CJRY-FM

On January 7, Touch Canada Broadcasting Inc. was granted a licence for a specialty FM station at Edmonton. It would operate on a frequency of 105.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts. Antenna height would be 138.5 metres. Touch proposed to offer a contemporary Christian music format. Touch Canada was the licensee of CJSI-FM Calgary, and was a partner in CJCA Limited Partnership, operater of CJCA-AM Edmonton.

Later in the year, the transfer of control of Touch Canada through the transfer of 10% of the voting shares to Mr. Charles R. Allard was approved. Mr. Allard’s holdings increased to 60% of the voting shares of the licensee company.

CJRY-FM “105.9 Shine FM” signed on the air at 6:00 a.m. on September 7. Studios and offices were located at #206 – 4207 – 98th Street.

On April 18, CJRY was authorized to increase antenna height from 138.5 metres to 193 metres and to relocate the antenna to a site approximately 19 kilometres northeast of the existing site. The station had originally planned to build it’s own tower but for economic reasons decided to operate from the CBC’s Sherwood Park tower.

On December 20, the CRTC approved the applications by Touch Canada Broadcasting Inc. to effect a corporate reorganization in order to transfer the assets of CJCA-AM and CJRY-FM Edmonton, and CJSI-FM Calgary to Touch Canada Broadcasting (2006) Inc. (the general partner), and 1188011 Alberta Ltd. and Touch Canada Broadcasting Inc. (the limited partners), carrying on business as Touch Canada Limited Partnership (collectively Touch Canada LP). The reorganization would be implemented in three steps: Touch Canada Broadcasting Inc. would acquire CJCA, from Touch Canada Broadcasting Inc. (the general partner), and C.R.A. Investments Ltd. and Rosedale Meadows Development Inc. (the limited partners), carrying on business as CJCA Limited Partnership (collectively CJCA LP); 1188011 Alberta Ltd., a corporation wholly owned by Charles Allard, would acquire CJRY-FM and CJSI-FM, from Touch Canada Broadcasting Inc.; and Touch Canada LP would acquire all three stations from Touch Canada Broadcasting Inc. and 1188011 Alberta Ltd., respectively. Following the reorganization, the ultimate control of the stations would continue to be exercised by Mr. Allard.

On June 29, The CRTC renewed the broadcasting licence for the English-language specialty radio station CJRY-FM Edmonton from 1 July 2010 to 31 August 2013. This short-term licence renewal would enable the Commission to review, at an earlier date, the licensee’s compliance with the Radio Regulations, 1986 and its conditions of licence. In Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2009-786, the Commission stated that the licensee may have failed to comply with section 9(2) of the Radio Regulations, 1986, which relates to the provision of annual returns, for the broadcast years 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008. The Commission also stated that the licensee may have failed to comply with its condition of licence relating to contributions to Canadian talent development, for the 2007 and 2008 broadcast years.

Maria Lopez left Shine FM Edmonton for Barrie’s Life 100.3. Her first day was August 29.

On December 19, the CRTC approved the application by Touch Canada Broadcasting (2006) Inc. (the general partner) and C.R.A. Investments Ltd. (the limited partner), carrying on business as Touch Canada Broadcasting Limited Partnership, for authorization to effect a two-step corporate reorganization involving the assets of the radio programming undertakings CJCA and CJRY-FM Edmonton, CJLI and CJSI-FM Calgary and CKRD-FM Red Deer. Touch Canada Broadcasting (2006) Inc. and C.R.A. Investments Ltd. (CRA) were both controlled by Charles R. Allard. Step 1 – Transfer to CRA of all Class A voting shares issued by Touch Canada Broadcasting Inc., the current limited partner in Touch Canada LP and a corporation also owned and controlled by Mr. Allard. As a result, TCBI would become wholly owned by CRA. Step 2 – Wind up of TCBI. The 99.89% voting units held by TCBI in Touch Canada LP would be transferred to CRA. As a result, CRA would become the limited partner in Touch Canada LP. The Commission noted that following this two-step corporate reorganization, Mr. Allard would continue to control the undertakings. Upon surrender of the broadcasting licences currently issued to Touch Canada Broadcasting (2006) Inc. (the general partner) and Touch Canada Broadcasting Inc. (the limited partner), carrying on business as Touch Canada Broadcasting Limited Partnership, the Commission would issue new licences to Touch Canada Broadcasting (2006) Inc. (the general partner) and C.R.A. Investments Ltd. (the limited partner), carrying on business as Touch Canada Broadcasting Limited Partnership, to operate CJCA and CJRY-FM Edmonton, CJSI-FM Calgary and CKRD-FM Red Deer under the same terms and conditions as those set out in the current licences. The Commission noted that a broadcasting licence had not yet been issued to CJLI Calgary. Once Touch Canada LP had satisfied the terms set out in Broadcasting Decision 2009-222, the Commission would issue a broadcasting licence to operate that radio station.