Governance

The Radio Malaspina Society is a non-profit organization (NPO), incorporated under the Societies Act of BC, formed specifically to acquire and hold a radio license from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The CRTC and Innovation Canada (ISED) license the Radio Malaspina Society to operate CHLY-FM as a campus subtype (campus-community) radio station operating at 101.7 MHz. with 3000 Watts ERP from a tower site located on Cottle Hill in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

As a campus subtype station, the society’s board of directors includes representation from its Student Membership and Community Membership, alongside faculty and administrative representation from Vancouver Island University.

Important: While The Radio Malaspina Society is registered as NPO with the CRA and can accept donations, the society is not a Registered Charity or Qualified Donee and cannot offer tax receipts. Unlike the United States, campus-community radio is not considered a charitable activity in Canada. While exceptions to this rule like CKUA do exist, these stations are legacied in charitable status by the CRA.

Constitution & Bylaws

These documents outline the governance of the Radio Malaspina Society, the Society that operates CHLY 101.7FM.

• Certified Constitution (Last updated October 30, 2019)

• Certified Bylaws (Last updated October 26th 2023)

Policies

Per the Society’s bylaws, The Board of Directors may, by directorsʼ resolution, create policies that govern the conduct of the Societyʼs members and the day-to-day operation of the Society. This includes the radio station it operates.

Current Policies

• Interim Policy and its Ratification (Posted Spring 2024)

• Personal Belongings Policy (Posted Spring 2024)

• Harassment and Violence Prevention Policy (Posted Spring 2024)

• Station Access Notice (Posted Fall 2022)

• Code of Conduct (Approved January 2016–Updated Fall 2021)

• Membership Policy (Updated Fall 2022)

• Conflict Resolution Policy, Procedure, and Forms (Approved March 2018)

• Human Resources and Employment Policy (Approved March 2020)

Past Policies

• Proof of Vaccination Policy (Approved September 2021 — No longer in effect as of April 8th 2022)

Contact the Board of Directors

As of 2022, the Board of Directors generally meets every two months, with committee meetings in the months between. If you are a member and wish to present in-person to the board as a guest, please submit a request two weeks prior to the meeting date. Requests to present as a guest may be refused if the guest does not give a clear reason why they wish to present before the board. Due to limited volunteer time for our board, guests will be given a limited amount of time to present, so please be prepared.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is elected every fall at our AGM in staggered elections. Directors choose amongst themselves who shall serve in officer roles.

Last Updated November 17, 2023.

Janel Jezierski—President*

Janel is a graduate of the Education program at VIU. She holds an honours degree in history from UVIC and a TEFL certificate from the University of Toronto. After teaching English in Japan, Janel moved to the central island where she teaches French and enjoys learning new languages. Today she works as a substitute teacher and hosts Undead Air every Thursday at 6 PM. First elected in 2021. Re-elected 2023.

Jay Mcdonnell— Vice President†

Jay is a media studies student at VIU. Elected 2023.

Camille James—Secretary*

Camille has served on the Board of Directors since 2016. Her experience with community radio began in 2012 in Edmonton, while she volunteered at CJSR at the UofA campus. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Digital Media and Computer Science from VIU. Ending her second term as a student member, Camille is happy to return to the Board of Directors for 2022-2024 as a community member and continue her work as the Secretary of the Board. Camille was re-elected to the board in November 2022.

Bryan Gibbons—Treasurer*

Bryan Gibbons graduated in 2015 from Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelor of Business Administration, specializing in Accounting. Since graduating, the beginning of his career has been spent working at Welch LLP, a public accounting firm based in Ottawa, Ontario. Bryan fell in love with Vancouver Island after visiting it several times for both pleasure and work from 2017–2020. Relocating there quickly became the only option and he moved to Nanaimo in September 2020 working out an arrangement to work full-time remotely. He has a lot of experience in accounting and audit, specifically being involved in a variety of engagements for both non-profit and charitable organizations. He plans to bring this background knowledge to CHLY and help ensure it is successful and can meet its goals. Elected 2022.

Robin Davies—VIU Faculty Representative*

Has served on the Board of Directors since early 2017 as the appointed Faculty Representative for VIU where he works in the Department of Media Studies. He was elected to the Board of Directors in the fall of 2017. Robin holds a Bachelor of Music and MA from McGill University. His interests include the utilization of the human voice in auditory storytelling, sound design for visual art, the construction and use of software-based musical instruments for live electronic music performance, and helping others embrace technology for use in their creative endeavours. He was re-elected 2021.

Lauren Mayes—Member at Large*

Lauren has been a professor of Criminology at VIU since 2017. She holds a PhD in Criminal Justice from Temple University and sees the criminal justice system as a site for both perpetuating and ameliorating social inequality and oppression. Lauren has a passion for promoting health and happiness and sees community radio as an integral part of doing this work. She hopes that her work on the board can contribute to strengthening the relationship between CHLY and VIU. Lauren joined the Board of Directors in the fall of 2019. She was re-elected in 2021.

Robbie Thompson—Member at Large†

Robert "Robbie" F. Thompson has been a student in VIU's Digital Media Studies program for the past four years. Having dealt with numerous medical issues, including two heart transplants, muscular disease, and brain damage, he has fought hard to get to where he is today. A strong advocate for organ donation, he was a speaker at the International Pediatric Critical Care Conference in Toronto for 500 medical professionals. They have previously volunteered with CHLY, and have done video and audio production work for the Comox Valley Head Injury Society, VIU's Student Services department, Kiwanis Village Nanaimo, and two podcasts; "Successful U" and "Adventuring 101." Thompson will happily bring the same level of devotion to CHLY as they do to all their endeavours. Today he co-hosts the VIU Meter on CHLY every Monday and Friday with host Will Hough. He was elected in 2021. Re-elected 2023.

Jesse Scott Bradley—Member at Large†

Jesse is a third-year student at VIU who is majoring in digital media studies. He has volunteered as the Program Assistant for CHLY's Climate 911 since 2021, where he also edits and hosts his own episodes. He is very interested in the artfulness behind the combination of voice and music in radio, film, the history of Rap and Hip Hop, and climate change activism. Jesse is very excited to be a part of the CHLY team. He believes community radio has the power to shape and uphold community principles as well as being able to create positive change within a community. He was elected in 2022.

Savanna Lawless—Member at Large†

Originally from Calgary Alberta, Savanna moved to Port Renfrew in 2018 and then Ladysmith in 2019. Currently, Savanna is studying Graphic Design at VIU although she is also a Red Seal Carpenter. Savanna is passionate about community as she grew up in a very multicultural neighbourhood with lower income than other neighbourhoods in Calgary. Music has always been a massive part of her life. Her family has hosted jams where it was encouraged to join in and participate, even if you were not as experienced as others. Savanna also spent a lot of time going to live shows and festivals and enjoyed being a part of the hard rock/metal/punk community in Calgary. She hopes that the voice she will bring to the board will be well-rounded and inclusive. Savanna also hosts the Wednesday Edition of the VIU Meter. She was elected in 2022.

VIU Staff Representative

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*Community Members. †Student Members.

Past Board Members

Some of our past board members over the years. Names are added from time to time. This is not an exhaustive list of past board members.

Sandeep Chauhan—President and Member at Large (Community Member and Student Member).

Paula Zerpa—Member at Large (Student Member).

Hannah Sprague—Treasurer (Student Member).

Mick Sweetman—Member at Large (Student Member).

Andie Tomlinson—VIU Staff Representative (Community Member).

Kevin Midbo—Member at Large (Community Member).

Erin Coole—Member at Large (Student Member).

Marie “Constanza” Crucil—Treasurer (Student Member).

Nolan Duke—President, Secretary, Member at Large (Student Member).

Tanis Dagert—VIU Staff Representative (Community Member).

Nadine Wiepning—Secretary (Community Member).

Gord Bibby—President, Secretary, Member at Large (Community Member).

Sarah Cameron—Vice President (Community Member).

Jaime Booker—Member at Large (Community Member).

Natalie Drope—Secretary (Student Member).

Donald Sheddon— Member at Large (Student Member).

Megan Barr—Member at Large (Student Member).

Megan Valdmanis—Treasurer (Community Member).

Greg Bodnarchuck—Vice President (Community Member).

Simon Schachner—Vice President (Student Member).