CKWF-FM

Stations of Northern Broadcasting & Publishing Co. of Timmins were granted licenses to operate FM stations. All would have a power of 250 watts: CHNB North Bay (CFCH-AM), CHKL Kirkland Lake (CJKL-AM), CKRT Timmins (CKGB-AM) and CKEX Peterborough (CHEX-AM). CHNB and CHKL would use RCA equipment. CKRT and CKEX would use General Electric equipment.

Senator Rupert Davies and Roy Thomson, owners of CHEX-AM put CHEX-FM on the air, on 101.5 MHz with 250 watts of power. Studios and offices were located in the Peterborough Examiner Building at Water and Hunter Streets. The “EX” in the calls are for the co-owned newspaper. It is uncertain when CHEX-FM (not CKEX) actually began broadcasting. Many say it went on the air later in 1947 but many listings do not show it operating until the later half of 1949.

The CBC Board approved the transfer of two shares in the Brookland Co. Ltd. (CHEX and CKWS) with no change of control.

Don Lawrie was transferred to CHEX from CJKL in Kirkland Lake. He was manager at both locations.

The CBC Board approved the transfer of CHEX-FM from the Brookland Co. Ltd. to Kawartha Broadcasting Co. Ltd., with no change in ownership.

CHEX-FM left the air around 1954.

A new tower was built for CHEX-TV and FM.

CHEX-FM returned to the air on July 24, on 101.5 MHz with 1,000 watts. The transmitter was on the CHEX-TV tower on Vision Hill (also the studio location). 

It was announced that the broadcast interests of Lord Roy Thomson and the late Senator Rupert Davies’ families would be sold to Bushnell TV Co. Ltd. of Ottawa (CJOH-TV). The plan was subject to CRTC approval. The sale would include CKWS-AM-FM-TV Kingston, CHEX-AM-FM-TV Peterborough, CFCH-AM-TV North Bay, CKGB-AM-FM Timmins and CJKL Kirkland Lake.

On July 6, the Thomson and Davies families were given permission to sell their stations to Bushnell Communications Ltd. of Ottawa. The sale included stations in Timmins, Kingston, Kirkland Lake & New Liskeard, and North Bay. Kawartha Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (CHEX-AM-FM-TV) was part of the deal. The sale was conditional on the transfer of CFCH-AM-TV North Bay & Cablevue to another party. The sale to Bushnell was never completed.

On January 16, CHEX-FM 101.5 was granted an increase in effective radiated power from 2,640 to 31,400 watts.

CHEX-FM became CFMP (“FMP” for FM Peterborough).

A numbered company owned by Paul Desmarais, Claude Pratte and J. G. Porteous received CRTC approval to purchase Frontenac Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (CKWS-AM-TV and CFMK-FM) and Kawartha Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (CHEX-AM-TV and CFMP-FM) from the Rupert Davies Estate (51%), and the Thomson Estate (49%). 

Don Lawrie became president of Katenac holdings, owner of Kawartha Broadcasting and Frontenac Broadcasting.

Some of the on-air names at CFMP at this time: Keith Anderson (mornings), Dave Victor (afternoons), Len Arminio (commentary), Barry Miller and Gary Dalliday (sports). 

On January 11, the CRTC renewed CFMP-FM’s licence until September 30, 1985.

CFMP-FM moved from the ‘Music of Your Life’ (nostalgia) to ‘Evergreen’ – a conservative-contemporary music format. Randal English Enterprises represented Drake-Chenault in Canada. DC provided the bulk of the format with RE adding Cancon and no-hit FM programming to meet Canadian requirements.

On January 29, the CRTC approved the applications for authority to transfer effective control of Frontenac Broadcasting Company Limited and Kawartha Broadcasting Company Limited through the transfer of 200 common voting shares (100%) of Katenac Holdings Limited from Paul G. Desmarais (90), Claude Pratte (90) and three minority shareholders (20) to Power Corporation of Canada, which was indirectly controlled by Mr. Desmarais. As a result of this transaction, Power Corporation would acquire 100% control of Katenac Holdings Limited which held effective control of Frontenac Broadcasting Company Limited, licensee of CKWS, CFMK-FM and CKWS-TV Kingston and Kawartha Broadcasting Company Limited, licensee of CHEX, CHEX-TV, CFMP-FM Peterborough and two rebroadcasting stations, and CKCB Collingwood and CKBB Barrie. 

Jack Ruttle was named president of Kawartha Broadcasting Co. Ltd. He had been executive vice-president at CTV.

Former CTV news anchor Wally Macht was named managing editor at CFMP / CHEX-AM-TV. Robert Rudd remained vice president of information.

Power Corp. of Canada reorganized its radio and television assets. They would now be held in the new wholly-owned subsidiary, Power Broadcasting Inc. PBI would be based in Montreal. Andre Desmarais was named chairman and chief executive officer of the new unit. Peter Kruyt was president. Before now, Power’s seven AM, four FM and three TV stations were held by a number of subsidiaries in Ontario and Quebec. 

The CHEX Radio and Television building underwent an overhaul, complete with new equipment. The building was renamed The Donald R. Lawrie Broadcast Centre in honour of the station’s first president & general manager who retired earlier in the year. At retirement, Lawrie was president of Katenac Holdings and had been in broadcasting for almost 44 years. 

Donald R. Lawrie was appointed honorary director of Power Broadcasting Inc. The Rt. Hon. Jeanne Sauve and Anthony R. Graham were named directors.

On February 14 at 6:00 p.m., CFMP with an adult contemporary / middle of the road format, became CKWF “The Wolf”, with a classic rock format. The “WF” in the calls: Wolf. Power increased from 31,400 to 48,500 watts. 

Toronto’s Mike Cooper joined to do the morning show. Dale Lowe was in middays, Brian Ellis did afternoons and evenings were handled by Norma Green. Other announcers were Jim Anderson and Downtown Brown. John McFadden and Lisa MacDonald were among the news staff.

Bob Harris was named program director for The Wolf 101.5 and 980 CHEX and Randy C. Redden was appointed sales manager.

CHEX-AM became CKRU. 

Randy C. Redden moved from the position of general sales manager to vice president and general manager of Power Radio Peterborough.

Malcolm Sinclair became program director of CKWF and CKRU. He had been with CKYC-AM in Toronto.

Power Broadcasting Peterborough vice president and general manager Dennis A. Watson left to take up the same position with CKCO-TV in Kitchener. He was succeeded by Bryan Ellis, former general manager of CHAT Medicine Hat.

Claude Pratte died in Quebec City on July 15. He had been prominent in several Quebec-based broadcasting companies. Between 1977 and 1987, he was a part owner of Kawartha Broadcasting Co. Ltd.

Program director Malcolm Sinclair left in September. Bryan Ellis, Executive Vice President and General Manager, was appointed to the same position at CHCH-TV Hamilton. He took up his new job on April 28.

On January 13, the studios of CHEX Channel 12, CKWF 101.5, and CKRU 980 had to be evacuated for several hours after the 700′ CHEX-CKWF tower began to sway dangerously due to heavy ice. Workers had been on the tower trying to replace CKWF’s feedline, which was soaked with water on New Year’s Day, leaving The Wolf with just 25 watts of power from a temporary transmitter. 

Brian Ellis became program director at WOLF 101.5 FM in June. Malcolm Sinclair remained regional program director.

On February 1, CKRU, CHEX and CKWF moved from the Television Hill studio and office complex due to concerns over the TV-FM tower. The radio stations moved to 151 King St. and CHEX-TV relocated to 743 Monaghan Road. 

Downtown Brown left The Wolf 101.5 for swing-overnights-weekends at CJAY-FM in Calgary.

Corus Entertainment Inc. took ownership of CKRU-AM, CKWF-FM and CHEX Television. The stations had been owned by Power Broadcasting Inc.

It was announced that a new 1,000 foot tower would be errected beside the existing one. When completed, CKWF and CHEX-TV would decrease effective radiated power. 

On February 5 the CRTC approved the application by CKWF-FM to decrease effective radiated power from 48,500 watts to 15,200 watts, and increase in the effective height above average terrain of the antenna from 152.5 metres to 273.2 metres.

On August 24 the CRTC renewed CKWF-FM’s licence until August 31, 2013.

Dani Stover took over the Saturday afternoon noon-6 shift on the WOLF 101.5 FM (starting March 13), replacing Catherine Hanrahan who was now co-hosting the morning show with Mike Melnik on the WOLF’S sister station “Peterborough’s Greatest Hits, 100.5 KRUZ FM”. Dani had been the producer of the “Dean Blundell Show” on CFNY Toronto and would continue in that capacity Monday to Friday. 

Len Arminio, after nearly 25 years at Belleville’s Loyalist College, retired in the spring from his position as Coordinator of Broadcast Journalism. Before moving to the educational side, Arminio was News Director at CHEX-Radio-TV Peterborough.

There were a number of changes at Corus Entertainment related to its organization review to streamline decision-making and clarify roles and mandates. Among the changes: Reporting to Hal Blackadar, Executive Vice President and interim President of Corus Radio – Suzanne Carpenter, VP/GM, Corus Radio, Eastern Ontario and VP/GM, CHEX TV Peterborough and CKWS-TV Kingston; JJ Johnston, GM, Corus Radio Cornwall, Kingston and Peterborough (was GM at Corus Radio Vancouver) and Michael Harris, GM, CKWS-TV and CHEX TV (was GM of CHEX TV only). Corus Radio-TV Kingston GM Mike Ferguson was no longer with the company. Former Corus Radio Peterborough GM Brian Armstrong became GSM.

J.J. Johnson became general manager of Corus Radio in Cornwall, Kingston and Peterborough.

In December, Corus Entertainment announced the appointment of Suzanne Carpenter as general manager of the Corus Toronto radio stations, effective January 3, 2011. She had been vice president and general manager of Corus Radio Eastern Ontario, CHEX TV and CKWS TV. 

John Badham, 73, retired from a full-time broadcasting shift at The Wolf/Kruz. He would remain with the stations doing commentaries, editorial work and some feature interviews. He’d been in broadcasting 53 years, 23 of them in Peterborough. In the ’70s and ’80s, he was highly regarded as a sportscaster in Toronto. Laurie English was promoted to general sales manager from retail sales manager, succeeding 19-year veteran Brian Armstrong who was no longer with the stations. 

At Corus Radio Peterborough, Laurie English was promoted to Market Sales Manager from Retail Sales Manager, succeeding 19-year veteran Brian Armstrong who was no longer with the stations. Program Director Fred Patterson also departed. Jennifer Pelat moved from Corus Radio Vancouver to become PD of the Corus Peterborough cluster.

The Wolf welcomed Pete Dalliday to afternoon drive (2-6 p.m.) with news anchor Alana Cameron. Pete joined The Wolf as evening host last year and officially took over afternoons from Brian Ellis. Before joining CKWF as a full-time host, Pete did play-by-play for the Peterborough Petes with his father, Gary. TJ Connors left The Wolf’s morning show to be program director at Mountain FM Castlegar and senior PD for the Vista Group. 

Corus Radio Peterborough announced the appointment of Rob Seguin to the position of program director for The Wolf 101.5 Fm / 100.5 Kruz Fm effective June 4. He had been program director and promotion director at CJSS-FM Cornwall.

Jennifer Pelat, a five-year employee at CKNW Vancouver before Corus Executive J.J. Johnston convinced her to move east last August to become Program Director at Corus Peterborough, moved to CTV National News in Toronto as Assignment Editor. Her last day at the Corus stations was May 13.

As of June 25, Meghan “Kya” Kyer, Interactive Account Manager at Corus Radio Cornwall, added that responsibility at CHEX-TV, 100.5 Kruz-FM and The Wolf 101.5 FM Peterborough. She relocated to Peterborough. 

Sue Tyler joined 101.5 The Wolf as the new Afternoon Drive Host. Tyler replaced Pete Dalliday who recently moved from his Afternoon Drive post on The Wolf to the Morning Show slot on sister station 100.5 Kruz-FM. No stranger to the Peterborough airwaves, Tyler served as the former Mid-Day Host on Country 105 from 1995 to 2005. She also helped launch Magic 96.7 as the Mid-Day Host and backup host for the Morning Show. Most recently, Tyler had been a full-time swing announcer with Boom 97.3 in Toronto while still residing in the Peterborough area. Prior to these responsibilities, she held positions with Y105, 93.9 Kool-FM and 54 Rock in Ottawa. Sue Tyler would be heard from 2 to 6 p.m. beginning December 10.

The new General Manager for Corus Entertainment’s Peterborough-Oshawa and Kingston operations, was Dave McCutcheon. He had been senior account manager at Corus Television Sales in Toronto. 

Don Lawrie passed away at 92. He began his career at CJKL in 1946. In 1952 Lawrie moved to CHEX as GM. After Power Broadcasting took over, Lawrie became president and remained as such until his retirement in 1989.