CHSR-FM
Encyclopedia
CHSR-FM is a Canadian community radio station
in Fredericton, New Brunswick
with an effective radiated power
of 250 watt
s. The broadcast signal is also streamed live on the internet.
Most of its members are students at the University of New Brunswick
and St. Thomas University
, however, it is a community station with many non-student volunteers. Its broadcast studio and record library are located in the Student Union Building (the SUB) which is shared by the two institutions.
and boasts the largest music library east of Montreal
, although Fredericton is much smaller than other communities in the Atlantic Region. The library holds a large variety of musical genres, on a variety of formats (vinyl
, cassettes, compact discs, etc.) from the past six decades.
Like many student media organizations, the relationship with various university, student and community leaders were occasionally strained. One of the more persistent sources of disputes was largely resolved with an agreement signed in 1999, which stabilized CHSR's largest source of funding: undergraduate students at the University of New Brunswick. The new agreement requires a signed petition and a referendum to change or remove the media fee, whereas previously funding could be (and once was) removed by a simple motion of Student Union Council.
As a community radio station housed on a university campus, CHSR makes an extra effort to reach out to the off-campus community, playing local content and providing on-site training for new DJs who later are able to host their own show.
A founding member of the national community broadcasters collective, the National Campus and Community Radio Association
, CHSR remains an active member of the alternative media, including participation in the NCRA's Dig Your Roots
project. CHSR is also a voting member of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
and the Grassroots Radio Coalition
.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in Fredericton, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
with an effective radiated power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
of 250 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s. The broadcast signal is also streamed live on the internet.
Most of its members are students at the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
and St. Thomas University
St. Thomas University (New Brunswick)
St. Thomas University is jointly a public and Roman Catholic liberal arts university located in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. It offers degrees exclusively at the undergraduate level for approximately 3,000 students in the liberal arts, humanities, journalism, education, and social work....
, however, it is a community station with many non-student volunteers. Its broadcast studio and record library are located in the Student Union Building (the SUB) which is shared by the two institutions.
History
The organization now known as CHSR was founded in the late 1950s, and officially went on-air January 22, 1961 as Radio UNB. It is one of the oldest community radio stations in Atlantic CanadaAtlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
and boasts the largest music library east of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, although Fredericton is much smaller than other communities in the Atlantic Region. The library holds a large variety of musical genres, on a variety of formats (vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
, cassettes, compact discs, etc.) from the past six decades.
Like many student media organizations, the relationship with various university, student and community leaders were occasionally strained. One of the more persistent sources of disputes was largely resolved with an agreement signed in 1999, which stabilized CHSR's largest source of funding: undergraduate students at the University of New Brunswick. The new agreement requires a signed petition and a referendum to change or remove the media fee, whereas previously funding could be (and once was) removed by a simple motion of Student Union Council.
As a community radio station housed on a university campus, CHSR makes an extra effort to reach out to the off-campus community, playing local content and providing on-site training for new DJs who later are able to host their own show.
A founding member of the national community broadcasters collective, the National Campus and Community Radio Association
National Campus and Community Radio Association
The National Campus and Community Radio Association/L'Association nationale des radios étudiantes et communautaires is a non-profit organization of campus radio and community radio stations in Canada....
, CHSR remains an active member of the alternative media, including participation in the NCRA's Dig Your Roots
Dig Your Roots
Dig Your Roots/Découvre tes racines is a Canadian series of compilation albums, released by the National Campus and Community Radio Association to promote new and emerging artists....
project. CHSR is also a voting member of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters is the international umbrella organization of community radio broadcasters founded in 1983, with nearly 3,000 members in 110 countries....
and the Grassroots Radio Coalition
Grassroots Radio Coalition
The Grassroots Radio Coalition is a coalition of community media activists.The GRC has a mailing list and holds a conference every year, but has so far not incorporated. There are no dues, no hierarchy and no bylaws...
.
Notable shows
- "The Crazy Train" was Atlantic Canada's longest running Heavy Metal radio program. It won CHSR's "Barry Award" for Best Specialty Music program in 1994, during the 5-year span when it was hosted by Jason Shipley.
- According with Carmen was a long-running show featuring "the best in old Country, Pop, Bajan, Cajun, Irish, Newfoundland and other Island music." Host Carmen Kilburn, 2006 inductee to the New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame welcomed live guests and special requests.
- Diversions is a long-running show of classical and opera music. Hosted by Dr. Adrian Park, this program celebrated its 20th anniversary in April 2010.
External links
- CHSR-FM
- CHSR history at Canadian Communications FoundationCanadian Communications FoundationThe Canadian Communications Foundation is a history of Canadian broadcasting for radio and television chronicles and documents. It also provides a history of radio and television stations, including networks, programs, broadcasters and many others....