| Calgary’s hip-hop radio wars seem to be over, with a format change by KISS-FM less than a year after it embraced urban music.
KISS 96.9 issued a release April 1 saying it has switched musical formats to a more eclectic station called Jack FM, and began promoting its new format as "Playing What We Want." It’s playlist includes "everything from the Eagles’ ‘Take it Easy’ to Van Halen’s ‘Jump.’" It says it is modelling itself after a successful format launched in Vancouver last fall.
That leaves Vibe 98.5 as the city’s hip-hop holdout. The two stations were launched within weeks of each other last year, with virtually identical playlists and marketing strategies. Industry watchers said Calgary’s radio market simply couldn’t sustain two urban music stations and a change was inevitable.
Gay and lesbian groups across the country are criticizing the federal government’s nation-wide consultation on the future of marriage.
The consultations are partly intended to gauge Canadians on the idea of gay marriage, and were prompted by a series of court decisions that challenged the constitutionality of the federal government’s prohibition of gay marriage.
John Fisher, the director of advocacy for Egale (Equality for gays and lesbians everywhere), says gay marriage is constitutionally protected and the federal government should recognize it rather than subject the issue to cross-country hearings.
"When did human rights become a popularity contest?" Fisher stated in a news release.
A noted investigative journalist and media critic will be in Calgary April 3 to discuss the war in Iraq and its media coverage.
Reese Erlich, author of Target Iraq: What the Media Didn’t Tell You, will discuss the current war in Iraq and the way the media covers it. His speech takes place at the Unitarian Church at 1703 1st St. N.W. at 7 p.m.
An organization that has recognized achievements by black Albertans is seeking nominations for national awards.
The Canadian National Griot Awards have recognized black Albertans for nine years, and the organization plans to bestow national prizes for the first time this year. The group says the awards will recognize achievements in all areas, such as scholastics or sports.
More information about the awards is available at the organization’s Web site (www.cgna.ca).
A former Calgary Liberal MLA has been named the head of Alberta’s teachers’ union.
Frank Bruseker was elected to a two-year term on March 31. He teaches in the Calgary public school system, and as a Calgary MLA in the mid-1990s, he was best known for his criticisms of Ralph Klein over the Multi-Corp. controversy. Bruseker accused Klein of a conflict-of-interest because he owned shares in a company that he also promoted on an Asian trade mission. Klein was cleared of wrongdoing by Alberta’s ethics commissioner, and Bruseker was defeated in the next election.
Bruseker takes over from former teachers’ union president Larry Booi, who led teachers through a near province-wide strike last year.
A Canadian renewable energy company is asking for bicycle donations for the people of Cuba.
The company is working on a project in Cuba and is rounding up bicycles to take to the country in a cargo container of supplies leaving on April 15. To donate, call Jenny at 781-3326 or e-mail jgrainger@suncurrent.ab.ca by Friday, April 11.
The City of Calgary will now be taking plastic bags for recycling at all 45 residential recycling depots.
All plastic bags will be accepted, including grocery bags, shopping bags, sandwich or lunch-bags, bread bags, clothing/garment bags and even bubble wrap. All bags must be clean and free of debris. Exceptions include potato chip bags, or other bags of similar foil material.
Addresses for city recycling depots are available on the Web at www.calgary.ca or on the recycling hotline at 277-7770. |
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