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CFWE

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CFWE
Broadcast areaAlberta
Frequency98.5 MHz
BrandingCFWE
Programming
FormatCountry
First Nations community radio
Ownership
OwnerAboriginal Multi-Media Society
CJWE-FM, CIWE-FM
Technical information
ClassC1
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT153.7 meters (504 ft)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitecfweradio.ca

CFWE (98.5 FM) 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

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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In September 2017, the AMMSA received approval to add a 100,000 watt transmitter at 105.7 MHz in Grande Prairie, which superseded low-power transmitters serving the Horse Lake Reserve and Duncan's Band Reserve.[5]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

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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

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

Call sign Frequency City of License
CFWE-FM-1 0091.7 FM Joussard
CFWE-FM-2 0089.3 FM Peigan Reserve
CFWE-FM-2 00106.3 FM Medicine Hat
CFWE-FM-3 0096.7 FM Moose Hills
CFWE-FM-4 0098.5 FM Edmonton
CFWE-FM-5 0094.5 FM Fort McMurray
CFWE-FM-6 0090.5 FM Lac La Biche
CFWE-FM-7 00105.7 FM Grande Prairie
VF2084 0089.9 FM Cadotte Lake[11]
VF2085 0089.9 FM Conklin
VF2087 0089.9 FM Fort Chipewyan
VF2090 0089.9 FM John D'Or Prairie
VF2091 0090.5 FM Little Buffalo
VF2092 0089.9 FM Loon Lake
VF2176 0089.9 FM Boyer River[12]
VF2177 0089.9 FM Bushe River
VF2178 0089.9 FM Janvier
VF2179 0089.9 FM Child Lake
VF2180 0089.9 FM Wabasca-Desmarais
VF2182 0089.9 FM Fort McKay
VF2186 0089.9 FM Tall Cree North
VF2187 0089.9 FM Paddle Prairie
VF2188 0089.9 FM Peavine
VF2190 0088.7 FM Slave Lake
VF2191 0089.9 FM Tall Cree South
VF2192 0089.9 FM Sturgeon Lake
VF2241 0089.9 FM Anzac[13]
VF2243 0089.9 FM Duncan's
VF2251 0089.9 FM Heart Lake
VF2252 0089.9 FM Horse Lake
VF2255 0089.9 FM Peerless Lake
VF2256 0089.9 FM Sandy Lake
VF2257 0089.9 FM Trout Lake
VF2258 0089.9 FM White Fish Lake

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References

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  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. ^ a b "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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