City Edmonton, Alberta Frequency 98.5 MHz (FM) Format Country music | Branding CFWE-FM Radio Network First air date 1987 | |
Slogan Alberta's Best Country Variety | ||
CFWE-FM is a Canadian radio station, airing a country format for Indigenous peoples throughout the province of Alberta including First Nations and Métis people (Canada). The station's programming airs from studios in Edmonton, although prior to 2009 the station did not broadcast in the city and its primary transmitter was licensed to Lac La Biche, where it broadcasts on 89.9 MHz at 10 watts.
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Following a license amendment in late 2008, the station launched a new primary transmitter at the Edmonton-area community of Spruce Grove in 2009, operating on 98.5 FM. In the summer of 2016, 98.5 CFWE-FM Edmonton increased the effective radiated power from 9.3 kW to 100 kW.
History
Owned by the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society, the station received approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission in 1987 to launch on 89.9 FM in Lac La Biche. Transmitters were later added at many other communities in northern Alberta.
CFWE-FM is a founding member of the Western Association of Aboriginal Broadcasters (WAAB). WAAB Members include Northern Native Broadcasting (BC), Northern Native Broadcasting (Yukon), Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation (Saskatchewan) and Native Communications Incorporated (Manitoba). WAAB members meet regularly to develop program ideas, share resources and work to promote Aboriginal broadcasting throughout western and northern Canada.
In 2008, AMMSA received approval from the CRTC to add new transmitters at Edmonton and Fort McMurray.
In 2016, CFWE-FM launched two companion internet stations. Buffalo Spirit which plays Pow Wow and Round Dance music and Raven which plays Indigenous Rock, Rhythm and Blues. Both are accessible via their webpage.
Rebroadcasters
The station has an extensive network of rebroadcasters throughout the province.
On November 7, 2012, the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta received approval from the CRTC to operate a new FM transmitter at Lac La Biche, Alberta, which will operate at 90.5 FM. The new FM transmitter at Lac La Biche will rebroadcast the programming of CFWE-FM-4 Edmonton including the following low-power transmitters:
Upon commencement of operations of the new FM transmitter, the licensee will cease operations of its transmitters CFWE-FM, VF2244, VF2242, VF2254 and VF2183.