Help Power the Tower for CKTZ

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - CKTZ is looking for donors to help power the tower during 2024 and 2025.

Cortes Currents caught up with Bryan McKinnon, station manager and President of CKTZ, while he was manning the radio’s booth at Lovefest. In addition to the hum of conversation from some of the first people to arrive at the festival, in the background you can hear a sitar and tabla from the opening performance.

Q: So tell us about the power the tower campaign?

Bryan McKinnon: “Our broadcast antenna is on a tower, and all that equipment goes back 20 years to when the radio station was first set up. Back then it was a pirate station where people were really pulling together equipment that was already used and old at the time. What we want to do is make sure that our signal goes far, wide, and clear as possible.”

“We're looking to upgrade basically all the equipment around the broadcast tower. A broadcast tower has three components, generally. There is the radio shack at the base of the tower, which has a lot of the receivers , transmitters , all sorts of equipment, internet and then also backup power.”

“There is the main tower itself, the mast. I believe David Rousseau was saying that tower was already falling over when we set it up. So, it's really past its due date and so we're looking to replace that. Then at the very top of the tower is the antenna, which is the most important piece.”

“People may have noticed that the signal sometimes cuts out, depending on where they are on the island. In order for us to really get it to where it needs to be and where we're actually allowed to broadcast, we need to upgrade the equipment.”

“Right now we are broadcasting in mono because it extends our reach a little bit. With the new upgrades, we'll be able to go back to broadcasting in stereo, which would be best for us and also for listeners.”

“So this is Cortes Community Radio's Power of the Tower campaign. We have a goal to raise $25,000, which seems like a lot for us, but that includes full upgrades of all our equipment, a new tower, and then also to access the tower site. It's very difficult, and so in order to get equipment up there, we're going to have to do a little bit of landscaping.”

Cortes Currents: How do people give you money?

Bryan McKinnon: “Donors can give any way they, that they feel most comfortable with. You can give us cash, you can give us by check. E transfer is a really great way to give it to us and that information is all on our website at cortesradio. ca forward slash donate. You can also get by credit card right through our online portal. Or if you see us at the Friday Market, you can make a donation there, right at our table.”