By Leroy Graham

Seated in his newly decorated office at the expansive corporate headquarters of Toronto’s newest FM radio station, G 98.7, Fitzroy Gordon beams with a well-deserved sense of accomplishment. For those not familiar with his story, Gordon seems like an overnight success. But he is quick to point out his humble beginnings and the details of his long struggle to establish a radio station for Canada’s Black communities.

“As I look back, my mind flashes to … 1998, when I decided that I wanted to have my own radio station,” he says. “So what I did was get a small station where people had to purchase radios in order to get my programs, which included cricket, soccer, track and gospel music. This was a small beginning but it was my practice for bigger things.”

Fast-forward to 2002 when Gordon applied for a general radio license. The application that he put forth to the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) was not successful. However, it did result in two things. First, it gave Gordon a better understanding of the CRTC process and made him positively recognized by members of the CRTC.

Second, the initial application failure strengthened Gordon’s resolve to accomplish his mission of developing a radio station for Black communities. With a renewed sense of purpose, he spent the next few years preparing a new application. In competition with billion dollar companies for Toronto’s last FM radio signal, Gordon looked like the odd man out.

But even in the face of extreme odds and challenging circumstances, he pressed on. “When people told me it was impossible, I said, ‘With God, all things are possible.’ My faith in God helped me to never give up. A lot of people who were with me gave up. I’ve lost relationships, people turned their backs on me and, ultimately, a lot of people who were with me along the journey simply left. One of the few who stayed with me was Delford Blythe, who is now my vice president.”

Through political, community and corporate support, Gordon became the front-runner to receive an approved CRTC application. But just as things looked to be going his way, there was one more obstacle to overcome. “We identified 98.7, the same signal that we are on now,” he explains. “But that signal was very close to the CBC, the mother company of broadcasting in this country. When you have a signal that is close to another, the rules say that you must get permission from the established broadcaster. We tried to work with the CBC but they weren’t interested, so we just had to take things to a higher level. I prayed to God, worked with politicians in Ottawa and the Greater Toronto Area, and finally, on the ninth day of June, I got a call from the CRTC congratulating me on the success of our application.”

Having received the go ahead from the CRTC, Gordon quickly got to work forming his corporate team, establishing operations and developing the programming schedule. Although there have been plenty of ups and downs, and solicitations to sell out from large corporate interests, Gordon is committed to sticking with his original vision: a radio station for the people.

“The license that we have received is for a commercial radio station that will serve the Black and Caribbean population,” he says of G 98.7. “You will hear R&B, soul, soca, reggae, gospel, jazz, world beat and urban music. There will also be shows on current events, news, health and education issues. This station will inform, educate and entertain. That’s what people should expect.”

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