KUGLUKTUK/COPPERMINE
A cluttered office in Kugluktuk's community complex will soon become home to a new hamlet-run radio station, CHPS FM.

Kugluktuk will be getting a new sound, perhaps as early as next month when Kugguk radio hits the airwaves. Mayor Ryan Nivingalok, left, and Don LeBlanc, senior administrative officer, are both looking forward to the launch and hope it will bring a new enthusiasm to events in the hamlet. - photo courtesy of Kugluktuk recreation department

Kugguk radio, which means river, will not only act as a source of information for residents, but hopefully bring more excitement to community events, said Don LeBlanc, Kugluktuk's senior administrative officer.

"I think during key times of the year the local radio station plays a big part in what goes on, the festivities, what kind of enthusiasm you come out with, the kind of results you get," he said.

"With Christmas coming up, there are so many wonderful things and there are so many things the elders probably won't be able to get out to. If they can turn on their radio station and listen to it, it would bring it that much closer to them."

Volunteers and a small contingent of paid workers are going to be in charge of the station, which is being funded by the hamlet and the territorial government.

Those involved will receive training through the community radio operators course, offered by Nunavut Arctic College.

The free online program, developed by the Nunavut Municipal Training Organization (MTO), covers broadcasting law in Canada, how to use and maintain equipment, the origins of community radio, guidelines for effective on-air programming and management information.

There has been a lot of talk about needing a community radio station in Kugluktuk and it's great to see it coming together, said recreation coordinator, Jessica VanOverbeek.

"It's important to have a station that the community has access to, because that's where they're going to get their information," she said.

"You could put so much on there."

It still needs to be decided exactly what will be played on CHPS FM, but the ideas are flowing, said LeBlanc.

There are plans to broadcast events live, especially hockey games and tournaments.

"We want to bring hockey back to Kugluktuk and I think this is one way of doing that," he said.

Another idea, LeBlanc said, is to bring the mayor or a councillor on air the day after a council meeting to give a synopsis of what happened.

Residents could even call in and ask "nice, polite questions."

It would be a good way to get residents engaged with local politics, he said.

"Our hope is that we have a variety of content so people will want to keep listening to it or want to keep tuned to that radio station.

"We definitely don't want it to be elevator music all the time."

The station is expected to be up and running by next month.

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