On, Feb. 1 CFUZ, Peach City Radio, is celebrating its first full year on the air at 92.9 FM.
To mark the occasion, the station is preparing a full day of live radio featuring many of its locally-created radio programs. Hosts will be asking listeners to make donations while tuned in to the station during this celebratory broadcast.
Funds raised during the first annual funding driving (dubbed its ONAIRversary) assist the Peach City Community Radio Society in maintaining annual station and transmission costs.
“Donations from the community also help us put training tools in place so that new volunteers can come on board, bringing further music and spoken word ideas to round out our schedule and content,” said Jackie Del Rizzo, president of the society.
CFUZ is the Okanagan’s first licenced FM community radio station that manages its broadcast and online stream through the efforts of volunteers alone. Volunteers host the programs, provide free broadcast skills training to others, plan annual fundraising and manage the radio schedule.
Although CFUZ is celebrating one year on the FM dial, it has been a productive non-profit society since 2010 and streaming its programming online since 2014.
“The station is here to give radio access to the public. It’s a community tool that should be used to help share messages, ideas and cultures ” said Jackie Del Rizzo, president of the Peach City Community Radio Society. “In particular, we are proud of the expanding list of musical genres that can be heard on the station from day to day.”
In a typical broadcast week, music programs cover styles such as psychedelic, heavy metal, synthwave, old country, folk, jazz and avant garde, classical, blues and bluegrass, acoustic, easy listening and rock. Introducing local and independent music — and Canadian content in general — are a priority.
“CFUZ has been integral in giving The Heatscore a voice to not only promote our music but to advertise our live shows in hopes of keeping a vibrant and eclectic music scene in Penticton,” said local musician Jordan Fraser. “They give a voice to artists that you don’t hear on commercial radio and is so invaluable to local culture.”
Along with the wide variety of musical genres, CFUZ also offers local listeners focused spoken word content as well as supporting local organizations, artists, writers, and businesses promoting local initiatives in an effort to benefit the whole community.
Donations can be made online at www.cfuz.ca, by phone at 236-422-0929 or in person at the CFUZ studio, 121-1475 Fairview Rd., Penticton. A full list of programs and the weekly broadcast schedule can be found at www.peachcityradio.org/programs.
Questions or comments to info@peachcityradio.org.