CISQ-FM

Mountain Broadcasting Ltd. launched CISQ-FM at Squamish on November 30. The station was authorized to operate on 104.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 2,400 watts. Rebroadcast transmitters were authorized for Pemberton and Whistler.  Louis Potvin was the founder of Moutain FM, Squamish CISQ. He and his wife, Carol, managed the station.

CISW 102.1 Whistler began operations.

On October 5, CISP 104.5 Pemberton launched.

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

Mountain FM Radio Ltd. was given approval to add transmitters for CISQ at Pender Harbour on 104.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 3.3, and Gibsons / Sechelt on 107.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 32 watts. 

CISQ was given permission to add a transmitter at Sechelt on 104.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 4.8 watts. Construction of the new rebroadcaster was underway later in the year.

On February 10, the CRTC approved the application for a licence for an English-language FM station at Egmont on the frequency 107.5 MHz, channel 298, with an effective radiated power of 1 watt to rebroadcast the programs of CISQ-FM Squamish. The licence would expire September 30, 1990. This term would enable the Commission to consider the renewal of the licence at the same time as that of CISQ-FM.

On January 16, the CRTC approved the application by CISQ-FM to change frequency from 104.9 MHz (channel 285A) to 98.3 MHz (channel 252A). The Commission noted that this change was necessary to avoid interference to the reception of the CISQ-FM signal at the licensee’s Bowen Island re-transmitter, caused by the FM undertaking licensed to Fraser Valley Broadcasters Ltd. at Abbotsford which utilized the frequency 104.9 MHz. The Commission reminded Mountain FM Radio Ltd. that it was authorized to operate CISQ-FM with an effective radiated power of 2,400 watts and that it must submit an application requesting authority for any change in power. Approval was granted for CIPN Pender Harbour to change frequency from 104.3 to 104.7 MHz.

CISE-FM Sechelt, CIPN-FM Pender Harbour, CISC-FM Gibsons and CIEG-FM Egmont were given approval to change program source from CISQ-FM Squamish to part-time from CISQ and part-time from the studios of CISE-FM Sechelt. CISW-FM Whistler was given approval to change program source from CISQ-FM Squamish to part-time from CISQ and part-time from CISW. CIEP-FM Pemberton was granted authority to change program source from CISQ-FM to part-time from CISW-FM. 

The CRTC approved the following changes: CISQ-FM Squamish – a frequency change from 98.3 to 104.7 MHz and increase in effective radiated power from 2,400 to 20,000 watts;. CIEG-FM Egmont – a power increase from 1 watt to 50 watts; CISP-FM Pemberton – an increase in ERP from 46.4 to 750 watts; CIPN-FM Pender Harbour – an  increase in ERP from 3.3 to 350 watts; CISE-FM Sechelt – an increase in ERP from 4.8 to 350 watts; and CISW-FM Whistler – an increase in ERP from 380 to 900 watts.

CISC-FM Gibsons was granted a change of frequency from 107.1 to 107.5 MHz; CISQ-FM Squamish was granted a change of frequency from 104.7 to 107.1 MHz. The changes would alleviate interference problems at Squamish. 

On January 16, the sale of Mountain FM Radio Ltd. (CISQ-FM Squamish and its rebroadcasters CISW-FM Whistler, CISP-FM Pemberton, CISC-FM Gibsons, CISE-FM Sechelt, CIPN-FM Pender Harbour and CIEG-FM Egmont) by the existing shareholders to Selkirk Communications Ltd. was approved.

On September 28, the CRTC approved Maclean-Hunter Ltd.’s purchase of Selkirk Communications Ltd. and the transfer of Mountain FM Radio Ltd. and several other stations from MH Acquisition Inc. to Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. 

Chuck McCoy, vice president and general manager of CKKS-FM was also named general manager of CKWX-AM and of Mountain FM at Squamish.

The CRTC turned down the application by Rogers Broadcasting to amend the hit to non-hit ratio for CISQ-FM from 49:51 to 85:15.

On April 7, the CRTC approved the application to amend the licence for CISW-FM Whistler, by decreasing the effective radiated power of its transmitter CISP-FM Pemberton, from 750 watts to 400 watts.

A power decrease from 900 to 586 watts for CISW-FM Whistler was approved, along with a relocation of the transmitter to a site 6 kilometres north-east of the present site. 

CISQ-FM Squamish decreased power from 20,000 to 12,480 watts in December.

On August 29 at 3 p.m., the New Mountain FM was launched with a Hot AC format – playing “Hits of the 80s, 90s and Today”. The format had been soft rock.  

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

Rob Michaels, program director and morning show host at Mountain FM, left for Ocean 98.5 Victoria as of February 23. Succeeding him at Mountain Fm was Craig Stone of Power 104 Kelowna. Stone began February 21. 

On August 31, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CKKS-DR-1 Sechelt to April 30, 2012. 

Mountain FM Squamish/Whistler Morning Show Host Craig Stone started mid-March at The Peak Vancouver as Swing Announcer.

Matthew Soper became Morning Show Host/Music Director at Mountain FM Squamish. His previous stops included 94X Prince George and The Bridge Nelson.

On May 22, the CRTC approved the application by Rogers Broadcasting Limited to amend the licence for CISW-FM in order to relocate its transmitter from its current location to a tower also located in Whistler and owned by the CBC. This relocation would result in a decrease in the average effective radiated power from 586 to 474 watts (directional antenna with a decrease in the maximum ERP from 1,430 to 1,000 watts) as well as an increase in the effective height of antenna above average terrain from -306.2 metres to -238.3 metres. Rogers stated that the relocation of its transmitter was necessary due to its inability to reach suitable terms with the owner of the existing tower. It specified that its current lease contained a 12-month termination clause, which prevented it from having the long-term security needed to broadcast from the existing site. In contrast, Rogers indicated that the CBC offered it a long-term lease at its Whistler site, which would provide long-term security.

CKLG 107.5 Egmont became CIPN while CIPN Pender Harbour 104.7 became CKLG.

The licence for CIPN 107.5 (50 watts) Egmont was voluntarily surrendered by Rogers Media.

CKLG 107.5 Egmont became CIPN while CIPN Pender Harbour 104.7 became CKLG.

The licence for CIPN 107.5 (50 watts) Egmont was voluntarily surrendered by Rogers Media.

Louis Potvin died June 2 at age 95. In 1981 he formed Mountain Broadcasting Ltd. and launched Mountain FM (CISQ) Whistler. Transmitters were later added: CISE-FM Sechelt, CIPN-FM Pender Harbour, CISC-FM Gibsons and CIEG-FM Egmont. Mountain FM was sold to Selkirk Communications in 1989.