ARTS community radio set to start up this month

Page 5

The AMMSA-ARTS regional radio, is adding a new community station which will broadcast an additional 18 hours of community news to the Lac La Biche area.

The new community station is the result of a training program which involves four local up-and-coming broadcasters and is set to begin transmission Aug. 31.

Coordinator of the program and the new community station, Ray Fox says the station will run in conjunction with the three hour regional broadcast which covers the province from Red Deer north.

"We are encouraging the community to get involved. Local clubs, such as the Elks, will go on air for funding pledges, etc." he said.

However, although the stations is community oriented, it will continue to be primarily a Native station with local broadcasters speaking in Cree.

Eventually Fox would like to see the Native community radio concept expanded into other communities in the north, including such places as Fort Vermillion, Wabasca, Desmarais, Assumption and Slave Lake.

"We already have trainees from Fort Vermillion and Slave Lake," says Fox. "So these people will be returning to their communities with this knowledge."

The community station will broadcast five days a week initially, however, Fox hopes that eventually a seven-day a week format will be incorporated.

"And of course, eventually 24-hours a day too," he added.