A two-dollar coin changed hands on Sept. 4, 2009 and made journalism history: CHEK Television became the first employee-owned television station in North America.
Until that moment, all signs suggested the landmark station – which in 1956 became B.C.’s first privately-owned television station – would fade to black, leaving thousands of loyal viewers without their news, entertainment and locally-produced programming.
With its corporate owners facing severe financial challenges, the station was saved when employees raided their retirement savings, when a community rallied and when investors, union partners, politicians and the CRTC went to bat for a station that simply wouldn’t give up.
The campaign saved journalism jobs, ensured communities were well served with news and information and made national headlines. It was a bold and radical initiative – and it reawakened the importance of local broadcasting in British Columbia. Since that day in 2009, 13-years ago and still going strong, the top-rated station has reliably served its community every day, with credible, award-winning journalism from across Vancouver Island