CIWE-FM
| Broadcast area | Edmonton Metropolitan Region |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 89.3 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 89.3 The Raven |
| Programming | |
| Format | Freeform radio First Nations community radio |
| Subchannels | HD2: Indigenous hip hop "Red Beats" |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Aboriginal Multi-Media Society |
| CFWE-FM-4 | |
| History | |
First air date | February 1, 2021 |
Call sign meaning | Disambiguation of CFWE-FM |
| Technical information | |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 100,000 watts |
| HAAT | 153.7 metres (504 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 53°38′44.88″N 114°0′14.4″W / 53.6458000°N 114.004000°W |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live Listen Live (HD2) |
| Website | ravenradio.ca redbeats.ca (HD2) |
CIWE-FM (89.3 MHz, "89.3 The Raven") is a radio station in Edmonton, Alberta. Owned by the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA), it broadcasts a freeform format targeting Central Alberta's First Nations communities.
History
Following the collapse of the Aboriginal Voices Radio Network (which broadcast on 89.3 MHz in Edmonton as CKAV-FM-4), the CRTC pursued new applicants for indigenous radio stations to fill its frequencies. The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society, owner of the Edmonton-based CFWE radio network, was granted licenses in Calgary and Edmonton.[1] While the Calgary station would air a country music format in the mold of CFWE, AMMSA founder Bert Crowfoot described the Edmonton station as a freeform station that would play "anything but country". As with the other AMMSA stations, its schedule would include specialty programming presented in Indigenous languages, and featuring Indigenous music.[2]
AMMSA prioritized constructing the Calgary station, CJWE-FM, which went on air in April 2018.[2][3] The wait would be nearly three years longer in Edmonton; CIWE had been planned to launch in April 2020,[2] but the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta prompted AMMSA to seek a one-year extension.[4][5] Its transmission tower, named for long-time AMMSA board member Noel McNaughten, is located 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Spruce Grove.[2]
The station began test broadcasts on January 11, 2021. On February 1, 2021, CIWE officially launched as 89.3 The Raven; it primarily plays classic rock and pop hits, as well as genre- and decade-based specialty shows (such as blues rock, hip hop, and R&B). Indigenous programming is carried in the Cree, Dene, Nakota, and Michif languages.[2][4]
References
- ^ "CRTC grants licences for five radio stations to serve indigenous people in urban centres country wide". Turtle Island News. Archived from the original on June 14, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Laskaris, Sam (January 13, 2021). "The Raven radio station hits the airwaves in February". Windspeaker Radio. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
- ^ "Indigenous radio returns to Calgary airwaves". CTV News Calgary. April 30, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
- ^ a b Mertz, Emily (February 1, 2021). "New Indigenous radio station The Raven launches in Edmonton: 'It was emotional'". Global News. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
- ^ "Radio & Podcast News – Vista's new North Bay 'Oldies' station approved". Broadcast Dialogue. May 28, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
External links
- CIWE in the REC Canadian station database