Bucketloads made at bucket drive
Courtesy Mohawk MultiMedia Inc.
Although there was less traffic in the community than in previous years, more money was raised than ever before at a bucket drive by Reviving Kanehsatà:ke Radio (RKR) 101.7 FM.
A total of $9,473 was raised at the RKR bucket drive last Saturday, which took advantage of the expected increase in traffic in the community ahead of 4/20.
After the winnings were announced, Bayside Convenience and Gas donated funds to bring the total to an even $10,000 and two local business owners, Dave Belisle and Matt Simon, announced they would double the original funding.
More donations trickled in, bringing the grand total to $19,533.
“It goes to show that we’re increasing our support from the community. They said, ‘an organization that’s promoting and reviving our language or helping to do so, is worth doubling up on,’” said Karahkóhare Sylvain Gaspé, president of Mohawk MultiMedia Inc., which oversees the radio station.
During the day of the bucket drive, signs advertising the radio station flanked the road, and 10 volunteers with buckets boasting the RKR logo slowed drivers on Route 344 coming from Oka into Kanesatake.
Gaspé said the event also helped promote the radio.
“That’s the other advantage we have, our signs and our logos, and so people will say, ‘Oh, we didn’t know you had your own radio station.’ Well, tune right in,” said Gaspé.
Hadassah Alencar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
