The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) released a decision today that will provide stable funding for community radio in Canada for the first time.

More than $750,000 each year will go towards the Community Radio Fund of Canada to help support stations. The money was part of a larger policy that governs the sector and recognized the vital role community radio plays in local development.

The full policy can be found here: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-499.htm

The three associations that represent 144 French and English campus and community stations across the country say the decision was a long time coming and is a good first step.

For more information, click on the title of this post.

This year was the twenty-ninth anniversary of the National Campus and Community Radio Conference (NCRC) and what better place to celebrate how far community radio reaches than by gathering at the rocks at Berry Point on Gabriola Island, BC.

More than 40 delegates from across the country came together at panels, in workshops, during live performances and around a campfire.

They were from established campus stations like CKCU-FM, soon celebrating their 35th anniversary; newer internet-only stations like Radio Laurier and CIVL in Abbotsford; urban community stations like CFRO-FM in Vancouver and CJTR-FM in Regina; smaller community stations like CFBS from Blanc Sablon on Quebec's Lower North Shore and stations just licensed, like CICK-FM from Smithers, BC as well as those hoping to be licensed soon, like Gabriola Radio Society and Cortes Community Radio.

For more information click on the title of this post.