Before it ever held a full broadcast license, The Coast started as a 50-watt special events station, moving between temporary studios in Glace Bay and Sydney, Nova Scotia. That grassroots beginning matured into CKOA-FM, licensed by the CRTC in 2007 and on the air permanently by December 3 of that year, run ever since by the Coastal Community Radio Cooperative for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
The station describes its own sound as Timeless Hits, East Coast Favourites, a branding choice that signals exactly what The Coast is built to do: play the songs Cape Breton already loves while giving airtime to the region's own musicians and traditions.
A Cooperative, Not a Corporation
Unlike commercial FM stations owned by national broadcast groups, The Coast operates as a community cooperative, funded in part through initiatives like Radio Bingo and The Coast Store rather than corporate ad sales alone. That structure keeps the station accountable to the community it serves, and it shows in the schedule, which includes the Coast Morning Show, a Sunday Brunch program, and Celtic Serenade, a dedicated block for the traditional music the island is famous for.
Cape Breton's Fiddle Tradition
Celtic Serenade is not a token gesture. Cape Breton's fiddle style descends directly from Scottish immigrants who arrived during the Highland Clearances, and because the island stayed relatively isolated from Scotland afterward, its fiddling kept a rhythmic, dance-driven character that has since faded in Scotland itself. That tradition still draws international recognition today through artists like Ashley MacIsaac and Natalie MacMaster, and it draws thousands of visitors each year to the Celtic Colours International Festival. A local station dedicating a regular slot to that sound is not just filling airtime, it is actively keeping a living regional tradition on the airwaves.
Why Tune In
The Coast 89.7 works because it never tries to be a generic hits station. Between community fundraising, local event coverage, and a genuine commitment to Cape Breton's Celtic musical roots, CKOA-FM functions as both a jukebox and a town hall for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, exactly the role a community-owned station is meant to play.