CJFB-FM

On October 15, the CRTC approved the application by Rick Sargent for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language, low-power commercial FM radio programming undertaking in Bolton. The new station would offer an Eclectic Adult Contemporary music format that would feature pop, rock, country, folk, blues, jazz and classical, with a particular emphasis on local, Canadian, and emerging artists. The station would offer a minimum of 100 hours of local programming in each broadcast week, consisting of local news, sports, weather, traffic, road conditions, bus cancellations and school closings, as well as information on local events and community announcements. The station would also make available airtime at no charge for public service announcements by local non-profit and community organizations. The licence would expire 31 August 2014. The station would operate at 105.5 MHz (channel 288LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts.

On July 31, the CRTC denied an application to amend the broadcasting licence for CJFB-FM Bolton, in order to operate a transmitter in Caledon at 102.7 MHz (channel 274LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts, the technical parameters currently used by the licensee to operate CFGM-FM Caledon, a low-power tourist information service. The licensee indicated that it wished to convert CFGM-FM to a transmitter of CJFB-FM and requested that, subject to approval of the present application, the Commission revoke the broadcasting licence for CFGM-FM. The Commission was not convinced that the addition of the proposed transmitter in Caledon, which would result in the loss of its tourist information service, would better serve the needs of the residents of that community or be in the public interest. The Commission was further of the view that approval of the application would serve to undermine the integrity of its licensing process.

CJFB-FM (“The B”) signed on the air with an Eclectic Adult Contemporary format. 

On March 14, the CRTC approved the application by Haliburton Broadcasting Group Inc. for authority to acquire from Rick Sargent the assets of the English-language commercial radio stations CJFB-FM Bolton and CFGM-FM Caledon. Haliburton was controlled by Christopher Grossman. In Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2011-694, the Commission stated that the current licensee was in apparent non-compliance with section 9(2) of the Radio Regulations, 1986, which pertained to the provision of annual returns, and with section 15 of the Regulations, which pertained to basic annual Canadian content development contributions. Haliburton indicated that the previous licensee did not provide the annual returns due to inadequate funding and to a lack of staff qualified to fulfil this function properly. The applicant added that given its proven track record of filing its stations’ annual returns on time, it would ensure that the missing annual returns were filed for both undertakings. Haliburton said it understood that the CTD payments had not been made due to insufficient funding and to a lack of staff qualified to fulfil this function properly. It indicated that future payments would be made in a proper fashion.

On October 19, the CRTC approved the application by Vista Radio Ltd. for authority to acquire from Haliburton Broadcasting Group Inc. the assets of Haliburton’s AM and FM radio stations and their transmitters located in Bancroft, Barry’s Bay, Bolton, Bracebridge, Caledon, Cochrane, Elliot Lake, Espanola, Fort Erie, Haldimand, Haliburton, Hearst, Huntsville, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Kemptville, Niagara Falls, North Bay, Parry Sound, Prescott, St. Catharines, Stratford, Sturgeon Falls and Timmins. Vista was a corporation controlled by Westerkirk Capital Inc., in turn controlled by Thompson Investments Limited. CJFB-FM was among the stations acquired by Vista.

On May 4, the CRTC approved CJFB’s application to change frequency from 105.5 MHz to 102.7 MHz, increase average ERP from 50 to 1,565 watts (max. from 50 to 4,000 watts), change the antenna radiation pattern to directional and decrease EHAAT.

On April 21, the CRTC approved a decrease in power for CJFB from 1,565 to 374 watts (4,000 to 1,100 watts maximum ERP) when the station relocates to its new frequency. Antenna height would be raised from -22 to 17 metres (EHAAT) and the transmitter would be relocated.