Music to their ears

Music to their ears

August 12, 2014

Share

By Anne Craig, Communications Officer

Campus-community radio station CFRC 101.9 FM has received a $34,500 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation that will support the station’s three-year revitalization plan.

“We are grateful and excited about the funding,” says CFRC operations officer Kristiana Clemens. “It’s going to have a big impact on the opportunities this station can provide.”

The CFRC staff pose with the old and new console (l to r); Graham Juneau, Ayanda Mngoma, Brendon Wilson, Brenna Owen, Cameron Willis, Kristiana Clemens.

The funding will offset the cost of upgraded equipment attached to a new digital console that is being installed this week. The new console, paid for mostly by CFRC donors and Queen’s students, replaces an older model that was installed in 1996 and is no longer supported by the manufacturer. The equipment that was purchased using the Trillium grant includes microphones, computers, clocks and a new phone interface.

The Trillium Foundation Grant will also be used to install a backup power source, hire a developer to work on the station’s website, create a new digital archive and improve the online audio stream. The result will be a state-of-the-art radio facility for use by students and the community.

Engineer Eric Heidendahl works on connecting equipment to the digital hub.

“All of our 275 volunteers will be trained on the new console so that they can take advantage of this excellent opportunity to work with the latest equipment,” says Ms. Clemens. “It’s also going to enhance the quality and reliability of our program offerings and new software will allow us to program our overnight rebroadcasts with more reliability. Our new archive system will also be unmatched.”

The upgrades are scheduled to be completed by December as part of the ongoing station revitalization plan that aims to build a healthy, sustainable and accessible future for campus and community radio in Kingston.

To learn more about the station, visit the website.