KUGLUKTUK/COPPERMINE - The Kugluktuk Radio Society is now broadcasting both its stations from its own building after being evicted from the hamlet-owned Horseshoe building on June 30.

Researchers with the Nunavut Climate Change Adaptation Project participate in a broadcast series with the Kugluktuk Radio Society. From left, Elisabeth Arnold, Savannah Angnaloak, Chris Elgok, and Ken Johnson. - photo courtesy of Kugluktuk Radio Society

The KRS operates two radio stations in Kugluktuk: 105.1, which runs CBC programming and live shows and 88.7, which delivers music.

The 88.7 station had been housed in the Horseshoe building, which had a transmission tower allowing the radio signal to reach Cambridge Bay and Ulukhaktok, NWT.

The hamlet had advised KRS back in the spring that it had to vacate the building as the hamlet was shutting it down. Both stations are now housed at the society-owned building.

"It's nice. We're the landlord. We pay the bills," said Mike Webster, a volunteer with the Kugluktuk Radio Society. "The hamlet used to be very good with us. Just over time, we've known that if we are going to keep broadcasting, we need to get our own place."

But the society, completely run by volunteers, could not move the tower from the Horseshoe building to their own, so a $40,000 infrastructure had to be destroyed, said Webster.

"We'll enjoy this building, for sure, but we have enough space on the building to basically build a small building but a tall building, so that we can get back into reaching Holman especially."

As for the hamlet, Linda Allen, the acting senior administrative officer, said the vacated space will remain so pending program funding.

"The hamlet is very pleased that the Kugluktuk Radio Society was able to find a suitable location and we wish them success in their new location," she said.