Music in the Lake is set to continue, thanks to the Cowichan Folk Guild’s sponsorship replacing that of the Cowichan Valley Community Radio Society.
A long-term plan is being worked out with Cowichan Lake Recreation for a venue.
“The only difference will be that you will have to come in person to hear the show, since it will not be rebroadcast at this time,” key organizer David Lowther said.
In the past, CICV 98.7-FM has recorded and re-broadcast the monthly show, which takes place the fourth Thursday of every month.
The August show, which was to take place at Lake Cowichan’s Central Park, was cancelled last-minute after the radio society gave organizers their one-month notice that they were pulling their sponsorship.
Last week’s Gazette quoted past radio society chair Mike Bishop as stating that it was because the show has become less local in its scope over the past year, moving outside the radio station’s mandate.
This is one of the reasons, acting chair Ron McKenzie said, but by no means the only reason.
Another reason is related to finances.
“Music in the Lake was originally set up to be our fund-raiser, to allow mainly local talent to have a stage,” he said. “We never saw any funds come from it... We weren’t seeing any return.”
Starting in the new year, the radio society board will begin looking into other options for an ongoing music show with a stronger local focus.
For now, the radio society board plans on meeting with Lowther and other interested stakeholders during their September 14 meeting, to take place at the Country Grocer at 7 p.m.
“I hope that we can resolve this issue,” McKenzie said.
Bishop resigned as society chair recently after being named CVRD Youbou/Meade Creek area director Klaus Kuhn’s alternate; a potential conflict of interest, as the CVRD helps fund the radio station.
This has resulted in McKenzie taking over as acting chair.