Kootenay Co-op Radio (KCR) is celebrating 25 years of serving the community and everyone is invited.
In 1999 a small group of intrepid kids got the crazy idea to create a community radio station right here in the Kootenays. With a lot of hard work and some luck, both good and bad they made it happen and 25 years later KCR is still going strong with more than 50 locally produced shows created by volunteer programmers who share their love of music, their views or their knowledge with the community at large.
The station moved locations a few times before finding its forever home at 308A Hall Street, with the help of the ‘Friends of KCR’ who hold the mortgage for the historic building. Constructed in 1901, the Kootenay Co-op Radio building (formerly Sing Chong Laundry) is valued for being the last surviving Chinese Canadian-built and owned building in Nelson’s original Chinatown.
This coming year KCR will be commemorating their quarter century of broadcasting with multiple events throughout the year. These events are community celebrations in which everyone is welcome, whether you have a connection to KCR or not. Grant funding has enabled KCR to hire two part-time staff to coordinate these events. Stephanie Myers and Adam O Thomas who have worked for the station in the past as well as being volunteer programmers, will share the role of ‘Live Music Series Program Coordinator’. The grant will fund a 25th-anniversary celebration at the Royal in Nov, the Polar Bear Swim in Jan, the KCR Block Party in May, and multiple basement sessions in the newly renovated space.
Kootenay Co-op Radio is an anomaly, it is a thriving community radio station in a very small rural market, it is not affiliated with a campus so it doesn’t receive any student fees to fund its operations and it is also a cooperative. Programming that originates locally and features the music, stories, and news of our area enlivens our culture and connects our communities. Local journalism is more important than ever in a world full of misinformation. Many stations have come and gone in our area both Salmo and Creston have lost their community radio station and this is a big loss to a small community. These radio stations are low barrier and allow volunteer programmers to host a show and speak directly to their own community. When this is lost these voices are silenced. KCR has had its challenges but overall the station is thriving and this is due in no small part to its monthly members who financially support the station for as little as $5 a month. This sort of unrestricted funding allows the station’s staff to focus on quality programming and supporting the volunteer programmers and not spend time chasing funding just to keep the lights on and the mics powered. If you are curious about becoming a monthly member please head to kootenaycoopradio.com.
Kootenay Co-op Radio staff, board and volunteers are looking forward to the 25th anniversary celebration year and they invite everyone to come out and celebrate with them and get to know your local community radio station. For more information contact: Stephanie Myers and Adam O Thomas live@kootenaycoopradio.com
Kootenay Co-op Radio