Keeping the Community in Community TV

After Shaw's systematic closure of the network of neighbourhood community television production offices that once serviced the lower mainland, Geoff Scott, an employee of Shaw Cable for over 10 years, decided he could no longer stomach working for the corporation responsible for removing this tread from the fabric of Canadian society.

Geoff moved on to work at CBC, the Knowledge Network, and as a freelance television producer while at the same time he helped to form Independent Community Television ( ICTV ) which was formed by the volunteers at Shaw's Van East office which was the last neighbourhood television office to be closed in the late 90's.

ICTV remained as an independent community television access group serving the downtown east side for well over a decade with well known community producers such as Sid Tan, Pedro Mora, Don Walchuk and Patrice Leslie.

While volunteering with ICTV Geoff provided training to new volunteers and produced East Side Story, a newsmagazine programing that promoted community events and organizations in Vancouver's downtown east side.

As Geoff wound down his production career he took on the roll as a video instructor at Columbia Academy in Vancouver. Wanting to give his students the same opportunity he had as a youth, Geoff approached Shaw with a proposal to deliver a monthly community TV program. As he now lived in Coquitlam, the program was called Tri-Cities Magazine.

As Geoff's student produced stories in the Tri-Cites region word got around. Former community television volunteers wanted to get involved and out of that little project Tri-Cities Community Television was born.