CKKN-FM

On July 11 CIOI-FM was authorized to change frequencies from 100.5 MHz to 101.3 MHz. 

On May 23, CIOI-FM was granted an increase in effective radiated power from 900 to 9,100 watts and a relocation of the transmitter from Connaught Hill in downtown Prince George to a site near Gunn Road near the Prince George airport.

On December 19, the station was authorized to add rebroadcast transmitters at McLeod (92.5 MHz with effective radiated power of 24 watts) and Mackenzie (105.7 MHz with ERP of 50 watts). 

On October 11, the CRTC approved the sale of Radio Station CKPG Limited from Q Broadcasting Ltd. (99.99%) and J.E. Stark in trust for Q Broadcasting Ltd. (0.1%) to Monarch Broadcasting Ltd.

CIOI-FM Prince George and its transmitters CIOI-FM-1 McLeod and CIOI-FM-2 Mackenzie became CKKN-FM, CKKN-FM-1 and CKKN-FM-2 respectively.  The station was re-branded as “Kickin’ Country”.

Ken Kilculleo left CKNN/CKPG as program director to become PD at CJOB Winnipeg.

On August 1, CKKN-FM moved from a country format to Hot Adult Contemporary “101.3 Hits FM”.

On December 21, approval came for the sale by Monarch Broadcasting Ltd. of several stations in Alberta and B.C. to Jim Pattison Industries Ltd., including the remaining issued and outstanding shares of Radio Station CKPG Ltd.  

Sister station CKPG-AM became CKDV-FM. 

On July 23 the CRTC renewed the licence for Radio Station CKPG Limited’s CKKN-FM (and its transmitters CKKN-FM-1 McLeod Lake and CKKN-FM-2 Mackenzie). The new licnece would be in effect until August 31, 2010.

On December 23, the CRTC approved the application by Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Ltd. (the general partner) and Jim Pattison Industries Ltd. (the limited partner) carrying on business as Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Limited Partnership, owned by James A. Pattison (the Pattison Group), for the authority to acquire the assets of all of the radio television undertakings (and their respective transmitters) currently licensed to corporate entities owned by James A. Pattison. This transaction was part of a corporate reorganization that would not affect the ultimate control of the broadcasting undertakings. The ultimate control would continue to be exercised by James A. Pattison, the sole shareholder of Jim Pattison Ltd.

At 10:13 a.m., February 11, CKKN-FM re-launched as the new “101.3 Hits FM”, playing the “Best Music, The Best Variety” (classic hits of the 80s, 90s and Now)

On January 6 at 12 noon, CKNN became known as “101.3 The River, Prince George’s at Work Station”. The new format was Hot Adult Contemporary aimed at young adults, primarily females 25-49.

The River’s program director, Ron Polillo announced that Lisa Daigneault would join long-time morning host Mike Benny on The River’s new morning show, “The River Wake Up”, starting February 1. Lisa had been hosting the morning show at The Mix in Prince Rupert for the last year.

Lindsay Rae moved to KRAZE 101.3 Red Deer from her morning co-hosting gig at 101.3 The River Prince George. She was also now morning co-Host at KRAZE.

Shaun Peterson was the new Chief Engineer at CKPG-TV/CKKN-FM/CKDV-FM. His background was IT and he was new to broadcasting.

Ron Polillo, the Program Director at the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group’s Prince George stations-and who also carried an on-air shift at 101.3 The River, moved across the hall. After 13 years on The River, Polillo took over middays at 99.3 The Drive while retaining his PD duties. Succeeding Polillo on The River was Jennifer Lee, who did afternoon drive at The Bear Fort St. John.

Ryan Carroll left The River for B93 in Lethbridge, where he became morning co-host as of April 8.

It was announced that Ken Kilcullen, with the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group stations in Prince George since Sept/98, and GM/GSM for the last 11 years, would become the new GM for the Bell Media B.C. Interior stations as of January 6, 2014. Based in Kelowna, he would also have day-to-day responsibility for the three stations there, succeeding Don Shafer. 

In June, Dan Dugas retired from 101.3 The River  and 99.3 The Drive. He started his broadcasting career in 1974 as an operator at CKLG Vancouver. He went on to announce for CKWX Vancouver and was part of the news department at CJCI -FM Prince George. Dugas joined The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group in Prince George in 1993 where he’d been hosting weekend evenings on 99.3 The Drive and working as a senior account manager the past 24 years.