François Labbé
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François Labbé (born September 23, 1928 in Thetford Mines, Quebec) is a pioneering Canadian mass media owner from Thetford Mines, Quebec, who started the first commercial French language radio network in Canada, the Réseau des Appalaches or Appalachian Network, in 1972.
Born in Thetford Mines in 1928, the son of former Member of Parliament and Thetford Mines mayor Tancrède 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 the Université 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.
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