Dennis Reid(1919-2000)

Dennis Reid
Dennis Reid

Year Born: 1919

Year Died: 2000

Year of Induction: 1993

Founder of the Cariboo Network, Dennis Reid obtained his start in the radio industry in 1938 at CKOV Kelowna, BC, where he was employed as a copy writer and announcer.

Following service in the Canadian Army (40-47), Denny returned to CKOV where he resumed his announcing-writing role, took on sports reporting and traffic management, and later was appointed commercial manager and assistant manager.

In 1957, he obtained a licence for a new radio station at Quesnel (CKCQ), to which was added CKWL in Williams Lake (1960) and CKBX at 100 Mile House (1971). His Cariboo broadcast operation made history as private radio’s first licensed network. Also believed to be a “first” was the ‘reversible line’ technique through which CKWL and CKBX could feed programs to each other.

Apart from broadcasting, Denny served in many minor sport associations. He was also a president of both the Central Okanagan and North Cariboo Scout Associations. A recipient of the 1967 Centennial Medal, in 1971 Denny was named the B.C. Broadcaster of the Year, sold his interests in the Cariboo stations to Stan Davis and Ron East, and retired.

In 1993, Dennis Reid was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame.

On July 7th, 2000, Dennis Reid died in Prince George, B.C.