CFRV-FM

CHEC-FM signed on the air on August 28 – the same date as CHEC-AM.
 

CHEC-FM was operating on a frequency of 100.9 MHz with a power of 250 watts. It was owned by Southern Alberta Broadcasting Ltd. and H. W. Brown was President and General Manager. It offered programming in mono and operated independently from the AM station every day between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.
 

CHEC-FM left the air.
 

CHEC-FM returned to the air. 

CHEC-FM was about to become the city’s third full-time radio station. President and general manager Harold W. Brown said the station would program progressive top-forty, a format the station had experimented with since last fall – where up to seven hours each evening was devoted to this sound. CHEC-FM operated on 100.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 245 watts and 120 foot antenna height. The station was also carried on Lethbridge Cablevision’s channel 13. 
 

On December 18, Southern Alberta Broadcasting Ltd. was authorized to increase the effective radiated power for CHEC-FM, from 245 to 32,000 watts and to use a new transmitter site.

On November 24, approval was granted for the transfer of shares from the estate of Harold W. Brown and from H. W. Brown & Co. Ltd. to William R. Lord, Ronald J. Brochet and James D. Paterson (trustees of the estate).

On March 6, Lethbridge Broadcasting Ltd. was given permission to acquire CHEC-FM from Southern Alberta Broadcasting Ltd. (Selkirk). Lethbridge Broadcasting owned CJOC-AM (and CJPR-AM Blairmore) and CJOC-TV.The CRTC noted that CHEC-FM originally served as a studio to transmitter link for CHEC-AM. In its application, CJOC undertook to make substantial improvements in programming and technical operations, including a change of frequency and increase in power.

The call sign changed to CILA-FM and power increased from 32,000 to 100,000 watts.

On February 20, CILA-FM was authorized to change frequency from 100.9 MHz to 107.7 MHz, increase effective radiated power from 32,000 watts to 100,000 watts, and to operate from a new transmitter site.

On July 21, approval was granted for the transfer of 200 Class B voting shares of Selkirk Communications Ltd. from Southam Inc. to John T. Ferguson, and subsequently, the transfer of these shares from Mr. Ferguson, together with 200 Class B shares from each of seven other individual shareholders, to the Canada Trust Co., pursuant to a voting trust agreement. Southam held 20% of the voting shares and approximately 28% of the non-voting shares of Selkirk Communications. Selkirk owned the following broadcast companies: Selkirk 
Broadcasting Ltd., Lethbridge Television Ltd., Calgary Television Ltd., and Niagara Television Ltd.

Music director Karen Hewko moved from CILA-FM to CFOX-FM Vancouver.

Gary McGowan joined LA-107 as program director. He had held the same post at CKX-FM in Brandon. Brent Seely took over as operations manager.

Brent Seely was operations manager of CILA-FM and CJOC-AM.

On September 28, Maclean-Hunter Limited’s purchase of Selkirk Communications and  subsequent transfer of several stations to Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. was approved.  Included in the transfer to Rogers: CJOC and CILA-FM Lethbridge.

CILA-FM became CFRV The River.

On January 25, Rogers Broadcasting Limited received approval to relocate the CFRV-FM transmitter to a site 17.6 kilometres east of the current transmitter location. The amendment would allow it to place the transmitters for its two Lethbridge stations (CFRV-FM and CJOC-FM) in one location, thereby reducing operating costs. More spacious facilities at the new location would also allow for the installation of a standby transmitter for CFRV-FM, which would enhance the technical reliability of the station. The proposal would result in a small reduction in coverage to the west of Lethbridge, and a significant increase in coverage to the east, reaching the outskirts of Taber, which is located approximately 51 kilometers to the east of Lethbridge. Because of concerns expressed by the station in Taber, Rogers was advised to revise the technical parameters to ensure that signal coverage to the east of Lethbridge will not extend beyond the current coverage of CFRV-FM. 

With revisions to protect the Taber station, the CRTC approved on December 17, 
the relocation of CFRV’s transmitter site 17.6 kilometres east of the existing location. The amendment would result in a small reduction in coverage to the west and a significant increase in coverage to the east.

Early on the morning of December 2nd, Ted Rogers, founder and former Chief Executive of Rogers Communications, owners of CFRV-FM, died at his home in Toronto, after having suffered from congestive heart failure for some time. 

Ross MacLeod accepted the position of program and music director for The River, starting August 24.

Jerhett Schafer, Rock 106 PM Drive Announcer/Music Director, moved across the hall August 3 to become 1077 The River’s morning host. Schafer replaced Brent Brooks. 

Tim Schutz, former Music Director at Jack FM Calgary, became the new Program and Music Director at 107.7 The River Lethbridge as of July 12.

On November 30, the CRTC renewed CFRV’s licence to August 31, 2017.

Tony Marsh added General Manager duties for The River/Rock 106 Lethbridge while retaining that title at Rock 105.3 Medicine Hat. Marsh had been with Rogers for 14 years, first as an Account Manager in Calgary and then as General Sales Manager at Rogers Victoria.

Three senior Rogers Radio managers at separate locations across Canada were released from service: Doug Elliott, Operations Manager at Rogers Radio Kingston joined the station cluster in August, 2007, from his Program Director post at then Newcap Radio Thunder Bay. Terry Voth, who joined Rogers Radio in 1999 and was General Manager at Rock 106/The River Lethbridge, had moved to Rogers after a 19-year career with Rawlco. Terry Williams, Program Director at Lite 92.9 Halifax, joined Rogers in October, 2009, after a long career as PD at C100/CJCH Halifax. 

Jim Blundell succeeded Kevin McKanna and is the Acting General Manager of the 13 Rogers Radio stations in Alberta. Blundell had been the Vice President & GM at CTV Vancouver Island, C-FAX and KooL FM Victoria and left Bell Media in September of last year. Blundell’s background included being the Market Manager for the CHUM radio stations in Brockville, Kingston and Peterborough. In 2007, he was promoted to VP/GM of then Star-FM London and, in 2009, he was promoted again to take the lead at CHUM’s (now Bell Media’s) Victoria properties. 

The new Program Director at Rock 106 / 107.7 The River was Mark Neskar. He had been PD at sister Rogers station CKYX-FM Fort McMurray.

Sasha Spencer moved into the twin roles of Music Director/afternoon drive host at 107.7 The River. Ashly Stewart also joined the Rogers Lethbridge cluster as promotions director. She moved from Rogers Fort McMurray.

In August, CFRV changed branding from The River to Kiss 107.7. The format remained Hot AC.