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THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
A major step has been taken to revive community radio in Fort Smith.

Brad Brake: Appointed president of new radio group.

At a meeting on Oct. 4, an executive was appointed by a group looking to re-establish a radio society in the town.

The new executive consists of president Brad Brake, vice-president Judith Gale, secretary-treasurer Anne Sebert and two program directors, Chris Wanamaker and Robyn Hall.

The previous organization - the Kaskiw Radio Society - has been dormant since about 2007.

"I'm excited things are moving ahead," said Brake, who was president of the Kaskiw Radio Society at the time it became inactive.

No name been chosen for a reborn society, but the new president said it might be Kaskiw Radio Society 2012.

Brake offered the nine people at the meeting background information on the former radio society and described the steps needed to get it restarted.

In particular, he said approximately $10,000 would be needed to purchase new radio equipment.

As for the radio station's old equipment at Uncle Gabe's Friendship Centre, he noted he is not sure of its condition.

Brake told the Oct. 4 meeting that he will negotiate for Uncle Gabe's to release the old equipment, but it may require payment of a fee or an offer of in-kind broadcast services when a radio station is established. In addition, he will investigate broadcasting options, including a satellite system, and will check with the NWT Arts Council on the availability of funding.

Brake said there are a number of things to look at as next steps in the process, including being reconstituted as a society and checking on the status of the former society's broadcast licence.

When it was operating, the Kaskiw Radio Society ran a radio station called CHFS that rebroadcast K-Rock from Edmonton and CKLB from Yellowknife, and offered some local programming.

Mayor Janie Hobart was one of the nine town residents at the Oct. 4 meeting.

"I think that having a local radio station is very important for the community, most particularly from the emergency measures side of things," she said, noting everyone has a radio in their homes and vehicles.

Hobart added a community radio station would help promote events in the town and also offer young people a chance to produce their own programming.

"It's a good way to show their creativity," said the mayor.

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