CJPN 90.5 FM Radio Fredericton

CJPN, 90.5 FM – Mission – To promote the development of the Acadian cultural identity.

CJPN, formerly known as Radio-Fredericton, aims to inform, entertain and unite the francophone community of the Greater Fredericton area, which is home to over 20 000 francophones.

On August 22, 1997, CJPN (Radio-Fredericton at the time) goes on air for the very first time. However, the radio station’s story begins seven years prior to that date. Before 1997, Radio-Canada was the only station that the French-speakers of that region could listen to in their mother tongue. No other French-speaking radio station had any particular interest towards the capital. In October of 1990, a meeting is held by community radios in hopes to remedy the situation. A temporary comity is established in the next year. Additionally, in 1991, Radio-Fredericton creates a partnership with CHSR, University of New Brunswick’s student radio. The francophone radio airs a show with CHSR for the first time on November 30, 1991 and will continue to do so until February 22, 1997.

Between 1990 and 1997, fundraising and government subsidies would help Radio-Fredericton to amass funds in order for it to become a permanent station. The radio was also fighting, at the time, to acquire a licence from CRTC all while trying to convince part of the anglophone population of the capital, namely the group CoR, of its usefulness.

Finally, on August 22, 1997, CJPN officially opens.

The radio has since then suffered from many harsh periods on the financial standpoint. For example, in order to gain profitability, CJPN had to organize a draw with art pieces from well-known artists from the province.

Since 2015, CJPN works with community radios from St-Jean and Miramichi, CHQC and CKMA respectively. The three stations even trade their hosts between each other to have a more diversified programing while limiting expenses.

CJPN is still to this day the only francophone radio station in the capital.