OTTAWA – The Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC) has elected Roger Ouellette as its new president. He is replacing Jean-François Côté, who has completed three consecutive terms, one as president.
Ouellette, pictured, is a professor of political science at l’Universite de Moncton and has extensive skills in the areas of communications, government relations, not-for-profit governance, and community radio, reads the announcement. He is also a founding director of the CRFC in 2007, and joined the current board of directors in 2010.
“From town to town, most radio — whether it is public or commercial — sounds just like the radio you find in big urban centres. It doesn’t reflect regional and local diversity,” said Ouellette, in the announcement. “The programming of each community radio station is produced and hosted by local staff and volunteers from different backgrounds, all of whom make their own editorial decisions. We are grassroots organizations reflecting the opinions and interests of local communities.”
Ouellette added that his first priority will be to bring new streams of funding into the organization in order to help the 178 licenced campus and community radio stations secure resources for operating and equipment costs.
