1944: A Battle is Won
Radio-Ouest-Française only becomes an official organization in 1944. As early as 1941, however, the ANO sets out to bring the project to completion. The first task is to explain to the Francophones in the West why the stations have to be built. For this purpose, Maurice Baudoux and Antonio de Margerie draft Le catéchisme de Radio-Ouest-Française (Catechism of French West Radio). Let's go back to 1943 in de Margerie's house in Vonda, where the two men are working on the document (audio). The ANO also looks at the technical and commercial possibilities of the project. The conclusion is that it can go forward.
Four stations of 1,000 watts are to be built, at St. Boniface, Edmonton, Gravelbourg in southern Saskatchewan and Prince Albert in the north. The dispersed French population in the province requires that two stations be built. They're ready to submit the four applications for permits when the Board of Governors meets in Ottawa on March 27, 1944. Only one permit is granted, for Radio St. Boniface, which will have to prove itself before any other applications are considered. In the end no financial assistance is provided by the state radio network. Adrien Pouliot is a member of the Board at this time. He tells us of the opposition by his colleagues to the private French stations (audio).
Archives: Towards obtaining the licence
Le catéchisme de Radio-Ouest-Française Saskatchewan, Part 1
Le catéchisme de Radio-Ouest-Française Saskatchewan, Part 2.
Letter from Antonio de Margerie to Adrien Pouliot, December 20, 1943
Antonio de Margerie asks for the advice of Adrien Pouliot on the steps to take for requesting permits. He is a member of the CBC Board of Governors and of the Comité permanent de la survivance française en Amérique.
Letter from Adrien Pouliot to Antonio de Margerie, January 7, 1944
Adrien Pouliot is generous with the advice requested by Antonio de Margerie.
Agenda for the meeting where Radio-Ouest-Française is officially established, January 28, 29, and 30, 1944
Technical Memorandum send to Father Baudoux by J.E. Michaud, February 25, 1944
Father Baudoux receives a letter from the Department of Transport with an attached technical memorandum written by the chief engineer at CBC/Radio-Canada. It discusses the types of stations to install depending on the size of the Francophone population.
Memorandum from Radio-Ouest-Française submitted to the CBC Board of Governors, 8 May, 1944.
Letter from Raymond Denis to Father Baudoux, May 11, 1944
In a letter from Raymond Denis to Father Baudoux, we learn that there is concern in the Liberal Party about losing seats if permits are granted for French stations in the West.
Letter from Raymond Denis to the Saskatchewan Premier, W. J. Patterson, May 16, 1944
The Liberal ploys cut Raymond Denis to the quick. He informs Saskatchewan Premier W.J. Patterson that he is not prepared to take part in the election campaign.
Archives: Towards obtaining the licence
Le catéchisme de Radio-Ouest-Française Saskatchewan, Part 1
Le catéchisme de Radio-Ouest-Française Saskatchewan, Part 2.
Letter from Antonio de Margerie to Adrien Pouliot, December 20, 1943
Antonio de Margerie asks for the advice of Adrien Pouliot on the steps to take for requesting permits. He is a member of the CBC Board of Governors and of the Comité permanent de la survivance française en Amérique.
Letter from Adrien Pouliot to Antonio de Margerie, January 7, 1944
Adrien Pouliot is generous with the advice requested by Antonio de Margerie.
Agenda for the meeting where Radio-Ouest-Française is officially established, January 28, 29, and 30, 1944
Technical Memorandum send to Father Baudoux by J.E. Michaud, February 25, 1944
Father Baudoux receives a letter from the Department of Transport with an attached technical memorandum written by the chief engineer at CBC/Radio-Canada. It discusses the types of stations to install depending on the size of the Francophone population.
Memorandum from Radio-Ouest-Française submitted to the CBC Board of Governors, 8 May, 1944.
Letter from Raymond Denis to Father Baudoux, May 11, 1944
In a letter from Raymond Denis to Father Baudoux, we learn that there is concern in the Liberal Party about losing seats if permits are granted for French stations in the West.
Letter from Raymond Denis to the Saskatchewan Premier, W. J. Patterson, May 16, 1944
The Liberal ploys cut Raymond Denis to the quick. He informs Saskatchewan Premier W.J. Patterson that he is not prepared to take part in the election campaign.
