August 23, 2024: A small group (plus another well-behaved pup) gathered to learn all about our community radio CHiR.fm. President of the Gulf Islands Community Radio Society, Damian Inwood, was familiar to many of us as a regular ASK Salt Spring participant, interviewing our special guests after most gatherings. (Interested? Check out ASK Salt Spring Answered: https://chir.fm/answered.) Damian was joined by society Secretary Charley Miller and Treasurer David Crouch. We also owe thanks to facilitator Sheila Dobie and notetaker Julie Thomson for their invaluable contributions to this gathering.

After a Territorial Acknowledgement by Damian, speaking of the power of Indigenous communities helping one another in troubled times, we learned a bit about the history of our new local radio station, CHiR.fm.

The Gulf Islands Community Radio Society was formed in 2015 after the previous Salt Spring station, CFSI, had failed and had its licence revoked by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, CRTC (https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/home-accueil.htm). When asked if any of the equipment from the previous station could be used, we were told that it was all gone, requiring this group to begin from scratch. The new society is completely separate from the old station and is a non-profit society, run by a volunteer board.

Getting a new licence has been both complicated and expensive, requiring, among other things, a complete engineering study ensuring the location of the transmitters do not encroach upon any other radio station signals. Costing $25,000 and taking several years to complete, it was completed in 2018. 

The next challenge for these volunteers was completing the complex CRTC application requiring a dizzying number of sections including a description of programming as well as the demographics of its audience. This application took three months of hard work to complete. Luckily, volunteers were helped by the National Council of Campus Radio Association, who offered invaluable advice and support.

This CRTC application was submitted in 2018. Delayed by Covid for several years, CRTC responded with additional questions. Finally, in 2022, all issues were resolved, and our CHiR.fm received it licence. Even with this licence, CRTC requirements will continue: Our station must report every song broadcast, as well as documenting a wide variety of information such as the amount of Canadian content. Additionally, at least 15% of our programming must be the spoken word.

As a community-owned, nonprofit society rather than a privately-owned initiative, its elected volunteer board, plus approximately a dozen hardworking volunteers, have raised the funds needed. Since 2015, more than $150,000 has been raised for capital and operating costs.

They have raised $50K for the equipment which is still being installed, due to an unforeseen delay at the Mt. Belcher tower. Local donations have also funded the studio in the portable at SIMS (former Middle School), soundproofing it and purchasing complicated equipment and software as well as supporting rental costs. Although funding has been difficult, locals have been generous. Additionally, the Local Community Commission has just approved a Grant-in-Aid to allow purchase of required emergency alert equipment.

The sale of records and cds every Saturday from 11am to 3pm at its SIMS station has helped dramatically. (Want to sell interesting vinyl? Volunteers are needed to staff the Saturday sales. Contact Damian: damianinwood@shaw.ca.) Locals have donated thousands of CDs and albums, DVDs, audio equipment, turntables, etc. So successful, the SIMS record shop has become the place to go on Salt Spring for recorded music. Have something to donate? Do it!

Every dollar raised goes to getting our radio station on the air. 

When asked about other funding sources, like foundations, we learned that radio stations are not allowed to become registered charities, denying eligibility to these helpful sources of funding.

Always seeking innovative fundraising options, one of their most successful has been the launch of VIP membership – Club 107.9. Over 70 people have already become CHiR.fm VIPs. By donating $107.90, these VIPs get a variety of benefits that include recording their own greeting on the air, getting priority to host their own radio show, receiving invitations to events, and getting record/cd discounts.

Our guests remarked that they can hardly believe that many of them have worked diligently for almost a decade to get our station up and running. Success is finally in sight, only awaiting solutions to complexities with the tower to hit the airwaves. When asked if all Salt Springers will be able to listen when the station is on air, Damian responded that, due to the two antenna panels at Mount Belcher and a repeater station on Mt. Bruce, 95% of our islanders should be able to listen live. Broadcasting to the other Gulf Islands as well, Damian estimated that up to 20,000 will be able to listen to our station. Wryly admitting that it would be far easier on the prairies, our guests are pleased that they have successfully addressed Salt Spring topography issues in addition to other challenges.

“So, what programming can we anticipate?” Streaming since 2017, CHiR.fm already offers a number of hosted as well as music shows. As soon as our station goes live, a rich programme of shows have already been developed with 25 locally-produced shows from 6:00 am until midnight, expected to involve 35-40 locals. (The rest of the programming will be syndicated shows.) 

We learned that CHiR.fm is still seeking additional programming, with a focus on local First Nations, LBGTQ, and French language topics. Plans are to eventually send a reporter to Local Community Commission and Islands Trust meetings, broadcast music events and to cover author gatherings at the Library. A four-part housing series is also being developed.

“Where can we find you when you go live?” CHiR.FM will use FM107.9 as the main signal, with a repeater on FM102.1 in the south planned for next year.

As a totally volunteer-run initiative, a participant asked about succession planning. Damian said he plans to stay on as president for now and has not had the time to even think about this. But, once our station is live and the fun stuff replaces the hard development work, he is confident that volunteer recruitment will be far easier. Want to volunteer? Contact Damian at damianinwood@shaw.ca.

While our station will always be volunteer-driven, Damian envisions eventually hiring a station manager as well as an advertising/sales professional for day-to-day operation of our station. David clarified that finances are good to cover initial operating expenses but to have paid staff will require a revised business model.

As our time together was coming to an end, a participant asked about CHiR.fm‘s role in emergencies. We learned that a requirement of its CRTC licence is to provide emergency announcements. With backup power during outages, our guests are confident that the station is robust enough to be able to broadcast during emergencies.

Near our local CRD Salt Spring Island Emergency Program (https://www.crd.bc.ca/service/fire-and-emergency-programs/ssi-emergency-program), also located in SIMS, our radio station will get emergency information as soon as it is available. They may also broadcast non-emergency alerts such as unusually high tides or road closures.

Our special guests closed by reminding us all that volunteers and funding are still needed. Participants thanked our guests for their vision, tenacity in the face of daunting challenges, unfailing enthusiasm, and success getting our radio station up and running, (Thanks Damian, Charley, and David.)