Five years ago, a ragtag group of Espanola High School students and teacher Jayson Stewart, began laying the foundation for Spartan Youth Radio, an extracurricular club for radio fans at the school, students who wanted to share their thoughts on local events, to report on school activities and to play their favourite music. 

 

Now, half a decade later, the little club has grown in size, scope, technology and influence.  Touted as Canada's only high school podcast radio station, SYR has listeners and viewers on every continent and in every region save for a small section of southwestern Africa.  Yes, even researchers from Antarctica have heard the stories from this small Northern Ontario pulp and paper town.

 

"It's incredible how we have had over 55,000 downloads of our programs in just five years," said Producer Jayson Stewart.  "Espanola High School does so much to put itself on the map and the students of Spartan Youth Radio are certainly doing their part," he added.

 

Not only are the stories of EHS's youth being heard but so are the people they interview. 

 

Station Manager Kaitlyn Dougon says that "we've had a whack ton of great guests like astronaut Chris Hatfield, bands like Billy Talent and the Weakerthan, Survivorman Les Stroud and the steampunk band Abney Park."  Staff manager Madeline Lemire added that "I've personally sat down with Rick Mercer, Margaret Atwood and Jack Layton and chatted with the lead singer of Mother Mother".

 

To celebrate five years of success, Spartan Youth Radio is holding The Muse Coffeehouse: Five Years of Spartan Youth Radio.  Hosted at Boogie Mountain Ski Hill Chalet in Espanola, the Muse is a night of music, poetry, comedy, dinner and prizes for all.  "This year we have some funding to help pay for the event, so we are happy to invite EVERYONE..students, alumni, family, friends and fans," said Stewart.  "And the best part is that it is absolutely FREE," he said gleefully.

 

CBC Radio host JASON TURNBULL will be the evening's guest speaker.

 

Tickets can be ordered, for free, from http://musecoffeehouse.eventbrite.com/  or at http://spartanyouthradio.com or by calling Spartan Youth Radio at 705-869-1590 extension 6264.

 

Contact: Jayson Stewart, Spartan Youth Radio producer and staff liaison
spartanyouthradio@gmail.com

705-869-1590 extension 6264