CIQC-FM

On September 10, CFCP Radio Ltd. (owner of CFCP Courtenay) opened CFWB on 1490 kHz with a power of 250 watts. 

CFWB 1490 received approval to increase daytime power from 250 to 1,000 watts. Night power would remain at 250 watts and a non-directional pattern would continue to be used.

Sunshine Coast Broadcasting Co. Ltd. was given approval to transfer shares from Donald V. Cartmell to CFCP Radio Ltd. (W.G. Browne 60%) and from Fraser Valley Broadcasting Ltd. to CFCP Radio Ltd.

By this time, power had increased to 1,000 watts day and 250 watts night.

CFWB was given approval to increase night power to 1,000 watts on December 13.

On August 26, CFWB was given approval to relocate its transmitter from a site west of Campbell River to a site approximately 15 miles to the east, near Quathiaski Cove on Quadra Island.

On December 22, CFWB was given approval to add a rebroadcast transmitter at Gold River, operating on 100.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 50 watts. 

The Gold River transmitter signed on as CJGR-FM.

William George Browne passed away in April. He was 63. Known as Billy Browne, he was the founder of CFCP Courtenay, and also owned CFWB Campbell River, CFNI Port Hardy and CHQB Powell River. Browne was first heard on the radio 51 years earlier (age 12) – on CJOR Vancouver – as a guest on his father’s radio program. Billy carried on the morning show when he opened CFCP in 1959.

Norma E. Browne took over management of CFCP Radio Ltd. following the death of her husband. The CRTC approved the transfer of control on December 21.

CFWB reduced the hours of local programming from 18 daily to six (6 a.m. to noon). All other programming originated from CFCP Courtenay. 

Bill Bishop left CFWB/CJGR as manager to work for Corus Entertainment in Victoria.

In late July, it was announced that CFCP Radio Ltd., owners of CFCP-FM Courtenay, CFWB-AM Campbell River, CFNI-AM Port Hardy and CHPQ-AM Powell River had been purchased by a Calgary group, headed by Margot Micallef.  On September 1, The CRTC announced approval of the sale to 1126144 Alberta Ltd., a company affiliated with Vista Broadcast Group Inc.

On March 27, CFWB switched from a format of Country and All Time Favourites (known as Coast Radio) to Country and Southern Rock as “1490 The Ride”. 

On August 30 the CRTC approved application by Vista Radio Ltd. to convert the station to the FM band, but denied the technical parameters.  Vista applied to use 106.1 MHz, with the transmitter on the same tower as CFCP-FM 98.9 Courtenay, which would expand CFWB’s coverage area.  The Commission considered that a transmitter site closer to Campbell River with parameters that reflect CFWB’s existing contours would represent better use of the spectrum for a new local FM station. Vista stated that the station would continue to offer a country music format.  The company was given three months to submit an amendment. 

On March 19 the Commission approved a subsequent application to operate the new FM station at 99.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 6000 watts omni-directional from a transmitter site approximately 5 km. northwest of Campbell River. Its rebroadcast transmitter, CJGR-FM Gold River, was part of the new FM licence and CFWB-AM was authorized to simulcast the new FM signal for a period of three months.

In October, Vista announced that 25-year veteran and former CKLW Windsor personality Dave Reynolds would be the new morning host and Dave Hay, former Media Relations Officer for the RCMP Island District, would serve as news director. A new studio was also announced at that time.

“The River” CIQC-FM signed on at 6 a.m. December 10 with an Adult Contemporary format, replacing its previous Country and Southern Rock. 

Randy Kilburn became News Director. Patti Mertz was Operations Manager and Dave Reynolds was Program Director.

Vista Radio’s Coast Group announced that journalist Art Aronson would move from 99.7 The River to the larger newsroom at 98.9 Jet FM. Kelly Linehan would take Art’s place at The River. 

Justin ( Drex ) Wilcomes left his role as program director and afternoon drive announcer at 103.9 The Juice in Kelowna, to take on the role of PD for Vista’s Coast Group (98.9 Jet FM Courtenay / Comox, 99.7 The River in Campbell River, 1240AM The Port in Port Hardy, and 95.7 Sun FM in Powell River). Drex also assumed the role of morning man for Jet FM in Courtenay. The new general manager of Vista’s Coast Group was Pete Montana, the Group program director. In the near term, he’d continue to hold down the PD gig as well as hosting the morning show on Jet FM (CFCP) Courtenay.

Vista Radio welcomed four more people to the team. Darren McPeake joined Vista as the Kootenay Group Program Director and Mountain FM morning host effective August 1. Jennifer Thomson rejoined the Vista family as part of the creative team at 103.9 The Juice in Kelowna. She was previously with the company’s Kootenay Group as the Creative Director for Mountain FM and The Bridge. Tracy Hamilton joined Vista Radio in the role of General Manager/Sales Manager at CJSU 89.7 Sun FM in Duncan. Carmen Weld accepted the position of news anchor/reporter for 99.7 The River in Campbell River. She was a graduate of BCIT’s journalism program and recently did a stint at 89.7 Sun FM in Duncan. 

It was announced that Vista President Terry Coles would move into retirement at the end of 2012 and immediately into a consulting role with the company. His successor would be CEO Margot Micallef who would handle the dual roles of President/CEO. Bryan Edwards moves to Senior VP of Business Development. Vista Kelowna General Manager/General Sales Manager Ross Hawse would become the Director Western Operations. Gary Russell, Vista’s Director of Systems and GM of Vista Prince George, would integrate Haliburton and Vista in Ontario as the Director of Integration and Operations, Vista East. Co-Founder/Executive VP Paul Mann would add Senior VP of Sales and Training and Development to his duties. Assisting him would be Tracey Gard, the GM/GSM of the Cariboo Group of Vista stations, as Director Vista Sales, West and based in Courtenay. The former finance executive at Corus and Telemedia, Chris Lecomte joined Vista as Senior VP/CFO, based in Toronto.

Dave Reynolds left 99.7 The River as morning host after three years with the station. 

On October 22, Scott Hammond joined 99.7 The River as the new Morning Show Host. Scott had been with Vista Radio since 2010, most recently as the morning host at 104.7 Free FM Grande Prairie.

The CRTC approved a change to the effective control of Vista Radio Ltd. from a control exercised by its board of directors to a control exercised by Westerkirk Capital Inc., a corporation controlled by Thomson Investments Limited. Vista Radio Ltd. was the licensee of radio programming undertakings located in British Columbia, Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

Jason Hatton moved to 997 The River Campbell River March 11 as Assistant Program Director/morning host, the third Vista station he’d worked at since starting with the company in 2010. His first stop was at 95.7 SUN FM Powell River in afternoon drive. Two years later, he moved to JET FM Courtenay for mid-days and production.

Andrew “Rock Dawg” Davis was promoted to Program Director at Vista Radio’s Coast Group stations (98.9 Jet FM Courtenay, 99.7 The River Campbell River, 95.7 Sun FM Powell River and 1240 AM The Port Port Hardy). He continued doing afternoon drive. Rickie Tyler moved to mornings at 99.7 The River while Warren Andrews was promoted to Assistant Program Director.

On July 25 at 1:00 p.m., CIQC changed format from Hot Adult Contemporary/ Classic Hits (THE RIVER) to 2DAY FM with a Contemporary Hits format.