- François Labbé
François Labbé (born
September 23 ,1928 inThetford Mines ,Quebec ) is a pioneering Canadian mass media owner who started the first commercialFrench language radio network in Canada, theRéseau des Appalaches , in 1972.Born in Thetford Mines in 1928, the son of former
Member of Parliament and Thetford Mines mayorTancrède Labbé , François Labbé acquired CKLD in Thetford Mines in 1959. In 1968, he founded CKFL (the "F" and the "L" standing for his initials), an AM radio station in Lac-Mégantic, and in 1970 he bought CFDA in Victoriaville.In 1972, he founded CKTL in Plessisville and CJAN in Asbestos. The five 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 theUniversité Laval Foundation.In 1989, he founded
CFJO-FM . 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.External links
* [http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/personalities/personalities.php?id=162 CAB Hall of Fame profile]
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