'Flava' returns to air with College ties

By ROB NAY
The Winnipeg Sun
Feb. 22  

After its plug was pulled last fall, a local radio station is set to return to the airwaves with a focus on learning.

Flava 107.9 FM will resume broadcasting next month and offer training for Robertson College students starting in April in a new partnership.

HANDS-ON LEARNING

"It's going to be a great deal of hands-on learning," said Wayne Palendat, vice-president of Robertson College.

The school's radio broadcasting and administration program will offer students the chance to do live on-air announcing at Flava, along with writing scripts, doing reporting and completing sales and marketing work.

Students will learn through instructors and from Flava staff, said its new general manager Brian Wortley.

David Asper has provided financing to get the station back on its feet, said Wortley.

Flava's format will feature hip hop, R&B, and reggae, along with news and educational features.

The 10-month broadcasting program will be open to about 15 students and the school is confident in the station's new management, said Palendat.

Prior to its shutdown last fall, Flava had been involved in a 2006 CRTC hearing that expressed concern over Flava's "apparent failure" to meet aspects of its broadcasting licence. Shortly after going off the air in October, Flava's former general manager told the Winnipeg Sun the station had shut down for "technical upgrades."

Wortley said the re-launch ed station will be better managed.

"Everything will be in compliance with the CRTC," he said.

The station will be downtown on Portage Avenue, close to Robertson's campus on Notre Dame Avenue.