Michelle DaCruz
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 24/02) - Radio Taiga is barely a year old, but it is already receiving kudos.

CIVR, 103.5 FM, proudly accepted a 2001 Language Leadership award for their dedicated promotion of the French language in Yellowknife.

Sylvie Boisclair, station co-ordinator, said it is a well deserved prize.

"To start a radio station in such a small French community, and struggle for funds, is quite an achievement," said Boisclair.

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Employment presented these awards to people and groups who promote the eight official languages of the NWT by their example.

Minister Jake Ootes congratulated the winners in a statement.

"Their example reminds us that it is people who make language live and sing," said Ootes.

Boisclair noted the importance that radio plays in the lives of people who are geographically isolated from the root of their language.

"Although we live in English surroundings, hearing information in French is very satisfying," she said.

Michel Lefebvre, president of the Association Franco-Culturelle de Yellowknife said the award not only recognizes the achievement of the station, but applauds the nearly decade long commitment the association made to realize its dream.

"This project really began in 1993 when we would broadcast only a few hours in French on CKLB. Then in 1997 we decided we wanted our own station," said Lefebvre. Lefebvre said the station's most important role is to show French children that their language is used more than in school and at home.

"French is important on the community level as well," said Lefebvre.

Boisclair said the initial buzz that was created when the station was launched in September 2001 is dying out slowly. To remedy this the station is planning a Spring Gathering on May 2 at 5:30 p.m. in their headquarters below the language association building. They are hoping to initiate community input on content and to drum up more volunteers. Boisclair said the meeting is open to anyone interested in French language and culture, not only French speakers.

Besides Boisclair's permanent paid position, the station currently relies solely on about 12 volunteers to provide local colour and content. The rest of the programming is supplied by the Ottawa-based, Reseau Francophone D'Amerique, a company that manages French language stations across Canada.

Funding is provided by on-air advertising and Heritage Canada.