CRTC to hear proposals for Aboriginal radio stations on 95.7 FM in Ottawa

_ ** Editor’s note: The FM frequency 95.7 has been empty in Ottawa since about 2014, when a local station carrying national network Aboriginal Voices Radio went quiet. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission later revoked all licenses for the AVR in 2015, opening up its other frequencies in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. ** _ _ (Via CRTC) _ GATINEAU, QC, March 27, 2016 /CNW/ - Over the next three days in the National Capital Region, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) will be holding a hearing for radio licensing to serve urban Aboriginal communities.

At the hearing, the CRTC will consider the five applications received for a radio licence or licences to serve the urban Aboriginal communities in the large markets of Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.

The Canadian broadcasting system plays an important role in working to advance reconciliation between Aboriginal peoples and Canadian society, and the CRTC wants to make sure these Aboriginal communities are well served.

Canadians can listen to the hearing on the CRTC website . ** Quick facts **

 * 
In August 2015, the CRTC issued a call for innovative applications for radio stations that would focus on serving Aboriginal Canadians.

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The CRTC will consider five organizations' proposals to operate radio stations to serve the Aboriginal peoples living in five of Canada's major cities. These organizations are as follows:

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  [
   **
    Wawatay Native Communications Society
   **
  ](http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2017/2017-1.htm#bm1)
 
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  [
   **
    Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta
   **
  ](http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2017/2017-1.htm#bm2)
 
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  [
   **
    VMS Media Group Ltd.
   **
  ](http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2017/2017-1.htm#bm3)
 
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  [
   **
    Northern Native Broadcasting (Terrace B.C.)
   **
  ](http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2017/2017-1.htm#bm4)
 
     * 
  [
   **
    First Peoples Radio Inc.
   **
  ](http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2017/2017-1.htm#bm5)

** Quote ** “The goal of this hearing, which starts today, is to ensure that these urban Aboriginal communities have access to culturally relevant information and the opportunity to discover local talent that reflects who they are. The Canadian broadcasting system must reflect each and every one of us.”