by Janet Smellie
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 15/97) - With their local radio station now offering daily programming, the folks who run CBQM in Fort McPherson had a lot to celebrate earlier this month.

Not only does the station involve dozens of youth, elders and professionals in their weekly schedule of on-air programming, they're just finishing celebrating their 16th birthday.

Judging by the variety of people involved in ensuring one of the first community-run radio stations in the Western Arctic stays alive, they have a lot to celebrate.

Bernice Francis, the vice-chair of the radio society which operates CBQM, says daily programs involve the RCMP, the schools, local entertainers, as well as the health centre and the band office.

Every Wednesday, CBQM offers a school program where students are able to come in and read their latest projects aloud. Teachers, too, are getting involved in offering upgrading via the airwaves.

"Monday morning the band goes on and gives information on what goes on around the band office," Francis says. "If anyone wants to go on and make an announcement, there's free air time."

Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m., the Health Centre has a program updating the community on various programs available.

One of the most popular programs, notes Francis, is broadcast on Wednesdays when Frank Firth joins Rick Wilson for the Frankie and Rickie program, a current affairs and music show the "everyone tunes in to."

"Frank plays all kinds of country and western music, lots of fiddling. Rickie, he's a younger man and plays young music like rock 'n' roll. It's a good mix for the people."

With "so many people out on the land hunting," Francis says the station serves as a great means of communication.

"They get messages and greetings, but they also hear about important renewable resource meetings which they like to attend."

During the anniversary, prizes were given to the many volunteers who have made CBQM the station it is today.

"There were a lot of different prizes. When you do things like this, you encourage people to continue on with their volunteer work. There was a lot to celebrate."

The station is also planning a special programming day for kids on Dec. 19, when "kids can go on the air as long as they have an adult with them."

"They can play their own music, and have some fun. That's what we try to encourage the most."

By using money raised through bingo games, the station has been able to purchase new equipment and music.

Tagging into the CBC signal from Inuvik, Francis says the society, which is restricted to operating only during certain hours, is hoping that eventually they can have their own signal in the community.

"Once we get all our equipment in the radio station, everything paid, we're going to want to look at our going on our own...Where we don't have to sit back and wait for 10 o'clock every day to start and then wait for the (national) news to be over every night when we want to go on the air."