By Kira Grunenberg

The idea of starting one’s own radio station could certainly fall into the category of “easier said than done” but a small group of collaborators from Whistler, British Columbia decided not to throw in the towel on providing a local station for their town, despite just about three years of setbacks and complications.

Whistler 101.5FM is being supported by Four Senses Entertainment, owned by Barry Duggan and Robert Wilson. This ‘parent company’ is also located in Whistler and the main driver behind this endeavor. At least two elements are of high importance with regard to what Whistler’s staff will come to represent: Wilson and Duggan want to empower locals from the area and open up opportunities to those who have visual impairments. The project initially got underway back in 2009 and subsequently went through repeated license extensions while trying to get the station off the ground and operational.

The individual most driven to advocate integration for the blind on Whistler’s staff is Donovan Tildesley –a former Four Senses colleague of Wilson and Duggan and an Olympic level athlete who happens to be legally blind. It is Tildesley’s aim to utilize a Braille-based method of operation to allow those with sight limitations to manage a radio board without impediment. Tildesley will be championing a first in Canadian radio when this system is fully up and running.

While 101.5FM is going to be a localized business for this Canadian resort town, what makes it so noteworthy is the unique work ethic and convention-breaking team Four Senses is aspiring to assemble. As reported on Whistlerquestion.com, licensing will permit the station to cover content and music that includes: “broadcast top-40, adult contemporary music, as well as news, sports and community updates.” Wilson is quoted as describing the station’s niche more flexibly, drawing a bottom line that does not see Whistler 101.5 just going with the mundane and traditional flow one might expect if they are simply labeled “Top 40 or AC.”

We’re calling it a lifestyle music format, totally unique to Whistler and not classifiable as most radio stations like to define themselves…it will be an evolving sound that we will likely modify as the station gets established.

Whistler 101.5 is set to start broadcasts sometime around the beginning of February, which will be much sooner than when the Braille system is ready but, ongoing changes and expansions are planned to continue with a vigor, even after the station has launched. Even now, the physical location of the business is being better modified beyond minimal local bylaws to also accommodate those using wheelchairs.

Hopefully, even if listeners aren’t in Canada, the station will also be able to get a signal playing live on the web and maybe inspire other companies in broadcast media to take on similarly innovative systems to increase inclusivity.

Kira is an old school music nerd with a love for all things creative; always searching for music’s common ground. She graduated with an M.A. in Performing Arts Administration from New York University. Drop her a tweet @shadowmelody1

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