CHIR-FM radio station, which is operated by the Gulf Islands Community Radio Society, hit the airwaves last fall. It’s an all-volunteer enterprise that islanders are invited to get involved with.
“We are looking for volunteers who have between one and four hours most weeks,” says society treasurer and show host David Crouch. “The roles we are looking for include promotions, social media marketing and a couple of technical ones for people to help with setting up and maintaining the automations (the radio station is quite high-tech). Interested people can get in touch with me at treasurer@gicrs.ca.”
Two CHIR-FM volunteers are profiled in our Stepping Up series this week: Patrick Howlett and Blossom McAllister.
Q. How long have you been volunteering with the radio station?
PH: About four months.
BM: Since late summer 2025, maybe early September.
Q. What attracted you to this particular group?
PH: I think community radio stations like CHIR-FM can play an important role in maintaining a healthy sense of community and I wanted to be a part of that. I’ve had some experience in media production and thought this could be a good opportunity to both contribute and up my own skill set.
BM: The music culture and that there was a chance that I could learn more about music and immerse myself in a musical place.
Q. What roles do you have?
PH: I mostly help out with the weekly scheduling of our programs, making sure the time slots are filled correctly, handling schedule changes and helping to set up new shows.
BM: My role as of now is to organize CDs, vinyl, and anything else that needs to be organized. And sometimes I also help with cash and help people find what they’d like.
Q. What past experience have you had that has been helpful?
PH: I’ve played around with recording software before and I’ve got a basic understanding of computers. It’s not much, but it made it a bit easier for me to learn how the software at CHIR-FM works.
BM: I work with customer service and use a till and I think having experience with people and organizing/cleaning in the workplace has helped me be more productive.
Q. What do you like best about volunteering with CHIR-FM?
PH: There’s a lot of autonomy and flexibility about when I can get the work done. Once I’ve got the list of tasks that need to be done it’s on me to find the time to do them. It’s easy to fit in around the other commitments in my life.
BM: I love learning about music, whether that’s listening to something new, finding new details in music that I hadn’t seen before, or talking to people who are very knowledgeable.
Q. What is something that has surprised you or you did not expect?
PH: How easy it’s been to get started. I barely knew anything about radio broadcasting, but David Crouch showed me the ropes and over time we figured it out.
BM: The thing that surprised me the most wasn’t about any of the people, it was how interested I am in the artwork that artists have chosen to put into CDs or vinyl.
Q. What are a few traits that would be helpful for potential volunteers to have?
PH: Be adaptable, things can change pretty quick. Also, have fun with it.
BM: I think as long as somebody is interested in music and organization, they could absolutely do what I do.
Q. How else might islanders know you?
PH: I facilitate a youth group through The Circle Education Society. We work with some of the students at GISS.
BM: I try to be active in my community and at my workplace, so maybe through that?
Q. In a nutshell, why would you recommend volunteering with CHIR-FM or the radio society?
PH: People come with their passion projects — the music they love, the stories they want to tell — and we help them broadcast that across the islands. It’s a good thing to have in the community, and it feels good to help make it happen.
BM: I would say that it has been a very positive learning experience for me.
