François Labbé

François Labbé (born September 23, 1928 in Thetford Mines, Quebec)[1] is a Canadian mass media owner who started the first commercial French language radio network in Canada, the Réseau des Appalaches, in 1972.

Born in Thetford Mines in 1928, the son of former Member of Parliament and Thetford Mines mayor Tancrède Labbé, Labbé studied Commerce at Laval University.[1][2] He acquired CKLD in Thetford Mines in 1959.[2] In 1968, he founded CKFL, an AM radio station in Lac-Mégantic, and in 1970 he bought CFDA in Victoriaville.[2]

In 1972, he founded CKTL in Plessisville and CJAN in Asbestos.[2] The radio stations became the Réseau des Appalaches. In 1977, Labbé founded CJLP in Disraeli, which became the sixth station in the Réseau des Appalaches.

Labbé was also the owner of Publications Appalaches, which owned two newspapers, La Feuille d'Érable in Plessisville and La Mine d'Information in Thetford Mines. He was also a director of the insurance company La Solidarité and a governor of the Université Laval Foundation.[1]

In 1989, he founded CFJO-FM which broadcast to Thetford Mines and Victoriaville with his daughter Annie.[2] In 1990, Labbé sold CKFL, CJAN and CKTL but retains ownership of other stations.

In 1998, Labbé was named to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Broadcast Hall of Fame.[1]

References
  1. "François Labbé". Canadian Communications Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  2. Ian Bussières (1 December 2009). "François Labbé: cinquante ans de radio". La Soleil. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.