Year Born: 1918
Year Died: 2001
Year of Induction: 2003
Pioneer – Member of CAB Hall of Fame
Stark, Jack (1918-2001)
Jack Stark enjoyed a successful and rewarding lifelong business career in confectioneries, steel products and millwork, and in many ways was a pioneer of British Columbia broadcasting. He was the founder of “Q Broadcasting” and spearheaded the licensing of the first commercial FM station in Vancouver.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Jack began his love affair with radio at an early age, starting as a short-wave enthusiast while still a teenager. In 1935, he created, produced and hosted “High Schools on Parade” on the station whose call-sign then was CJOR.
After graduating in 1940 from UBC as a Bachelor of Commerce and with an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1942, Jack was ready to plunge into the world of business, but not before he spent the remaining part of WW II as a Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Ordinance Corps. From 1948 through 1965, he served as Vice-President and Managing Director for B. C. Hardwood & Millwork Ltd. Jack also had an interest in Morrison Steel and Wire Company Ltd., standing from 1953 to 1982 as its President and Managing Director. It was while Jack was occupied in these capacities that in 1958 he became the founder of Q Broadcasting Ltd.
Jack Stark was central to the launch in December 1958 of CHQM-AM which established its claim as Canada’s “first beautiful music station”. This led to the licensing of CHQM-FM, which went on the air in August 1962 as the first FM stereo commercial station in Vancouver. The same year, the company introduced “Q Music” — a background music service that served retail outlets, restaurants and businesses throughout the city and province.
In 1969, under Jack’s direction, the company expanded with the purchase of CKPG-TV and CKPG-AM in Prince George, adding C101-FM in 1980. In 1985, Jack was elected a Director of SILK-FM Broadcasting in Kelowna, and beginning in 1992 was Vice-Chairman of Fairchild Radio (Vancouver).
In 1952, as part of “Civic Progress Week”, Jack and his wife Morva were chosen as “Mr. and Mrs. Vancouver”.
In 1998, Jack Stark was named by the British Columbia Association of Broadcasters as “Broadcaster of the Year”. He attended his final meeting in May, 2001 and passed away on October 30th, in Vancouver at age 83.
In 2003, posthumously, Jack Stark was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame.