CFWE

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.

CFWE
Broadcast areaAlberta
FrequencySee below
BrandingCFWE
SloganAlberta's Indigenous Voice
Alberta's Best Country Variety
Programming
FormatCountry music, Aboriginal community radio
Ownership
OwnerAboriginal Multi-Media Society
Sister stationsCJWE-FM
Links
Websitecfweradio.ca

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In September 2017, the AMMSA received approval to add a 100,000 watt transmitter at 105.7 MHz in Grande Prairie, which superseded low-power transmitters serving the Horse Lake Reserve and Duncan's Band Reserve.[5]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

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-10091.7 FMJoussard
CFWE-FM-20089.3 FMPeigan Reserve
CFWE-FM-30096.7 FMMoose Hills
CFWE-FM-40098.5 FMEdmonton
CFWE-FM-50094.5 FMFort McMurray
CFWE-FM-60090.5 FMLac La Biche
CFWE-FM-700105.7 FMGrande Prairie
VF20840089.9 FMCadotte Lake [9]
VF20850089.9 FMConklin
VF20870089.9 FMFort Chipewyan
VF20900089.9 FMJohn D'Or Prairie
VF20910090.5 FMLittle Buffalo
VF20920089.9 FMLoon Lake
VF21760089.9 FMBoyer River [10]
VF21770089.9 FMBushe River
VF21780089.9 FMJanvier
VF21790089.9 FMChild Lake
VF21800089.9 FMWabasca-Desmarais
VF21820089.9 FMFort McKay
VF21860089.9 FMTall Cree North
VF21870089.9 FMPaddle Prairie
VF21880089.9 FMPeavine
VF21900088.7 FMSlave Lake
VF21910089.9 FMTall Cree South
VF21920089.9 FMSturgeon Lake
VF22410089.9 FMAnzac [11]
VF22430089.9 FMDuncan's
VF22510089.9 FMHeart Lake
VF22520089.9 FMHorse Lake
VF22550089.9 FMPeerless Lake
VF22560089.9 FMSandy Lake
VF22570089.9 FMTrout Lake
VF22580089.9 FMWhite Fish Lake
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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.
  5. "Broadcasting Decision 2017-326". CRTC. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  6. "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. Decision CRTC 89-712
  10. Decision CRTC 93-46
  11. Decision CRTC 94-58
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