| A long-standing FM radio station in Calgary switched formats last week, and at least one new station is in the works.
Rock 97 switched formats to become the first exclusively hip hop, rhythm and R&B FM station in Calgary. The station, owned by Rogers Communication – which also owns Lite 96 and 66 CFR in Calgary – formerly played classic rock. The switch will see KISS aligned to compete with another urban hip hop FM station approved by the CRTC last year. That station would be run by Standard Radio Inc., which also owns CJAY 92 and AM 1060, but it has not yet been launched.
Another new FM station will also begin broadcasting in coming months. After a roundabout genesis that included a change of ownership and a search for a new frequency, The Breeze is close to broadcasting. Final approval must still be given for the smooth jazz station, but offices and a studio are already being built and organizers are optimistic it will hit the airwaves soon.
Voluntary water restrictions have been lifted, but the city is still asking resident to conserve so the water system isn’t overwhelmed by overzealous water users.
The restrictions were put in place in early July to allow the city’s two water treatment plants to catch up after technical errors and late spring run-off limited the amount of water in reserve.
To prevent a spike in usage, the city is asking residents to ease back into watering lawns and gardens.
The city also publicly apologized for violating its own restrictions last week by watering a park in the middle of the day.
City CEO Dale Stanway says the city made a mistake when it allowed its sprinklers to soak a park near city hall in the hot afternoon sun at the same time it was asking residents to avoid doing just that with their own lawns.
Olympic Plaza will host the second annual C-Jazz festival in mid-September.
Organizers moved the festival, which was staged at Bridgeland’s Riverside Park last year, to Olympic Plaza and Stephen Avenue Mall in an attempt to reach more fans. The two-day event will feature a number of local and travelling jazz musicians, though the final lineup hasn’t been released yet.
Last year’s festival, which was called the Riverside Jazz Festival, attracted about 1,000 people. This year’s event will take place September 13 and 14 and will be free of charge. |
