Stoke FM rebounds with community support

Stoke FM, Revelstoke’s community radio station, is regrouping after a bout of tech struggles, Meta’s response to the Online News Act and other hurdles that come with operating a non-profit radio station. After a Jan. 22 call-out for support and an open GoFundMe for easy donations, Stoke FM is feeling the community rallying for a list of upcoming events, including their very own Hot Chocolate Showdown.

“The town was really responsive and amazing about it. We got a lot of great feedback. A lot of people reached out to do some business with us,“ Scott Larlee, Stoke FM’s executive director told Revelstoke Mountaineer when discussing the call for support from the local radio station.

Over $2,000 in donations through the GoFundMe page, a list of new partnerships and advertisers and other avenues of community support are coming at a key time for StokeFM, with the end of 2024 and start of 2025 bringing a range of government radio tariffs, radio licenses and other costs that need to be paid for and renewed, Larlee explained.

While Stoke FM does access grants and other streams of funding, community donations and sales can be applied wherever and whenever needed, filling in gaps that grant restrictions can leave.

“For the bigger ticket items like equipment upgrades and things, we rely on grants. For everything else, we kind of rely on the community,” Larlee said.

A collection of challenges all cascaded together in the last year; failing radio equipment weakened Stoke FM’s broadcast signal, social pages for communicating with Revelstoke and the surrounding areas were pulled from Meta platforms and various software and hardware failures hindered Stoke’s broadcasting schedule and threatened advertisement contracts. Larlee is hoping new equipment, the return of local journalist Meagan Deuling and new partnerships will keep the 14-year-old station going strong.

“We’re constantly trying to continue the legacy.”

That means some pivoting, including starting up new social media pages and steering away from sharing news in an effort not to be pulled from sites again. While Stoke FM is one of the main radio stations in town, many listeners tune in and out for longer periods of time and social platforms are key to sharing community information alongside radio broadcasting.

New and renewed advertising contracts, partnerships and broadcasting opportunities have been vital in helping Stoke FM recover from the drawn-out rough patch and Larlee encourages other community groups, businesses and organizations to connect with them. Whether for audio equipment rentals, studio space rental, advertising, volunteer opportunities or more, there’s a partnership for everyone with Stoke FM.

Hot Chocolate Showdown

A new way Revelstoke will be able to show its support for Stoke FM will be the inaugural Hot Chocolate Showdown, launching Friday, Feb. 14 and running until Thursday, Feb. 27. Coffee shops, restaurants and even a local distillery are joining in on the competition, offering their takes on the classic drink and competing for Revelstoke’s votes. Everyone is welcome to cast their vote once the portal opens Feb. 14.

While cities across Canada have been running hot chocolate festivals for years, inspiration for Revelstoke’s take was pulled right from the community.

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” Sydney Desmarais, Stoke FM’s sales Manager told Revelstoke Mountaineer, explaining that she got the idea from Revelstoke Bear Aware’s burger challenge, one of the key fundraising events for the organization.

20 per cent of all competition drink sales will go to Stoke FM, and the winning drink will be announced during the morning show Friday, Feb. 28. The winner will receive a month of free advertising with Stoke.

Competitors include seven local businesses this year; Dose Coffee, Holm Coffee, Taco Club, Little Spoon, Monashee Distillery, Flourish Bakery and Modern Bakery. For an inaugural event, Desmarais is grateful for the range of participants able to show up for Stoke FM’s Hot Chocolate Showdown. But with Revelstoke’s ever-growing cafe and restaurant scene, she’s already excited about who will join next year with a bit more lead up time.
Desmarais canvased town, open to anyone who might have the capability to whip up a hot chocolate inspired drink. Some local favourites like Terra Vita were excited by the competition but unable to compete due to current commitments such as a free community breakfast with Revelstoke Alliance Church. But with the groundwork for fundraiser-style competition set up, Desmarais is certain there will be more Hot Chocolate Showdowns in the future.