Community radio in Canada

Community radio in Canada is a legally defined broadcasting category governed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Community radio exists worldwide and is often broadly similar around the world, however, it can have variations in the government regulations that they are required to follow, the national or regional contexts in which its developed and the specific culture, goals or methods they adhere to.

They are generally nonprofit and provide a mechanism for enabling individuals, groups, and communities to tell their own stories, to share experiences and, in a media-rich world, to become creators and contributors of media.

Community radio began in Canada in 1974/1975 with four stations: CFRO-FM Vancouver, CINQ-FM Montreal, CKCU Ottawa, and CKWR-FM Kitchener.

In 1973, the CBC began broadcasting southern Canadian and American television and radio into small northern communities, which many saw as a threat to the survival of their language and culture.

This helps ensure that programming is different from that of commercial and public radio, in both style and substance, and is rich in local information and reflection.

[12][13][14] As the stations on university campuses are also meant to serve the community, non-students may also become members of the organization by paying membership fees.

It works closely with other regional, national, and international radio organizations to: provide developmental materials and networking services to its members, represent the interests of the sector to government (particularly the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)) and other agencies, and promote public awareness and appreciation for community-oriented radio in Canada.