The Cowichan Valley Community Radio Society

~ News Release, March 2008

The Cowichan Valley Community Radio Society was formed almost two years ago for the purpose of providing Lake Cowichan and the surrounding communities with an accessible FM Community Radio Station. One of our primary goals is to become a much-needed link in the Emergency Preparedness program in the Cowichan Valley. The communities in the Lake Cowichan area can currently only receive radio broadcasts when Mother Nature has not interfered with cablevision reception or Hydro. Cowichan Valley Community Radio will be able to overcome that obstacle by transmitting locally. With generators and back up systems, we will be able to keep our citizens apprised of changing circumstances despite the emergency condition.

Our plans for daily programming are to focus on local musicians. A diversified programme has been developed which encompasses all facets of music, highlights our local performers and reports on local events. It is our intention to offer new and exciting opportunities to local artists by allowing them to reach an international audience via our internet broadcasts. In our recording studios, musicians will be able to record their material and then to have Cowichan Valley Community Radio present it to an audience they may not otherwise have been able to reach. As a member of the NCRA (National Campus and Community Radio Assn.) we will promote our musicians Canada-wide. We currently have 600-700 CDs of local artists in our inventory and encourage other entertainers to add to this. Live talks shows, phone-ins and programming specific to the community, developed by the community will also be featured.

This is an exciting project, although somewhat daunting for those involved. However, we have had an interesting journey to-date and we look forward to continuing to rise to the challenges that face us to help bring the dream to reality and enable to the Community to "Tune in" to CVCRadio.

During the first year of operation, we have focused on gaining public support, recruiting volunteers, raising funds, and acquiring suitable facilities. We are currently streaming on the internet and in the process of training DJs on all aspects of recording procedures and computer operation. We are located at 37 Wellington Rd. West in Lake Cowichan; you can get in touch with us by phone at (250) 749-6635; by email at admin@cvcradio.ca or via our website: www.cvcradio.ca.

Thanks for listening!

"With the Community, From the Community, For the Community"