CFWE
Broadcast areaAlberta
Frequency98.5 MHz (FM)
BrandingCFWE
Programming
FormatCountry
First Nations community radio
Ownership
OwnerAboriginal Multi-Media Society
CJWE-FM, CIWE-FM
Technical information
ClassC1
ERP100 kilowatts
HAAT153.7 meters (504 ft)
Links
Websitecfweradio.ca

CFWE is a radio network based in Edmonton, Alberta. Owned by the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society, it broadcasts programming targeting northern Alberta's First Nations communities, including mainstream country music, and specialty shows featuring Indigenous music or presented in native languages such as Cree and Dene.

The network broadcasts from studios in Edmonton, alongside its originating station CFWE-FM-4. It operates a network of rebroadcasters to serve the province of Alberta and its First Nations reserves.

History

Owned by the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society, the station received approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission in 1987 to launch on 89.9 FM in Lac La Biche.[1] Transmitters were later added at many other communities in northern Alberta.

CFWE-FM is a founding member of the Western Association of Aboriginal Broadcasters (WAAB). WAAB Members include Northern Native Broadcasting (BC), Northern Native Broadcasting (Yukon), Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation (Saskatchewan) and Native Communications Incorporated (Manitoba). WAAB members meet regularly to develop program ideas, share resources and work to promote Aboriginal broadcasting throughout western and northern Canada.

In 2008, AMMSA received approval from the CRTC to add new transmitters at Edmonton and Fort McMurray, with the Edmonton station becoming the de facto originating station of the network.[2] The new transmitters, CHWE-FM-4 in Edmonton (physically located in the suburb of Spruce Grove) and CHWE-FM-5 in Fort McMurray, broadcast on 98.5 MHz and 94.5 MHz respectively.

On November 7, 2012, the AMMSA received approval to supersede CFWE-FM Lac La Biche and four low-power rebroadcasters serving nearby reserves with a new 19.6 kW signal on 90.5 MHz in Lac La Biche.[3] In 2016, CHWE-FM-4's power was increased from 9.3 kW to 100 kW.[4] In September 2017, the AMMSA received approval to add a 100,000 watt transmitter at 105.7 MHz in Grande Prairie, which superseded low-power transmitters serving the Horse Lake Reserve and Duncan's Band Reserve.[5]

In June 2018, CFWE launched a new sister station in Calgary, CJWE-FM, taking the place of the former Aboriginal Voices Radio Network station. It carries a similar format, but with a focus on southern Alberta Treaty 7 communities.[6] In December 2018, the CRTC granted a request for CFWE-FM-2 (Piikani 147) to switch to CJWE, as its programming would be more relevant to the area.[7]

In May 2019, the CRTC approved a new transmitter in Red Deer.[8]

In February 2021, CFWE launched a second sister station on another former Aboriginal Voices frequency in Edmonton, CIWE-FM; the station carries a freeform format as 89.3 The Raven. [9][10]

Programming

Radio Bingo airs on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday nights, with proceeds being used to help support the AMMSA and its broadcasting activities. AMMSA CEO Bert Crowfoot stated that the program was popular enough that North Alberta residents often chose to not schedule meetings on Monday or Thursday evenings so they wouldn't miss it.[6]

Rebroadcasters

The station has an extensive network of rebroadcasters throughout the province.

Call signFrequencyCity of License
CFWE-FM-191.7 FMJoussard
CFWE-FM-289.3 FMPeigan Reserve
CFWE-FM-396.7 FMMoose Hills
CFWE-FM-498.5 FMEdmonton
CFWE-FM-594.5 FMFort McMurray
CFWE-FM-690.5 FMLac La Biche
CFWE-FM-7105.7 FMGrande Prairie
VF208489.9 FMCadotte Lake[11]
VF208589.9 FMConklin
VF208789.9 FMFort Chipewyan
VF209089.9 FMJohn D'Or Prairie
VF209190.5 FMLittle Buffalo
VF209289.9 FMLoon Lake
VF217689.9 FMBoyer River[12]
VF217789.9 FMBushe River
VF217889.9 FMJanvier
VF217989.9 FMChild Lake
VF218089.9 FMWabasca-Desmarais
VF218289.9 FMFort McKay
VF218689.9 FMTall Cree North
VF218789.9 FMPaddle Prairie
VF218889.9 FMPeavine
VF219088.7 FMSlave Lake
VF219189.9 FMTall Cree South
VF219289.9 FMSturgeon Lake
VF224189.9 FMAnzac[13]
VF224389.9 FMDuncan's
VF225189.9 FMHeart Lake
VF225289.9 FMHorse Lake
VF225589.9 FMPeerless Lake
VF225689.9 FMSandy Lake
VF225789.9 FMTrout Lake
VF225889.9 FMWhite Fish Lake

References

  1. ↑ Decision CRTC 87-639
  2. ↑ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-288
  3. ↑ "CFWE-FM-4 Edmonton – New transmitter at Lac La Biche". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  4. ↑ "Edmonton Transmitter upgrade 98.5 FM - CFWE". Archived from the original on 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
  5. ↑ "Broadcasting Decision 2017-326". CRTC. 6 September 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Indigenous radio returns to Calgary airwaves". CTV News Calgary. 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  7. ↑ "CJWE-FM Calgary – New transmitter at Peigan/Blood Reserve Porcupine Hills". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  8. ↑ "CFWE-FM-4 Edmonton – New transmitter in Red Deer". crtc.gc.ca. Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. 2019-05-30. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  9. ↑ Laskaris, Sam (January 13, 2021). "The Raven radio station hits the airwaves in February". Windspeaker Radio. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  10. ↑ Mertz, Emily (February 1, 2021). "New Indigenous radio station The Raven launches in Edmonton: 'It was emotional'". Global News. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  11. ↑ Decision CRTC 89-712
  12. ↑ Decision CRTC 93-46
  13. ↑ Decision CRTC 94-58
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