CHQT-AM

Lewis R. Roskin and Murray D. Dyck were granted a licence for a new AM station at Edmonton. Approval was contingent on the station living up to its promise of news in depth, good quality music and limited commercials. It was proposed to operate the station on 1110 kHz with a power of 10,000 watts day and night (directional at night).

The station was scheduled to launch in June but construction ran behind due to wet weather. Manager Murray D. (Curly) Dyck said the wet ground was causing problems for the installation of the ground system and antennas. They were now aiming for an August launch.

Radio Station CHQT Ltd. launched the station on August 19. Studios and offices were located on the second floor of 10154 – 103 Street.

Studios moved to 10154-103 St.

On May 1, CHQT was purchased by CHQT Broadcasting Limited.

CHQT was given approval to increase power to 50,000 watts (day and night).

CHQT’s 50,000 watt power increase (directional at night) took effect.

CHQT’s application for an FM station at Edmonton (105.9 MHz with effective radiated power of 64,000 watts) was turned down by the CRTC.

On January 25, CHQT received approval to move from 1110 kHz to 880 kHz. Power would remain at 50,000 watts day and night. On 1110 kHz, CHQT had to adjust its radiation pattern at night to protect KFAB in Omaha, Nebraska. As a result, many communities to the south of Edmonton, lost CHQT service at night. CHQT also encountered interference from CKST 1070 St. Albert in the southwest part of Edmonton. The easy-listening, middle of the road station – unique in Alberta AM radio – reported it had received many listener complaints about the loss of the station’s signal at night. A competing application by CKSQ Stettler for the 880 frequency, was denied.

Jay Charland became program director.

On March 5, the CRTC approved the application to amend the licence for CHQT by relocating the transmitter to a site approximately 10.8 kilometers south of the existing location. The licensee indicated that this change was necessary to avoid further signal degradation resulting from urban expansion in the vicinity of the existing site and would not substantially affect the station’s coverage area.

CHQT Broadcasting Ltd., moved to #2200-10130-103 Street. Transmitter: one mile north and four miles east of Beaumont.

Lew Roskin, president and general manager of CHQT, celebrated 50 years in the broadcast industry. After selling CHQT in 1972, he remained with the station as manager. With the pending sale of the station to Monarch Broadcasting, Roskin decided to semi-retire and open a consulting business.

On July 27, the CRTC gave CHQT Broadcasting Ltd. (A.M. Shoults) approval to sell CHQT to Monarch Broadcasting Ltd. (W.R. Yuill). Monarch was the owner of stations in Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Grande Prairie and Vancouver.

Arline Dee passed away January 1 at age 44. She was likely Alberta’s first woman disc jockey and possibly the first in Canada. Dee started her career in St. Thomas, Ontario, worked in the U.S., and then came to Edmonton. She was first with CFRN before spending about 10 years with CHQT as weekend afternoon announcer. Arline Dee was married to Ron Dyck of CHQT news.

After selling CHQT in 1972, Lew Roskin remained with the station as manager. With the pending sale of the station to Monarch Broadcasting, Roskin decided to semi-retire and open a consulting business.

On January 22, the CRTC approved the sale of CHQT Broadcasting Ltd. from Monarch Broadcasting Ltd. to Shaw Radio Ltd.

CHQT moved in with its new sister station CISN-FM.

Corus Entertainment Inc. was formed September 1, 1999 from the media assets of Shaw Communications Inc. Corus became a separate and distinct, publicly traded corporation. The Shaw family continued to hold the majority of voting shares in Corus.

Frank George Arthur Makepeace, 93, passed away. He entered the radio business in 1928, worked at Sunwapta Broadcasting for 30 years, retired, then helped to build CHQT. He was with the station for eight years.

In June, CHQT changed formats from Familiar Favourites “AM-880-CHQT” to Cool-880 “Good Times and Great Oldies”.

In late October, CHQT Cool 880 became JOE AM, playing a variety of music from the 80’s 70’s and 60’s.”

CHQT returned to Oldies Cool 880 on January 13. The JOE format moved to sister CKNG-FM.

On May 8 at 3:00 p.m., live programming ended on Cool 8-80, to allow time for studio renovations and a week of real-time rehearsals of the new All News format. The Oldies format ended at 6:30 a.m. on May 20, when iNews 880 debuted with news, weather, and traffic every 10 minutes, and sports, business/market updates and local Internet blogs every 30 minutes.

CHQT co-founder Lewis Roskin passed away December 27. He started his career in 1937 (at 17) as an announcer at CJOC Lethbridge. He later went on to work at CFRN Edmonton, CJDC Dawson Creek, CFCN Calgary, CHED Edmonton and CKLG Vancouver.

Matthew Bisson, morning co-host and news anchor on 98.9 The Drive (CKLC Kingston) left for Corus Radio Edmonton’s 630 CHED and iNews 880 (CHQT).

News announcer Sheila Gardner left iNews880 for Victoria’s CFAX.

Tamara Konrad left Corus Edmonton as Operations Manager to become General Manager/General Sales Manager at CKEA-FM Edmonton.

On November 30, the CRTC renewed CHQT’s licence until August 31, 2017.

Neil Cunningham, Director of Sales at Corus Radio Alberta and based in Edmonton, left that position for Spence Diamonds. Cunningham’s Corus position was not be filled. His duties were now shared amongst four sales management staff.

Robert “Bobby” Ng died in Edmonton. He emigrated from the Philippines in 1972 where he was a well known television and radio personality. He was a staff announcer with CJVB Vancouver for five years before moving to CHQT Edmonton where he was a host from 1977 to 1993.

Corus Entertainment announced the appointment of Garry McKenzie as regional general manager for Corus Radio Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg, effective April 2. In his new role, Garry would provide leadership, strategic direction and vision to the three markets, bringing over 20 years of solid operating experience, a strong sales and marketing background and results-driven success to 10 radio stations. Most recently, Garry was general manager of Corus Radio Vancouver.

Doug Rutherford, after a combined 38 years with WIC/Shaw/Corus, left his vice president and general manager post with Corus Radio Alberta at the end of March. Rutherford was President/CEO of WIC in Vancouver from 1998 to 2000. In 2000, Shaw purchased the company and Rutherford was retained in the position of VP for the West and held that role when Shaw’s broadcast properties were moved under a Shaw-held new company, Corus.

The new marketing manager at Corus Radio Edmonton (630 CHED/92-5 Fresh FM/CISN Country 103.9/iNews880) was Tammy DuChene-Bos, moving to broadcasting from financial services and the travel/tour industries. She begins at Corus March 4.

Gord Wilson passed away. His on-air background was Western Canada based, including CKIT-FM Regina (1984-1990), CFRN Edmonton (1990-1992) and CHQT Edmonton (1992-1997).

In May, CHQT rebranded to Global News Radio 880.