The RCM/CIDI website has not been updated for the better part of a year. This is because the site needs to be re-designed and upgraded with new software. RCM/CIDI will be updating the site, hopefully, in the next few months. We recognize that many of our customers find this extremely inconvenient: we apologize for this situation.

Following the Hydro failure on the morning of 16th January, CIDI lost its transmission capabilities from the Patch Hill Tower. Thanks to the rapid intervention of the CIDI employees and volunteers Justin Cuplinskas, Nathaniel Fraser and Dewey Durrell, and the support of Pippin Technical of Saskatoon, full transmission was restored at 16:00 on 20th January.

The Annual / Special General Meeting of RCM Inc., was held in “The Hub”, 305B Knowlton Road, Knowlton on 23rd November at 7:00 pm.

The minutes of the meeting are available by clicking on the link below:

Minutes_AGM_20111123

We invite everyone to have a look at our 2011 By-Laws. Stay tuned to our website in the future for more information and updates from CIDI 99.1FM

Thank you!

CLICK HERE to download a PDF copy of our new 2011 By-Laws.

Le théâtre est de retour à la salle Alec et Gérard Pelletier. En effet, vendredi dernier (29 avril) avait lieu la première de la pièce L’espace entre, un collage de six courtes pièces écrites spécialement pour l’occasion, par six auteurs de Sutton : Agathe Génois, Lucie Hébert, Jefferson Lewis, Michèle Normandin, Andrée Pelletier et Louise Pelletier. La mise en scène est signée par Michèle Normandin, la musique a été créée par Pierre Laurendeau et la conception des costumes est de Brigite Normandin.

Les spectateurs ont été enchantés de leur soirée et étonnés de la grande qualité du spectacle. L’originalité de la mise en scène et l’excellence du jeu des comédiens ont été particulièrement remarquées. Ce sont dix comédiens de Sutton et des environs qui interprètent avec brio les différentes pièces, il s’agit de Lise Cameron, Stéphanie Choquette, Michel Fradette, Dominique Gagnon, Robert Ménard, Dominic Papin, Shannon Partridge, Andrée Pelletier, Sanders Pinault et Catherine Rajotte.

L’espace entre, c’est le thème de tous ces morceaux qui parlent d’amour, de trahison, d’indifférence, de communication ou d’incommunication, d’espoir et d’un brin de folie. C’est l’espace entre le rêve et l’éveil, l’illusion et le mensonge, l’image et la réalité.

Lise Cameron, Stéphanie Choquette, Michel Fradette, Dominique Gagnon, Robert Ménard, Dominic Papin, Shannon Partridge, Andrée Pelletier, Sanders Pinault et Catherine Rajotte

C’est à voir absolument. Il ne reste que trois représentations, les 6 et 7 mai à 20h, le 8 mai à 14h. Vous pouvez réserver en téléphonant au 450 538 0486. Des billets (20$) sont aussi en vente à la boutique Au Naturel à Sutton.

Pour plus de détails sur la programmation de la Salle Alec et Gérard Pelletier, visitez le www.salleagpelletier.com.

In this compilation Michaela’s poetry and songs are compiled to present a wonderfully elating tapestry of spiritual musings that relate a tale of love, hope, and survival. Attempting to connect to her own spirituality she shares with us her own poetry and songs.

Michaela is a new age writer, poet, singer-songwriter, radio broadcaster. Her work is esoteric drawing on love and soul, to convey a message of hope and survival. Host of the Poetry Music and Transcendence Radio Show on CIDI in the Eastern Townships, she shares her spirituality through peoms, songs and metaphysical teachings.

(more about Michaela on her host page)

Our upcoming dance show Kaleidoscope. It is an annual event and this year’s theme is Imagination. The show will be shown to the public on Thursday and Friday, May 5 and 6. The price is $10 per person and the show starts at 6:30 pm. All money helps support the M-V dance program! Thanks for your support!

The kind of Jazz Stanley Lake likes to perform is about the here and now, that moment in time that expresses itself through emotion. How one feels is how one sounds, so it’s no wonder then that Lake is able to bring the same characteristics of his musical performances to another art form, Improvisational story telling.

Lake came to Canada in 1975 from Cleveland, Ohio. He started playing piano at the age of five and traveled a twisting path of fate which finally led him to the trumpet, flugelhorn and cornet as the instruments of choice for his musical interests. For eighteen years he studied classical music until one day he was smitten by the allure of jazz.

“It moves me so deeply,” he explains. “Music fills my life with passion. It takes over the spirit of who we are. It’s really great.

I had always been impressed by the Beat Poets, the smoky jazz club, the cool music in the background and the poets reciting their work,” recounts Lake. “So when I was playing in the group DasTrio in the mid 90′s (with André Lafleur double bass and David Sutherland saxophones and clarinet, two wonderful musicians ) I presented the idea of some improvisational story telling. It was a blast from the start!”

Lafleur and Sutherland both pushed and encouraged Lake to try a story at each performance. “I wish  now that I  had recorded the stories,” says Lake, “since quite honestly I have forgotten so many.”

Stanley Lake: “The Receptionists”,Saturday, the 30th of April at 8pm.

Recently the Jazz trumpeter, raconteur and troubadour, has been persuaded to record a CD with his jazz quartet, “The Receptionists”. They have already done some recordings for his new CD in Sutton at the Salle Alec et Gerard Pelletier in front of a live audience in February, and some in the studio as well. “We are going to wrap up the recordings for this CD.” says Lake, “with another live session at CIDI’s Radio Village Hall in Knowlton this Saturday, the 30th of April at 8pm.”

One can expect, at the CIDI show, to experience both worlds of Lake; the musical and the story telling. When he tells his stories Lake begins with an idea and goes about the process of exploring the many different options that present themselves spontaneously, while interacting with his musicians.
 
“Hopefully the stories make sense,” says Lake. “To the audience they are often amusing and strange, full of the things of life; fate, destiny, love, death. Usually they have a strange unexpected twist.”

As opposed to doing a studio album, Lake finds it very motivating and helpful playing in front of an audience. “It should be fun for the audience as one does not often get the chance to participate in a recording.” explains Lake. “The audience members will be able to tell their friends or children -’right there, right there-that’s my hand clapping’. What a way to impress your friends or children!” “So as I say to my friends, bring your ears and get a mouthful! The stories are in English, and the music is bilingual.”

Don’t miss “Cookin’ up Some Stories” at CIDI’s Radio Village Hall with Stanley Lake and The Recptionists (Michael Hynes, keyboards, Kevin Sullivan, percussion, Claude Prud’homme guitar and Simon Esterez, bass) this Saturday, April 30th at 8 pm. Admission is $10 and $5 for Radio Communautaire Missisquoi members. For more infromation please call 450-539-9873, or go to our website at rcmmedia.org.

Maurice Singfield is an RCM volunteer.

Previously censored stories get the airing they deserve from the improvisational raconteur and troubadour, jazz trumpeter Stanley Lake. Join us for a raucus evening of LIVE RECORDING of tracks for his new CD. Bring your ears and get a mouthful as the exploration continues with the help of his usual collection of musical suspects. Not to be missed!

Don’t forget the address and place: 305B Knowlton Road in Knowlton at Radio Village Hall.

Music is multidimensional, meaning that the human spirit takes control, expresses itself and possesses the material world for moments at a time. Brilliant moments, not so meaningful moments, and often just regular moments that become reflections of our lives frozen in time, replayed through memories and digital devices.

Radio Communautaire Missisquoi is part of this life process. It captures, presents and archives performances (musical or otherwise) presented by individuals/volunteers behind the CIDI microphone, who are willing to share a passion with RCM participants; stakeholders and listeners.

Julie Miller is one such person. Living in Ulverton, Quebec (around the Drummondville area), she drives once a week to Knowlton and records her show, The Wayfinders.

“The title of the program is taken from Canadian anthropologist Wade Davis’ book of the same name”, explains Miller.  “The book, in turn, was the transcript of the series of Massey Lectures he gave several years ago, in which he demonstrated the importance of preserving the precious cultural and linguistic diversity of the world’s peoples”. 

Resonating intuitively with Davis she designed her show around the concept of recognizing the current development of Folk/Roots music.  “I’m not a purist or an authority,” says Miller, “although I admire people who know all the intricate history of a particular genre. Say, folk music in North America.”

Miller points out, given such people “know who was doing what in the 60’s and with whom, and that they can name all of the artists’ influences going back decades”, that she chooses to do things differently.  ”I find there is now so much more cross-cultural pollination than ever.”

“What happens when a Senegalese musician arrives to live in Quebec?  When Irish musicians collaborate with Mexicans?  When an Ontario girl goes up north and finds her voice in the Yukon?  Thus, the Wayfinders, finding our way.”

“I’m a musician”, proclaims Miller.  “…a flautist.  I sing a bit.

Miller has a warm-seasoned radio presence. She began hosting a world-music program in French at CFLX community radio station in Sherbrooke a few years back, and gradually started including music from the folk/roots genre.  She speaks with confidence, knowing full well that the truth lies within her perceptions of what good music is. How can she be so sure?

“I’m a musician”, proclaims Miller.  “…a flautist.  I sing a bit.  I play the piano. The bodhran (a handheld, shallow Irish drum with a single goatskin head, played with a stick).  My main instrument at university was the saxophone, though I don’t pick it up much anymore. I’ve been a music teacher; I’ve performed in musical theatre; I’ve played everything from classical to jazz, always coming back to folk.”

Originally from Montreal, Miller found her way to the Townships and resides on a sheep farm in Ulverton, has two kids, runs a bilingual theatre program for children 8-12, does some freelance writing, and picks up contracts here and there, both musical and otherwise. 

Recently she coordinated an intergenerational music festival in the Richmond region for the Townshippers’ Association.  “I’ve been running a folk/roots coffeehouse concert series in the village where I live, called Ulverton Folk,” adds Miller.  “We’re finishing up our fourth season and there have been some interesting projects and partnerships that have come out of that.”

I couldn’t help but ask who some of her favourite artists are: “Oh my goodness.  A list?  It changes with the seasons…it is impossible to name all the wonderful Canadian singer songwriters out there, I discover new ones every season.”

Miller finally caved in: “Penny Lang is someone I have loved for about twenty years…amazing voice…I’m always excited to hear a new album from Le Vent du Nord, they just won the Juno for best roots and traditional group… Gilles Vigneault is enchanting and his songs are a source of endless delight, wonder and meaningful observations.  The McGarrigle sisters.  We are so lucky to live in Quebec, there is so much music, so many wonderful artists, all of them drawing inspiration from the culture and tensions of the province and coming out with remarkable compositions and sounds.  Younger Quebec artists I enjoy are Vincent Vallieres, Fred Pellerin, Mark Bérubé, Olivier Brousseau, Kate Morrison, Diouf, Karim Saada, Les Cowboys Fringants, Florant Vollant, Chloé Sainte-Marie…the list is actually much longer!  I love music from West Africa—Omar Pène, Salif Keita, Toumani Diabaté, Etran Finatawa, Mansa Sissokho.  The banjoist Jayme Stone is perhaps one of the most interesting Canadian musicians to listen to as he is constantly seeking new horizons for his musical collaborations while remaining rooted in folk traditions.” Phew!! Is she into it or what?

We at RCM are so lucky to have wonderful and dedicated volunteers such as Julie Miller. Without people like her we’d have nothing. Thank you.

Don’t forget, Brian Blain performs this Saturday (8 pm) April 9, at Radio Village Hall 305B Knowlton Rd, in Knowlton at CIDI’s studios. For information go to www.rcmmedia.org.

The photo is from Klaus Bremer/CIDI.
Klaus Bremer and Maurice Singfield are Radio Communautaire Missisquoi volunteers.

Lynda Bertrand presents “Life Changes”

Believes in life changes and explores with her guests in studio the dynamics of how we live life’s changes and where they bring us.

Listen to meaningful conversations about personal experiences, practices, alternative approaches towards total well being and self awakening.

To listen to the latest episode, select it under the section “(LB)Life Changes” (on your right) or click the link hereunder to subscribe to the podcast:

And, for your comments or if you want to contact me by e-mail, use the form here-under (you can also leave comments under each posted episode).

Sherbrooke native and former Sutton resident Brian Blain performs at Knowlton’s Radio Village Hall on Saturday, April 9

Admission is $10. With the price of admission you become an RCM member. Future shows will be offered to all members at reduced rates.

Brian Blain is known to CIDI-FM listeners as the composer of “Terrace Inn” a song that has received a lot of airplay on the station because of the fond memories many listeners have of that old dancehall in Bondville. Brian also made a guest appearance with Oliver Klaus at their annual fundraiser for the station last December.

Brian is an established singer-songwriter in Toronto and his appearance in Knowlton will kick-off a tour of Quebec to promote his third CD, “New Folk Blues”.

The new CD, New Folk Blues, recorded with internationally renowned bassist George Koller

For more info on Brian, as well as audio and video clips, go to www.brianblain.ca.

The first time I met Brian Blain was when I hitch-hiked with Glen Whitehead, a friend of mine, to Hamilton Ontario. “You have to meet this guy my sister knows”, said Whitehead, who knew I was trying to get ahead in the music business. “He works for an ad agency and has a lot of contacts.”

To me, Blain had it made. He drove around in a sports car, had a cool job and listened to all the latest music. He had me listen to Crosby, Stills and Nash’s debut” vinyl” album fresh-out-of-the-sleeve. Wow!

Over the years we became friends, and as I was busy trying to establish Oliver Klaus, he was advancing his career as a songwriter, performer and producer. Finally our careers merged when I invited him to join Oliver Klaus back in the mid-seventies.

Brian Blain

Blain knows how to weave a magic spell with music and words. A gifted storyteller, he writes mostly witty, gentle songs about his day-to-day life. However, some of them can be a little peppery, although his sense of humour usually remains intact.

Reviewers have praised him to the skies. They’ve said he’s “articulate,” an “astute observer of life,” he’s “a great guitarist,” and a jazz critic called his music “unpretentious and understated yet intelligent and gently intricate.”

One critic from the Detroit Metro Times threw out a barb when, pondering Blain’s music, he wondered who would want to hear “a bluesman singin’ the blues about how lousy the blues singin’ business is these days”.

Blain, however, is quick to point out that he’s “writing about what I know.” After all, he’s been in the business as a guitarist, producer and a singer-songwriter for nearly 50 years.

Following his departure from the recently downsized NorthernBlues label he was about to release a new album on a small indy label, but creative differences nipped that in the bud. The project was salvaged when Radio Communautaire Missisquoi offered Blain its resources to help finish the project. It was mastered by John Cameron, a dedicated RCM volunteer, at his Knowlton studio.

Brian Blain Grey Hat

True to form, one of the songs on the CD is about the financial woes of his former record label. The small company was slipping into the red when one of the songs they published was used in a Coca-Cola commercial. Blain tells the story in The Day Coke Saved the Blues.

The new CD, New Folk Blues, which Blain recorded with internationally renowned bassist George Koller, features nine tracks, including a song about Blain’s friend Alice Brock, of Alice’s Restaurant fame, who was prominent in the 1960s folk scene. Alice’s Restaurant, the song by Arlo Guthrie, was released in 1967 and the movie came out in 1969.

Blain is frequently in Provincetown, Mass., Brock’s hometown, because his ex-wife, Linda, lives there and his son, Joel, spends time there. (The couple’s break-up is documented in The Big Fire, on Blain’s first CD.)  Blain has visited Brock, now an artist “drawing cats on beach stones and tossing ‘em in the sand,” he writes in Another Song About Alice.

Another one of the Provincetown songs on the CD is The Old Whaler’s Confession, and that is what motivated him to ask Koller to record with him. Blain had once heard Koller “making some amazing sound effects with the bow, that sounded so much like whale cries,” introduce the song, which is about how (in the 1600s) you could “walk across their backs right to Boston” before the whaling trade took its toll on these magnificent creatures.

The new CD, New Folk Blues, recorded with internationally renowned bassist George Koller

Blain actually worked at the Sherbrooke Record in the 60s when it was owned by John Bassett. Since then, he’s worked at ad agencies and as desktop publisher and web manager, record producer and is now an established singer-songwriter in Toronto currently touring Quebec promoting his third CD, “New Folk Blues”.

Sherbrooke native Brian Blain performs at Knowlton’s Radio Village Hall, 305B Knowlton Road, for an evening concert/CD launch on Saturday, April 9 at 8pm. Admission is $10 and $5 for RCM members.

For more information visit www.brianblain.ca where you can listen to tracks from the CD and view a 20-minute video clip of Brian performing a collection of songs he’s written about the Eastern Townships at an Ontario festival event with popular Townships author Louise Penny.

Maurice and Tanya Singfield are RCM volunteers.

The choir, “Choeur Classique de l’Estrie”, has been part of the Eastern Townships cultural landscape since 1991. Its founder, Denis St-Pierre, established the choir as a high-level group of local singers. Their mission is to share the joy of singing by presenting masterpieces written by some of the world’s greatest composers. Since September 2002, Maestro François Panneton has been its director.

In December 1982 Panneton obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sherbrooke. He then went on to pursue degrees in music attaining a BA and an MA in vocal performance at the University of Montreal.

During these years he studied choral conducting with Jean-François Sénart. After graduation, he attended two training courses in Europe, first at “Centre international de Formation musicale” in Nice, July 1991, and the second at the Britten-Pears School in England, with Kurt Equiluz, September 1993. Last June, he received a Masters in conducting from the University of Sherbrooke, with Nicole Paiement.

What’s striking about the “Choeur Classique de l’Estrie” is its size. With as many as 60 singers, the choir can be powerful and moving in ways that lends itself to interpreting some of the great choral, oratorio and symphonic musical works of all times. Other distinct qualities are: intonation, flexibility, musicality and precision.

Radio Communautaire Missisquoi is pleased to present this Sunday, March 27th at 2pm in its Radio Village Hall at 305B Knowlton Raod in Knowlton, a special presentation of Italian choral favourites by sixteen voices from the “Choeur Classique de l’Estrie” under the direction of maestro François Panneton. Part of the program includes Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with words arranged to it from the original poems which inspired Vivaldi to compose his celebrated symphony.

Radio Village Hall is a special venue. Its a recording studio outfitted to captured local and visiting artists for community radio and TV, in front of a live audience. People attending an RVH show pay $10 at the door to become a member and if already a member only $5.

The idea behind RVH is to promote artists by presenting them to the region and the world through an electronic hook up to the internet and through the local media. All performances are recorded and played on CIDI 99.1 FM.

“Choeur Classique de l’Estrie” under the direction of maestro François Panneton.

Today the media are leaning toward convergence. It is not unlikely to hear CBC radio advertise that their shows can now be viewed on YouTube. Audio and video are being combined more and more with the Web to produce interactive content. RCM is prepared to take on the convergence challenge with its Radio Village Hall and The Hub. Both venues will be wired for radio, TV and the Internet.

The Hub, a store front location situated at 305 Knowlton road in Knowlton, will be a space for people to visit, relax and become familiar with RCM and its community; RCM’s reception above its basement studios. It’s free and open to the public. However, on the walls (the Wall of Fame) will be 100 signs (each sign is to be hung for one year from June 1st to May 31st), featuring individuals, advertisers and sponsors. We encourage anyone interested in purchasing a sign to contact us at the number below. Each sign costs $300 and we hope to raise $30, 000 from the campaign.

The money will go toward the development of local talent and in turn build a community for the benefit of Brome County and the surrounding Eastern Townships.

RCM will start broadcasting live four hours a day in The Hub from Monday through Friday during the month of April. Its volunteer hosts will perform in front of picture windows overlooking Knowlton Road.

Don’t miss a special presentation with sixteen singers from the “Choeur Classiques de l’Estrie” under the direction of François Panneton this coming Sunday, March 27 at Radio Village Hall from 2pm to 4pm. Admission is $10 and $5 for RCM members.

For more information please call 450-242-9873 or toll free at 450-888-2098.

Maurice Singfield is an RCM volunteer.

OK, I know it’s the “Ides of March”, which thankfully is past, but the whole month has been somewhat strange so far. Good news is the clocks went ahead and the days are longer, but we lost an hour of sleep.

We’ve had several spring-like days only to be followed by yet another snowstorm and then huge ice chunks and avalanches of snow come crashing down off the roofs.

Things in general were strange. Call a company and request service in English, you get French (or vice versa). A couple of times our newspaper wasn’t delivered. My blender broke. Our cat got into a fight with a stray. Maurice went to see a client but there was nobody there because they forgot. People at the bridge club were bidding out of turn, making insufficient bids or playing the wrong card, not quite being in their right minds. A friend meant to give me a waffle-iron she no longer needed since she had bought a new one, but she mixed up the boxes, pitched the waffle-iron in the trash and gave me an old telephone instead!

We had a good laugh over that one, but isn’t it strange? Must be spring fever. And after months and months, we still can’t drink the water in WATERloo!

In light of what’s happened in Japan (not to mention the ongoing and escalating hostilities throughout the Middle-East) we really shouldn’t complain about the trifling annoyances we encounter day to day. We’re coming down to the finish-line, next week is the official start of spring and it won’t be much longer until we can be outside enjoying our decks and patios and spring flowers and gardens. This dreary month is almost over as time marches on!

Enough grousing and complaining. We always want to share some good news with you. We recently received an email from the Ukraine. Apparently, a group of people discovered our radio station thanks to live-streaming on the internet and they are quite the fan club! They listen to us at work and claim it makes their workday more pleasant and easier to get through. How nice that is to hear, makes us feel we’re doing the right thing. That’s why it’s so important for us to get feedback from you, whoever you are and wherever you may be.

On the CIDI radio front, shows continue to be produced and hosts keep showing up for duty. It would be unfair not to mention the contributions of our volunteer hosts from time to time. “Ides of March” or not, just like the mailman our hosts are at the helm speaking into the microphone rain or shine every week.

This week we’d like to thank “The Ivanator”, Yvon Grondin, for the immense contribution he has made to Radio Communautaire Missisquoi over the past couple of years. He currently produces six shows: The Ivan Hour (his own classic-rock show), The Elvis hour (Matteo Ortuso), Mostly Canadian Unplayed (Stephen Paglia), Planetarium (astrologer Marie-Christine Dean), The Penalty Box (Nate Forster) and DJ Blues (Donald Jolander). Please check CIDI’s grid online at rcmmedia.org or in the Brome County News each week for the show times.

“The Ivanator”, Yvon Grondin

Grondin is a sound engineer/producer and has his own home studio. He is a musician, singer/ songwriter and is a member of the local rock band Oliver Klaus. At the moment he is working diligently on mixing the sound tracks from Klaus’ last show at the Maison de la Culture de Waterloo recorded by John Cameron (another RCM volunteer / sound engineer) December 11, 2010.

The Sunday afternoon live concerts at Radio Village Hall have also been a regular happening at RCM, and we are happy to say that the “Band a Jacko” will finally be performing from 2-4 pm this Sunday, March 20th (having had to cancel last time). Admission is $10 and $5 for members. They play lively Latino type music, just the thing to brighten up a grey and rainy afternoon and lift your spirits.

For more information on the goings on at RCM and its community radio station CIDI 99.1 FM, go to our website or call 450-242-9873.

Tanya and Maurice Singfield are CIDI volunteers.

So many “Special Days”. This past week we had International Women’s Day as well as Shrove Tuesday (also known as Mardi Gras or pancake day), all causes for great festivities and celebrations.

Coming up next week is St. Patrick’s Day. There is Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, Black history week and the Gay Pride Parade and numerous other “days” in honour of this and that.

At CIDI we have plenty of women. Holly Bailey is a producer, a co-host of the “Stop!” show on TV and she also has her own program, “The Bobcat Sessions”. Marie-Christine Dean does the horoscope show. Shirley (aka Marian) has a program called “Showtime!” featuring old Broadway hits and show tunes. Marie and Lucie Fortin came up with many Chronicles” shows before deciding to take a break.

Then we have many women behind the scenes such as Marilyn Durrell who is always ready, willing and able to help cater the parties and often provides home-made muffins for the staff. Denise Butcher who comes in to clean but also goes out of her way, donating a door-prize for our piano competition.

Throughout history, there have been many famous women such as Catherine the Great, Marie-Antoinette, Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth the 1st and the 2nd, as well as Indira Ghandi, Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher and Mother Theresa. Many actresses and rock stars. Florence Nightingale, Mme.Curie, Carrie Nation and Rosa Parks. Pocahontas. Evita, Imelda. Lucia Borgia and Mme. de Pompadour. All famous, some good, some bad and some notorious. Many others for sure.

We play many local female artists on our radio station such as Sarah Biggs and Angel Forrest and others. We have women on our board of directors.

Fine and dandy! There is nothing wrong with having a “women’s day”, they deserve recognition but so do we all. Why not have a “People Day” instead? We are all here on the same planet together, so why not cooperate for the common good?

Men or women, any age, race or creed, we are all human beings living on this earth and sharing the same space. Let’s take care of our own affairs the best way we can and help each other in need. Let’s look after our planet, we all live here together after all.

Radio Communautaire Missisquoi brings to light the efforts of anyone willing to express who they are through the services it offers. Allowing people to be who they are is our mandate. CIDI 99.1 FM is but one way RCM helps recognize our individuality as a community.

With its production and promotional experience RCM has matured as an organization and is ready to tackle the next phase of its growth; restructuring its operations to better meet the needs of the future.

RCM’s main market is made up of creative men and women looking to develop their talents and gain public exposure (technicians, musicians, hosts, producers, actors…). Artists sustain and create self-confidence through performing, and avail themselves of RCM’s services for this very reason, whether it be performing in studio or on stage, as a musician, radio & TV host, actor, technician or producer.

Christiane Lamarche, is a naturotherapist born and raised in Granby. She has currently joined the ranks of CIDI and is hosting a new show called Mangez et Maigrissez (Eat and lose weight). She’s a good example of RCM’s market.

“Over time I began noticing that I was less fit and my endurance level was low,” explains Lamarche. “…I figured I could eat whatever I pleased without taking into consideration calorie count or nutritional value of the nutrients. Over time I began noticing that I was less fit and my endurance level was low.”

It was at this point in her life that Lamarche considered a career as a naturotherapist. When she heard about community radio station CIDI she applied to have her own show.

“There is nothing complicated about eating,” says Lamarche. “One only needs to understand that when you nourish your body, you therefore nourish your health. Banish from your vocabulary that most dreaded word and term ‘diet’. It can be done. Join me on my new and wonderful adventure on CIDI’s airwaves!” You can listen to Lamarche every Saturday at 2pm on CIDI or online at rcmmedia.org. With the launch of her show RCM is celebrating nutrition month. For a personalized session, please contact her at 450-204-7643. “I am a francophone,” says Lamarche, “but it will give me great pleasure to serve you in English.” Yet another example of being who we are!

Don’t forget Le Vent des Cantons will be performing this Sunday from 2 to 4pm at RCM’s Radio Village Hall, 305B Knowlton Road in Knowlton. Admission is $10 and $5 for members. For more information please call 450-539-9873.

Tanya and Maurice Singfield are RCM volunteers.

Christiane Lamarche presents: Eat and lose weight

My name is Christiane, I am a naturotherapist and nutritional coach. A few years back, while working as a landscaper, I noticed that my energy level was not up to par, so I therefor became quite interested in nutrition. I gradually changed my eating habits and regained my energy. As a bonus I also lost a few pounds. Following this success, I made nutrition my passion and turned it into a profession.

The goal of my program is to share with you the results of my research, so that you can also benefit from my findings. Weight loss and energy. Banish from your vocabulary that most dreaded word DIET.

Eat and lose weight with me!!!

To listen to the latest episode, select it under the section “(CL)Mangez et Maigrissez” (on your right) or click the link hereunder to subscribe to the podcast:

And, for your comments or if you want to contact me by e-mail, use the form here-under (you can also leave comments under each episode).

DAVE & THE BLUE SHADOWS in the Radio Village Hall on March 6 2011 at 2:00PM. Admission $10.00 (RCM Members $5.00)

As Alice fell down the hole into Wonderland, she had no idea what adventures awaited her. Neither did any of us know what to expect as we plunged into the CIDI radio project. “I’m late” said the rabbit, and so were we often late with paying the rent or filling out applications. The Cheshire Cat kept grinning, appearing and disappearing at will. So did some of our volunteers. “Eat me, drink me” and as a result grow bigger or smaller: we’ve had those decisions to make many a time.

At the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, the guests just enjoyed themselves, made a mess of things and moved on to a new seat. We’ve seen that happen. The Queen of Hearts wanted to do away with everyone. Yes, certain people have said bye-bye to CIDI.
How did Alice survive, how can we?

Stephen Paglia – CIDI’s Mad Hatter

Just as she did not know what to expect in Wonderland, none of the people involved in the radio project could foresee the future. We have attracted a great many terrific, hardworking and devoted members certainly, but none of us had any professional experience when it comes to radio. However, between the lot of us we definitely have numerous skills and talents to contribute. It’s actually quite amazing when you think about it.

CIDI really is a Wonderland, full of magical moments and surprises. A whole new playground, creative and exciting and always fun!

We are learning by doing and I think that during the relatively short time we’ve been up and running we’ve done an excellent job. Producing our own (often bilingual) programs and ads, the “STOP!” show on TV, introducing the Radio Village Hall, holding fundraisers and occasional live broadcasts all adds fuel to the fire.

Our Sunday matinee concerts in RVH have proven to be popular to date so we will definitely continue to present them featuring local artists. We must apologize for the cancellation of last week’s show (due to a death in the family of one of the band members) but La Band à Jacko will certainly be back to entertain you on March 20 ($10 and $5 for RCM members) at 305B Knowlton Road. The show is from 2 to 4. Also, on March 6 we’ll be presenting Dave Hebert with his blues band, same time, same station and admission.

Let’s keep things going. We are enjoying our discoveries in the Wonderland of radio.
We welcome one and all to join us, however and whenever you can. Actually, having a sort of tea party on Sunday afternoons at the radio village hall as you enjoy the show
seems like a good idea. Music and muffins, what do you think?

Please let us know, we always want to hear from all of our readers and listeners and play the stuff you want to hear. Any comments or new ideas? Let us know. We need feedback so we can do the best job we can. Remember, this is YOUR radio station, and we’re here to serve you.

Being who we are is CIDI, lots of great shows, lots of wonderful hosts and terrific volunteers. Give us a listen, send us your comments and suggestions.

For those of you who can’t pick us up on the radio, go to our website (rcmmedia.org) and click on the live-streaming button. If you missed a show you can listen to it on the CIDI player or go to the show/host pages and listen to past programs.

Tanya Singfield is a Radio Communautaire Missisquoi volunteer. Tel: 450-242-9873.

Patron Louise Penny, internationally acclaimed Townships writer, and her husband Michael Whitehead, offered their encouragement and financial support for the first prize winner. The Townshippers’ Cultural & Research Foundation provided a grant to help organize this Competition.

Radio Communautaire Missisquoi (RCM) has just announced the winners of its Radio Drama Writing Awards 2010. The distinguished panel of judges, Alex Paterson, Frances Gallagher and Jefferson Lewis met recently to select the winners.

Alex Paterson, OC, OQ, QC, Ad.E; author of “My Life at the Bar and Beyond”, was until recently, Chancellor of Bishops University, and is an Emeritus Governor of McGill; he has acted at the Centaur Theatre, he has been an active supporter of Knowlton’s community theatre, a patron of Theatre Lac Brome, and he has contributed his leadership and time to a wide range of community, educational, and public service projects.

Frances Gallagher; began her film career at Potterton Productions in Montreal doing continuity, film and sound editing, script writing and production. She went on to produce TV commercials, shorts and documentaries, and established the film production company 3 Themes Inc.; she then devoted herself fulltime to writing. Gallagher has been a script reader for the National Film Board and Telefilm among others; and she has given writing workshops at Bishop’s Knowlton campus, and for the Quebec Writers Federation.

Jefferson Lewis began as a radio writer, and has since written (and occasionally directed) more than 60 screenplays in both French and English, from documentaries to feature films and everything in between. He works as a script consultant and workshop leader across North America and Europe.

These judges reached a unanimous decision that the prizes should be awarded as follows:

Patron Louise Penny thanked all the entrants for deciding to enter this new Competition and for the commitment and effort that they had dedicated to writing a new play. She went on to congratulate the winners.

“It’s thrilling to have radio plays about the Townships being written and produced. And such a high calibre! As someone who also writes about the Townships, I know what a rich canvas it is. And now we’re discovering, thanks to CIDI, ever more artists, ever more writers, ever more voices – and more stories to tell about a place we cherish,” she said.

David Grenville, the man behind the RCM Radio Drama Contest

Radio Communautaire Missisquoi plans to launch Radio Drama Writing Awards 2011 next summer at WordFest in Knowlton. Its goal is to promote new radio plays about some aspect of life in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, past or present, and to increase awareness of the possibilities and scope of radio in the field of drama.

The Chawkers Foundation provided the enabling grant to launch the new program “Townships Radio Theatre” and Sunshine Theatre Productions will mount a professional production of the winning radio play from the competition to be aired on CIDI soon.

Article by Doug Hooper, Photo Kate Wisdom.

Canadian Club of the Yamaska Valley meets on Mon. March 7 with Jody Robinson, archivist at Eastern Townships Research Centre, Bishops University at 2 pm at Auberge West Brome. Topic Keeping it in the Family, tracing your family’s roots and preserving your family papers. Non members $10. Information 450 243 6524 (Meredith MacKeen)

Marie Christine Dean presents: Planetarium

Native to the Brome Lake region, Marie Christine Dean is a certified astrologer with a substantial experience base on the study of astrological theory and charts that have been carefully verified through real life practice.

She became engulfed by astrology at a very early age, and after many years of study and observation, she has developed a sufficiently reliable and proven methodology of interpretation that allows her to uniquely advise her clientele.

Since the beginning of her astrological career, Marie Christine has resolutely established as a guiding principle that our knowledge represent less that which appears to be obvious, and more that which is yet to be discovered threw observation and hard work. With time, the results she has achieved have quickly exceeded her aspirations, and today her discoveries reveal themselves constantly.

As an experience astrologer, Marie Christine recognizes the importance of acknowledging those who have helped her to develop her talent. Principally, Marie Christine owes a debt to Anne-Marie Chalifoux D.N. under whom she has studied and whose methodology and philosophy can be found in her own analytical approach.

Knowing full well that astrology does not exist to solely dictate the path one takes, but rather serves to illuminate that which may lie ahead. Marie Christine Dean believes that the practice of astrology allows us to prepare for the fates that await each and everyone of us.

So please join me every Monday morning at 8h00 am and at 18h30 for your astrology predictions on my weekly program Planetarium.

To listen to the latest episode, select it under the section “(MCD)Planetarium EN” (on your right) or click the link hereunder to subscribe to the podcast:

And, for your comments or if you want to contact me by e-mail, use the form here-under (you can also leave comments under each episode).

Radio Communautaire Missisquoi is having too much fun! Last summer we initiated the first annual RCM Radio Drama Writing Awards competition and today are pleased to announce the winners of the 2010 contest.

The distinguished panel of judges for the competition – Alex Paterson, Frances Gallagher and Jefferson Lewis – have completed their review of the entries. They met recently to select the winners and reached a unanimous decision that the prizes should be awarded as follows:

It’s hard to explain the joy one gets out of developing and producing an event whereby people are honoured and supported for their creative works. RCM’s Radio Drama Writing Awards is the brainchild of David Grenville; resident of the Town of Brome Lake. His interest in theatre and community radio along with his many friends, has enabled him to develop a competition supported by the likes of Louise Penny (Patron), the Chawkers Foundation out of Toronto and the Townshippers’ Cultural & Research Foundation.
“I’m pleased and relieved”, says Grenville, “that the competition idea has gone off better than I had feared it would.  Indeed, as a first time effort I think we can judge it a success, and a model for future competitions that we can adjust as we go along.”

Grenville pitched the idea to Kate Wisdom (Chairperson of RCM’s board of directors) and me last year. “…she (Wisdom)”, adds Grenville, “has worked closely with me on shaping and organizing the competition.”

Wisdom is a huge contributor to the development of the arts in the Townships and has been working with the Townshippers Association for over thirteen years organizing Townshippers Days and sitting on committees and boards the likes of RCM and the CLD of Brome Missisquoi.

We are happy to have Wisdom as our Chair and supporter of RCM’s community-building aspirations. When asked about our reception desk moving upstairs to street level 305 Knowlton Road, she said: “… I think it is a great project…lots of social economy potential. It would be like having our own version of a legion back in Knowlton for weekend stuff (the Community centre is closed on Friday evenings to Monday am). Could get real busy!!!

The RCM Radio Drama Writing Awards gives us yet another piece to the community-building and arts-development puzzle. The puzzle is no more than a plan, a method of sorts which will lead to the realization of a dream; a social-economy non-profit called Radio Communautaire Missisquoi.
 
“I’ve always envisaged that RCM/CIDI needs to have a small number of flagship programs”, explains Grenville.  “I think the musical competitions (RCM’s Stop! TV show), both band and piano are already emerging as one such program.  I believe that Townships Radio Theatre can be another, now that the best of the local theatre talent is involved with RCM.  Promoting these shows will be crucial to their success.”

La bande à Jaco

Let’s not forget Radio Village Hall at 305B Knowlton Road. Over the past month we have had three musical events and are looking forward to this Sunday’s La Bande à Jaco performance at 2pm. The local band performs a Spanish / Latino musical mix of originals and standards. Everyone is welcome. Admission is $10 and $5 for RCM members. Please call for more information.

This is the strength of community, supporting each other to achieve a greater goal, and to build a stronger network that benefits everyone. Being who we are is CIDI, lots of great shows, lots of wonderful hosts and terrific volunteers. Give us a listen, send us your comments and suggestions, we always want to hear from you all and play the stuff you want to hear.

For those of you who can’t pick us up on the radio, go to our website (rcmmedia.org) and click on the live-streaming button. If you missed a show you can listen to it on the CIDI player or go to the show/host pages and listen to past programs.

Maurice Singfield is a Radio Communautaire Missisquoi volunteer. Tel: 450-242-9873 / 1-888-539-2098.