Access Communications Co-operative announced last week the membership of Regina’s only community radio station, 91.3 FM CJTR, voted overwhelmingly in favour of transferring ownership of the station to Access in a vote held during a special meeting on April 16.
Several months ago, the non-profit organization that runs the station, Radius Communications, presented Access with the opportunity to own the station to preserve community radio, says an Access press release. CJTR was facing financial hardship and was looking for an alternative operating model, the release explains.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to the CJTR membership for entrusting us with this responsibility,” Carmela Haines, president and CEO of Access, said in the release. “Access remains committed to upholding CJTR’s mission to give voice to the community through diverse and unique programming created and delivered by volunteers.”
The community radio station has served the Regina area since 2001 and is almost entirely volunteer run, with two staff members and 80 programmers creating 60 shows and 5,000 hours of original programming annually, according to the release. As part of the station ownership transfer, CJTR’s staff will be joining Access Communications.
“Thank you to the membership for approving the transfer of ownership, this is an important moment in our station’s history,” CJTR station manager Neil Adams said in a statement. “We have worked hard to find new ways to keep the station going. For the first time in a long time, we can finally begin to focus on the future, growing our impact, and solidifying our place in the community under Access’ ownership.”
Access still needs to obtain CRTC approval for the ownership transfer and a community broadcast licence. CJTR will continue to broadcast under its current licence in the meantime, Access says.
Image borrowed from Access Communications Co-operative’s website.
