Camosun radio broadcasts Grizzlies hockey games
Archived Content
This archived web page remains online for reference, research or record-keeping purposes. This page will not be altered or updated and may contain out of date information. If you’re looking for specific information and haven’t found it, please contact communications@camosun.ca.
Student radio really connects with community
October 20, 2010
This fall Camosun College's student-operated radio station expanded its news, documentary and Global Rootsmusic programs to cover Victoria Grizzlies hockey games. 
Games are broadcast from the road only and include long standing rivalries like Cowichan Valley Capitals, Nanaimo Clippers and the Alberni Valley Bull Dogs. Most games start at 7. To catch all the home game action, it's a short trip to the Bear Mountain Arena in Colwood. Full schedules...
Get a taste of the action!
"While many local and regional radio stations focus on major league sports like the CFL and NHL, no one offers sports at a local community level, like the British Columbia Hockey League, which is really popular here," says Brad Edwards, Station Supervisor. "The same day we were thinking about broadcasting BCHL games, Scott Didmon phoned." Didmon is Director of Marketing for the Victoria Grizzlies, who also does double-duty as the team's play-by-play announcer.
Community station is about music and more
"Covering local games is the right thing for us to do at this stage of our evolution as a student-run, community station," says Edwards. "CKMO is about music, but it's grown into so much more. It's about the students of the Applied Communication Program at Camosun College, it's about the community the radio station serves, it's about everything we often take for granted in the neighbourhoods in which we live." Edwards notes that Victoria is a vibrant sport community, offering an eclectic mix of sporting action throughout the year, including hockey (VIHL, ECHL BCHL), lacrosse (WLA), soccer, baseball and more. "Filling the gaps left out by mainstream media is the strength of community radio," says Edwards.
Radio real-life training for students
"Dealing with a client like the Grizzlies makes our students' radio experience real, since it means the station is a legitimate player in the local community," says Kim O'Hare, faculty in the Applied Communication Program. Students' involvement with the radio station and its community partners cannot be replicated in the classroom."
"Since we began broadcasting the Victoria Grizzlies games, I feel like our connection to the community has deepened, which leads to more job opportunities for us when we graduate," says Gabrielle Kind, Applied Communications student and CKMO morning show announcer. "Voicing hockey promos and operating the board during live hockey games, are just a few more things we can add to our resumes. The most important thing for me—my classmates will agree—is that I know there is no time wasted in ACP at Camosun; this is real life."
About CKMO Village 900
On September 4, 2000 CKMO radio blossomed into a 10,000-watt radio station at 900 on the AM dial. It's broadcast range covers southern Vancouver Island, the lower mainland and the northern part of Washington State - a potential audience of 1.5 million listeners. The station is operated by the non-profit CKMO Radio Society, and features a music programming format called Global Roots—a contemporary mix of folk, roots and worldbeat music. The station receives funding from a number of sources including operating grants from Camosun College, fundraising ventures, sponsorships, corporate underwriting, and membership fees. Find out more and listen online...
Last updated: October 20, 2010 3:11 pm
