Community Radio
Along with public and commercial, community broadcasters make up the three pillars of Canada’s broadcasting system.
Our stations regularly exceed their mandated hours of Francophone and Canadian content because they are committed to supporting local artists and local talent.
Community radio stations are where future national broadcasters get their start. Adrienne Arsenault, kd lang, Pierre Burton, Neko Case, Bob Cole, Eliotte Friedman, Grimes, Jeff Healey, Paul Shaffer and many more got their first break on community radio.
The staff and volunteers at these stations understand the needs of their listeners because they live those needs together. It’s more than a name, community broadcasters have their community at heart.
BY THE NUMBERS
The increase in listeners to community radio during the pandemic. Now more than ever, as we have had to sit in lockdown, Canadians are reconnecting with their local stations looking to hear news relevant to their neighbourhood.
The number of languages represented on community radio airwaves. For so many Canadians, new and otherwise, community stations are a place where they feel they belong because they can hear broadcasts in their native language.
The number of Canadians who work for community radio stations.
The number of volunteers across Canada who broadcast and support community radio.
The number of hours of Canadian content produced by our network of stations each year.
OUR MEMBERS
By becoming a member, you can demonstrate your support to the only organization devoted to financially supporting the campus and community radio sector in Canada.
ASSOCIATIONS
ALLIANCE DES RADIOS COMMUNAUTAIRES DU CANADA
Active on the national stage since 1991, the Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada (ARC du Canada) is the result of the desire of French-language and Acadien community stations to manage their own development and to maintain their autonomy. The ARC du Canada is the trusted global manager of community broadcasters in minority French settings in Canada. It provides its members with support through many services such as consulting, training, networking et technical assistance in all aspects of the administration and creation of a community radio station. The ARC du Canada comprises 27 on-air community radio stations and one project under way. Members are spead across eight provinces and two territories.
ASSOCIATION DES RADIODIFFUSEURS COMMUNAUTAIRES DU QUÉBEC
Established in 1979, the Association des radiodiffuseurs communautaires du Québec (ARCQ) is dedicated to contributing to the progress and notoriety of community radios. The ARCQ sets the standard in local, regional and national development strategies towards collective media provision in Quebec, and acts on the implementation of these stratedies. The ARCQ aims to use its leadership and credibility to the benefit of community radio stations in Quebec. The ARCQ comprises 35 member stations across 16 regions of the province.
NATIONAL CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY RADIO ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1986, the National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA) supports community and campus radio stations to have access to the airwaves and to stay on the airwaves. The national organization, which has more than 100 members, helps to make under-represented communities heard and brings stations together to share their skills, passions and ideas. As part of this work, the NCRA also represents community radio to the government, the CRTC and other organizations.