You can tune in to 102.7 CHOP FM weekly to hear what news is making the top headlines on NewmarketToday.
Newmarket’s hyperlocal daily digital news site has partnered with Pickering College’s campus radio station in Newmarket for the 15-minute broadcast that highlights the top stories impacting local residents.
Editor Debora Kelly and reporter Kim Champion chat with Gareth Sturrup, station manager of 102.7 CHOP FM, which has been on the airwaves since 2007 as Canada’s only high-school, CRTC-licensed campus radio station.
The headlines program airs at 6 p.m. Fridays, and repeats throughout the weekend, on 102.7 CHOP FM.
Broadcasting from New House on the school’s campus on Bayview Avenue, the fully functioning station provides a broad range of community-based programming, including live morning and afternoon “commute” shows produced and hosted by Pickering students.
The station is also available to a worldwide audience online.
You’ll find more information about the station on its award-winning documentary On Air.
You can also listen to 102.7 CHOP FM on your mobile device using the TuneIn app.
102.7 CHOP FM, which is a not-for-profit, independent corporation, has applied to the CRTC to become a community radio station to enhance its community reach and strengthen its broadcast range, Sturrup said.
“All the students and community volunteers who come in put a lot of time and effort into their shows, and we want to make sure they get heard. We know the content we’re producing is serving the community and of interest to the community at large.”
“With the new signal, our listening area would cover a population of 120,000 people, from over 40,000 households,” he said.
The station is continuing to offer community members an opportunity to get on the air.
“We are currently seeking interested community members and partners to expand our programming to serve the many diverse interests in the Newmarket community,” Sturrup said.
Community organizations are required to commit to hosting a 30 to 60-minute time slot each week that could involve interviewing different members of the association during each program.
One of the shows currently on air is Aurora Speakeasy, which highlights arts and culture events there, and Arts Talk, on hiatus at the moment, featured artists talking about their music and performing acoustic live sets, he added.
Organizations or individuals who could create special interest programming and/or interviews on issues, including politics, the arts, the environment, social issues or social justice issues, reconciliation, education, or sports, are also welcome.
“As 102.7 CHOP FM starts to reach a broader audience, this programming will be an excellent way to reach our community and address issues that matter,” Sturrup said, a former Pickering student himself who studied film studies at Ryerson.
“It’s not really work, I’m having fun,” Sturrup said with a laugh.
He particularly enjoys the opportunity to hear new music from local artists, and giving them the opportunity to have their songs broadcast.
In addition to the programming opportunities, volunteers are welcome for on-air work, programming, volunteer management, off-air production (sound editing, technical support), sales and creative.
