Do you believe in the power of community?
That passion is the driving force behind the Comox Valley Community Broadcasting Society (CVCBS), which is mounting a mobilization of volunteers to propel the Valley’s non-profit radio project. The event is set for July 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Courtenay Library meeting room.
“Radio is a wonderful tool for sharing stories, ideas, information, and of course, music,” says board secretary Wendy Nixon Stothert. “This project is all about fostering curiosity, dialogue, and understanding in our community.”
CVCBS is celebrating two years on the air as an Internet-based radio station, powered entirely by volunteers. Production is already impressive for such a young station. Currently, 10 original music shows and eight original talk shows, plus specials, are produced locally, with episodes airing regularly via scheduled stream, and on-demand, at .
The station also fleshes out its schedule with several shows curated from other Canadian community and campus stations.
Meanwhile, the goal of getting the station a spot on the FM dial is getting closer, with extensive work underway to prepare an application to the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission.
“There are many branches in growing our community station,” says Nixon Stothert. “Aside from creating shows, which is the most obvious, we have teams working on financial development, community outreach, organizing events, art and social media, governance, volunteer coordination, tech, and production.
“While we currently have about 30 active volunteers, more will help grow our station to its full potential. We have no paid staff; we’re all volunteers who believe in community, what we’re doing and what can be.”
Come meet the folks working to bring community radio to the valley and discover opportunities to lend a hand. Individuals with any of a wide variety of skills, ideas and interests, with varying amounts of time to give, can find a niche in this network of volunteers.
“It’s not only a community station, it’s a community – like-minded people bringing purpose and vision to reality,” says society president Jamie Bowman. “Much smaller places like Cortes Island, Hornby Island and Powell River support their community stations; we can too. More hands can fill out a virtually endless potential.”
