by Bryan McKinnon | Apr 29, 2019 | Rendevous de la Francophonie
Campbell River by Darren Kirbyvia Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License) On March 20, 2019, twenty stations across Canada participated in the National Campus and Community Radio Association’s (NCRA) 2019 Rendez-vous de la Francophone marathon. Cortes Radio’s contribution was “Beyond Words,” by Quadra Island producer Francesca Gesualdi. “Beyond Words” - broadcast March 20, 2019 She writes: “The Campbell River Francophone Association celebrates its four decades of existence by presenting a play that reflects all facets of the lives of Francophones and Francophiles in a minority setting. Founded in 1978 by Yvette Brett, the organization relies on the energy committment and dedication of community members to keep French alive in Campbell River. For this bilingual theatrical project, we are proud to unite two small francophone communities on stage, that of Campbell River and that of Comox Valley. “ “Beyond Words / Au Dela Des Mots, is a dynamic and bilingual theatre presentation on the struggle to keep French alive in British Columbia. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Official Language Act in Canada, and featuring amateur actors, Beyond Words / Au Dela Des Mots is a collection of short stories representing, with humor, the reality of living in French in an English speaking world.” Top photo credit: Campbell River by Adriano Santini via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0...
by Bryan McKinnon | Mar 20, 2018 | Rendevous de la Francophonie
Celebrating Francophones and Francophiles is Cortes Radio’s contribution to the NCRA’s Rendevous de la Francophonie marathon on March 20, 2018. by Francesca Gesualdi In her written description of Celebrating Francophones and Francophiles, Francesca wrote: “During a recent visit to L’Association des Francophones de Campbell River, Francesca interviewed Francophones and Francophiles to discuss the relevance of shared community spaces that support language, culture and connection.“Over a delicious home made community lunch prepared by volunteers, particpants share their experience of the center, its resources to the francophone community, its library, and its role as a place of social well-being.” Francesca Gesualdi Celebrating Francophones and Francophiles by Francesca Gesualdi Francesca Gesualdi, lives on Quadra Island and will also be producing an exploration of the oral tradition of storytelling called IReads for CKT. The National Campus and Community Radio Association’s (NRCA)Rendez-vous de la Francophonie (RVF)initiative had been going for three years, when Cortes Radio came on board in 2017. When the program was originally launched, it consisted of two minute audio capsules of the Francophone experience broadcast over nine participating NCRA radio stations. Rendez-vous de la Francophonie now broadcasts half hour programs from coast to coast. Seven British Columbian stations are participating this year: CIVL (Abbotsford); WDCR (West Kelowna), CJLY (Nelson), CFRO (Vancouver), CICK (Smithers), CFUZ (Penticton) and CKTZ (Cortes and the Discovery Islands). CKTZ’s Rendez-vous de la Francophonie Program In our first locally produced program, Danielle Arcand introduced listeners across Canada to six Francophones and Francophiles living on Cortes Island and Campbell River. After Danielle moved to Quebec, the NRCA arranged for us to sponsor Victoria Fenner’s story of an Anglo-French family which almost forgot its French heritage. On March 20, 2018, 20 NCRA stations are airing 20 documentaries to celebrate the 20th anniversary of...
by Roy L Hales | Dec 1, 2017 | Cortes Currents
Originally Published on the ECOreport George Sirk whispered “Cortes Radio” for years before he found the right pair of ears. This led to a meeting at Manson’s Hall, to discuss possibilities. Howie Roman attended and, six months after the station was launched, became a DJ. He still is. “My prime interest in Cortes radio is [that] I really enjoy having a show.” Howie served on CKTZ’s board for five years, the maximum amount allowed by the society’s constitution, and now is the station’s manager. In this morning’s interview, I ask Howie about the process of becoming Cortes Community Radio, CKTZ 89.5 FM. [/et_pb_text] Becoming Cortes Community Radio “This is my story. It’s not Sean’s story, it’s not Amber’s story; it would not have been Vicki’s story and not John Jordan’s story - people who were really there at the very beginning and are still part of Cortes Radio,” he explained. Then he proceeded to describe incidents from CKTZ’s past. The station’s first antennae was up a tree. After it was destroyed in a storm, they used a 30 foot analog TV tower. One of Howie’s “coolest, craziest days” was when he and about twenty others raised the current 85 foot radio tower at Thunder Road. “Those are the days I live here for. The days when a group of us get something big done,” he says. (Listen to the full story in the podcast above) Two weeks later the board received letters stating that if they did not apply for a license, the society was liable for a $20,000 fine and each director was personally liable for $5,000, and...