radio Inc. received CRTC approval to change the authorized contours of the new community station approved earlier in the year. The applicant proposed to decrease the average effective radiated power from 85 to 46 watts, decrease the maximum ERP from 200 to 150 watts, decrease the antenna’s effective height above average terrain from 54.2 to 49.1 metres and relocate the antenna and transmitter site.

CICW-FM 92.9 was testing late in the year and was expected to launch in January.

The station began broadcasting as The Grand @ 92.9. Studios and offices were located at 198 St. Andrew St. W. (Suite 200) in Fergus.

Vic Folliott with Hilary Eastmure (news) and Matt Harris (sports) hosted the morning show between 6 and 10 a.m. Larry Peters handled the afternoon drive show from 3 to 7 p.m. Weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., CICW featured feel good music – “Favorites of Yesterday and Today” along with local news, weather, sports, cancellations and emergency messages, community guests and more. Evenings the Grand @ 92.9 featured information programming, arts, sports, local events, and music programming including Blues,Classic Rock, Folk, Bluegrass, Country and Classical. The Gardening Show with Daisy Moore aired Saturdays at 10 a.m. Race Time Radio was heard Wednesday nights at 7.Larry Peters and Let’s Talk Classic Rock aired Tuesdays from 8 to 10 p.m. Classic Country Saturday afternoons with Brian and and an 80’s show with Scott Jensen, aired Saturday nights. Concert on the Grand (Classical Music) aired Sunday nights and the Sounds of Scotland with Andrew McBride aired Sunday nights. Jazz musician Tim Louis hosted a show on Mondays from 9 to 10 p.m.

Scott Jensen was president. He was one of the founding members of CKWR-FM. Vic Folliott was vice president. He was involved over the years with stations in London, Kitchener and Brantford. Bill Valedis was a director and was involved with CKWR-FM. Larry Peters was also a director. He was a producer with TV Cogeco in Fergus and had worked in radio in Orangeville and Guelph. Bonnie Wiatr, director, and has worked at Kitchener’s KICX-FM. Director Rick Goodfellow was a former teacher and business owner.

On September 10, the CRTC approved CICW-FM’s application to change the frequency to 101.1 MHz. ERP would increase from 45 to 750 watts (150 to 2,500 watts maximum) and EHAAT would remain 49 metres.

On March 28 at 6:00 a.m., Grand 92.9 became Grand 101 when the switch in frequency to 101.1 MHz officially took place.