Cabin Radio's 'fiercely loyal' fans show support for Yellowknife station as it fights for FM licence

After the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decided earlier this year that Yellowknife's market can't support another commercial FM station, the N.W.T.'s Cabin Radio embarked on a multi-pronged effort to reverse the decision.

Now, as the small media outlet continues its efforts to obtain a commercial FM broadcasting licence, an Instagram account dedicated to reflecting the Yellowknife zeitgeist shows Cabin Radio still has its audience's backing.

Cabin Radio — a locally-owned news website and online radio station launched in 2017 — submitted a new application for its FM licence in May. At the same time, it has asked the Federal Court of Appeal for a judicial review as well as for a "leave to appeal" — a step before an appeal where a party is asking for permission to bring an appeal.

The federal court has rejected the leave for appeal, meaning Cabin is now left with its new CRTC application — which could take years — and the request for a judicial review.     

Vista Radio, which owns True North FM in Yellowknife, has expressed opposition to Cabin's licence application and on Sept. 11 cross-examined Cabin Radio as part of the judicial review process. In the days that followed, the "YK Memes" Instagram account posted over 50 memes satirizing Vista's opposition. 

Brie O'Keefe is the creator and curator of the Instagram account. She says Yellowknifers are "fiercely loyal" to Cabin Radio and argues that's reflected in the meme submissions she receives. 

"When something hits home, the memes flood in and it's very apparent that it's not just me who thinks this," she said.

O'Keefe believes many Yellowknifers resent the fact that Vista is actively blocking another media service that residents appreciate and rely on.

During the city's wildfire evacuation this summer, O'Keefe called Cabin a "life-saving resource" and said it helped communicate highway conditions and resources for different kinds of support. 

"I can't imagine what it would have been like trying to navigate the evacuation and the supports or challenges along the road if we didn't have Cabin Radio crowdsourcing all that information for us and, you know, True North FM, with all of their corporate resources, literally did nothing in comparison," she said. 

"I just have no patience for that or the fact that they were here first and our legislation seems to be outdated and that gives them an advantage."

Ollie Williams, Cabin Radio's editor and part-owner, says the number of ways to reach their audience is shrinking. 

"Thousands of people are saying we really enjoy what you do and we would like more of it, but virtually with every passing month the ways to give people what they're asking for dwindle," Williams said, referring to the CRTC's decision on their FM licence, as well as federal legislation that prompted Meta to block Canadian news from its platform.

"We're doing everything in our power to make sure it's as easy as possible for our audience to be connected to what we do and we're very grateful that so many people want there to be more options," Williams said.