- turkeytop
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
So, the service was costing me ten cents per year. Now they expect me to go out and buy a device and pay for a monthly plan to get a weather alert once or twice a year.
Last edited by turkeytop (March 3, 2026 4:16 pm)
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- RadioActive
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
This isn't radio related, but after this endless and horrible winter, I feel you may need to know this - during a walk this afternoon, I actually saw two robins pecking in the grass where a huge snowbank used to be. So either spring really is on the horizon or else these two birds have really terrible travel agents! Nice to see them back. And no, they don't have access to a Weather Radio, either.
- turkeytop
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
Enjoy your ten cent tax cut. Don't spend it all in one place.
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- Radiowiz
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
RadioActive wrote:
This isn't radio related, but after this endless and horrible winter, I feel you may need to know this - during a walk this afternoon, I actually saw two robins pecking in the grass where a huge snowbank used to be. So either spring really is on the horizon or else these two birds have really terrible travel agents! Nice to see them back. And no, they don't have access to a Weather Radio, either.
This sounds like the kind of morning show chatter I'd hear on Indie 88.
Maybe you should write their show prep! 
- RadioActive
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
This article from the CBC details how the shutdown will work, and contains this statement:
"Environment Canada said operating the network costs about $4 million per year, and the cost to decommission Weatheradio and Hello Weather will be $2.5 million over two years."
Why does it cost $2.5 million to turn something off? Only in government could not doing something cost taxpayers so much money!
Environment Canada to disconnect Weatheradio service this monthSo, $4M/ yr? Whats that? About ten cents per year coming out of the pockets of each of us?
For a huge saving like that, it's worth putting our safety at risk.
You may not be alone in your position. This letter in Radio World tries to point out why this service is still valuable.
"One does not need a crystal ball to see that tornadoes, floods and wildfires will continue to affect Canada, and with these threats comes the specter of death.
When your nearest cell tower, your fiber optic internet connection, your landline phone and your electricity are burned, flooded or blown out, only a radio-based alert signal will be able to get through."
Canada’s Decision to Abandon Weather Radio Is Ill-Advised
- WPE9HAY
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
Algonquin Park: Mew Lake/Lake of Two Rivers Campgrounds are served by Weatheradio as "CJNK" 50 w 100.1 FM
CFBK Huntsville and CBC repeater in Whitney are just listenable.
Yes there is minimal cell service but.......
- RadioActive
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
For a service so few even knew about, it's certainly attracting a lot of attention as it meets its demise on March 16th. This columnist in The Calgary Herald argues shutting down the Weatheradio broadcasts is not only foolish, but dangerous.
Weatheradio Canada must be maintained for public safety, emergency preparedness
- markow202
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
For a service so few even knew about, it's certainly attracting a lot of attention as it meets its demise on March 16th. This columnist in The Calgary Herald argues shutting down the Weatheradio broadcasts is not only foolish, but dangerous.
Weatheradio Canada must be maintained for public safety, emergency preparedness
Whats dangerous TODAY is the individual not having up to date equipment such as a cell phone. Thats a red-flag on its own. Atop this, I need a special radio to even pick up this weather station which nobody has these days,
Last edited by markow202 (March 9, 2026 10:09 am)
- turkeytop
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
Looks like the US may be going in the opposite direction making the NOAA radio network more robust.
Looks like the regime in Washington is more concerned about public safety than is the regime in Ottawa.
Last edited by turkeytop (March 10, 2026 12:40 am)
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- Hansa
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
This livestream may be your last chance to hear Weatheradio if you don't have the special reciever. It's still on the air this morning but is going off the air sometime today:
Last edited by Hansa (March 16, 2026 6:46 am)
- RadioActive
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
Ironic timing considering the sheer volume of Special Weather Statements out on Monday.
- andysradio
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
They have gone into a loop advising listeners of the alternatives. Date and time are still being given
- turkeytop
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
On the plus side, I can now DX the weather band without my scanner locking on to the local channel.
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- Hansa
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
It's now dead air.
- andysradio
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
It's now dead air.
Which one? The two in Peterborough are still going.
- RadioActive
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
Interesting that while we've just shut down our Weatheradio network here, the U.S. has just voted to strengthen their version of it.
NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act
- turkeytop
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
I live in a small city in south-west Ontario. There are areas within three hours of home where cell coerage is unreliable.
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- LOSat
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
Agreed once you get away from the London area in SWO there are many dead spots, regardless of what the coverage maps say.
- Radiowiz
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
I live in a small city in south-west Ontario. There are areas within three hours of home where cell coerage is unreliable.
Agreed once you get away from the London area in SWO there are many dead spots, regardless of what the coverage maps say.
Thanks to the amazing great Rogers,
you have an alternative now that you did not have before:
- Evuguy
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
I took a listen the other night to the Toronto and Niagara Weather Radio Canada VHF signals. They are still on air with a loop in alternating English/French advising the service is discontinued. They are still providing time of day and station identification. Otherwise, I don't know if others here had noticed, but in recent times these stations were giving weather forecasts predominantly in French. Being the francophone population isn't very large in this area, I'm not sure what Environment Canada had in mind. Note, if you have a VHF band radio, you can still listen to the marine weather forecasts on 161.650 and 161.775MHz.
Youtuber and ATSC 3.0 advocate "WNY Over The Air" has some comments on this shutdown and an audio excerpt from the current Niagara signal:
- RadioActive
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
I tried the "Hello Weather" phone number just see what happened to it. They're still connected and still answered automatically, but it informs callers that the service has been discontinued, and suggests you get the app or go to Environment Canada's site for the latest climate info.
- RadioActive
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Re: Environment Canada shutting down Weatheradio network next month
And now comes this. What could possibly go wrong? (Plenty if my experience with AI is any indication. It gets almost everything I ask it wrong.)
Environment Canada to use AI in new weather forecasting model