History
CJMP-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at 90.1 FM in Powell River, British Columbia. The station’s license was originally owned and operated by the Powell River Model Community Project, and on May 5, 2010, the Powell River Community Radio Society received CRTC approval to acquire Powell River Model Community Project and a new broadcasting licence to continue the operation of CJMP-FM.[1]
CJMP-FM received its original approval by the CRTC in 2002,[2] and was granted a new license in 2006.[3] Under the CRTC’s licensing regulations for developmental community radio stations, the station was required to submit a new license application rather than a simple renewal of its existing license.
- CJMP-FM
- CJMP-FM history – Canadian Communications Foundation
2002
On September 9, the CRTC approved application by the Powell River Model Community Project for Persons with Disabilities (MCP) to operate a new developmental community English-language FM radio station in Powell River.
Executive Director of the MCP was the legally blind Dr. Geraldine Braak, who had been named to the Order of B.C. in 1997 and Order of Canada in 2001 for championing improved quality of life for blind, visually impaired and other disabled persons. She also served for eight years as the National President of the Canadian Council of the Blind. The station was to broadcast an average of 80 hours of programming each week with more than 90% in English, with the remainder in French and Salish. It was to consist of a daily interview program, news and community-oriented information of special interest to seniors as well as 2 hours each day of Canadian musical selections featuring both local and national artists. It was licensed to operate at 90.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 3.6 watts.
2003
Sponsorship funds were solicited and receiving equipment was sourced. On April 16, a 65-foot tower was erected on the roof of the Westview Bowling and Billiards. On Easter Sunday, April 20 vandals knocked down the tower. Station manager Dean Merrick, noting weeks of work had gone into the tower, stated, “I can’t believe that someone would go to the trouble to do something like this.” The following day, Merrick and volunteers worked to salvage what they could and by April 25 it was repaired, allowing CJMP-FM to sign on May 1, identifying as “Jump Radio”.
2006
On September 8 the CRTC approved application to operate as a low-power Type B community FM station to take the place of its previous status as a developmental community station. It was to continue to operate with its current frequency and power.
2010
On May 5, the CRTC approved the application by Powell River Community Radio Society for authority to acquire from Powell River Model Community Project for Persons with Disabilities the assets of the English-language low-power Type B community FM radio programming undertaking CJMP-FM Powell River, and for a new broadcasting licence to continue the operation of this undertaking under the same terms and conditions as those in effect under the current licence. As explained by the applicant, the vendor, a not-for-profit society that provides employment services for persons with multiple barriers, and that operated the station with moderate success and loyal listeners, decided to focus more on the original goal of the organization, specifically, employment services. The purchaser, on the other hand, is a new entity Powell River Community Radio Society (PRCRS) formed by a group of people who were volunteers of the station, and would focus solely on the operation of the station and on reflecting the community’s past, present and future, while bringing music and spoken-word programming to listeners who are underserved and neglected in that community. It will also bring additional staff, as well as financial and other resources to achieve a focused goal and the station’s potential within the community. The station rebranded itself as “CJMP Community Radio”, dropping the “Jump Radio” and “C-Jump” association.
2022
In 2018, the Regional District of Powell River’s name was changed to qathet, from q̓at̓ᶿət, meaning “working together, bringing together” in the Comox language of the Tla’amin Nation.
In 2021, the board proposed that the name of the Radio Society be changed to reflect this new name and at the 2022 AGM, the membership voted to approve. The society’s new name is qathet Community Radio Society.
Visual Reminders of our past…
