CKOV-FM

On March 14, the CRTC approved in part an application by Vista Radio Ltd. for a new FM station to serve Kelowna with a Classic Hits format. However, the applied for frequency of 96.1 MHz, with an average effective radiated power of 19,900 watts was rejected by the Commission as unacceptable, due to approval of another FM station application by Sun Country Cable to use 96.3 MHz.

Vista subsequently re-filed its application for a new frequency and on August 7, the Commission approved the use of 103.9 MHz with an average ERP of 5,200 watts directional (10,000 watts maximum).

Call letters were assigned and Vista began testing CJUI-FM during the second week of September, asking for interference reports and identifying as “CJUI, The Juice, playing whatever”. It officially signed on September 29 with morning hosts Liz McKinney and “Moose” Trevor Stoyko, Natalee Taylor middays and Jay Stone in afternoon drive. Vista Radio’s VP of Programming, Jason Mann was quoted as saying, “The station is designed specifically for men and women 25-54 years of age. The format is really meant to super serve those aged 30-49 who grew up listening to Top 40 and rock music of the 80s, but the format is kept ‘fresh’ by including compatible music from the 90s and 2000s.”

Vista Radio announced the appointment of Ted Farr as the general manager of 103.9 The Juice. Ted was president of his own radio consulting company, Ted Farr Media. His radio experience was extensive across Western Canada with several of the major companies including Rawlco, Corus, WIC, Rogers and Moffat. Farr assumed his role on September 8. 

103.9 The Juice announced that Katie Campbell would join the station January 25th as promotions director. She was most recently at The Fox (CFOX) Vancouver.

Due to restructuring at CJUI 103.9 The Juice, Nesta Matthews was no longer with the station where she had been assistant program director, music director and midday announcer. It was announced that Matt DeBeurs would join CJUI as midday host as of October 10. Drex Justin Wilcomes joined 103.9 The Juice. The Australian native had been programming and hosting mornings at 103.5 The Bridge.

103.9 The Juice (CJUI) announced an addition to its on air team. Gary Long, program director of 94X in Prince George made the move to Kelowna to take on the roles of morning anchor, music director and assistant program director 103.9 the Juice. In November, Erin Chase joined 103.9 The Juice as the new marketing director and evening show host. 

Jennifer Faerber moved from 103.9 The Juice Kelowna to JET FM Courtenay September 1, remaining in news.

Ross Hawse was the new general manager at 1039 The Juice. He had been with CKNO-FM Edmonton. He succeeded Jason Mann who moved to refocus on VP programming and new media duties. Kim McKechnie resigned as sales manager of 103.9 The Juice.

Gary Long, who had previously been program director at 94X in Prince George and assistant PD / mornings at 103.9 The Juice in Kelowna, headed to the Cariboo region of BC to take on the role of General Manager for The Rush and The Wolf in Quesnel, Williams Lake, and 100 Mile House. 

TJ Connors was promoted into the role of morning host and Program Director at 103.9 The Juice, following the departure of Gary Long to be GM/PD of Vista’s Cariboo Group and Justin “Drex” Wilcomes to Group PD/morning host on Vancouver Island. TJ was now co-hosting Juice Mornings with Christy Farrell, joining the Kelowna team from the Kootenay Group. 

Vista Radio welcomed four more people to the team. Darren McPeake joined Vista as the Kootenay Group Program Director and Mountain FM morning host effective August 1. Jennifer Thomson rejoined the Vista family as part of the creative team at 103.9 The Juice in Kelowna. She was previously with the company’s Kootenay Group as the Creative Director for Mountain FM and The Bridge. Tracy Hamilton joined Vista Radio in the role of General Manager/Sales Manager at CJSU 89.7 Sun FM in Duncan. Carmen Weld accepted the position of news anchor/reporter for 99.7 The River in Campbell River. She was a graduate of BCIT’s journalism program and recently did a stint at 89.7 Sun FM in Duncan. 

It was announced that Vista President Terry Coles would move into retirement at the end of 2012 and immediately into a consulting role with the company. His successor would be CEO Margot Micallef who would handle the dual roles of President/CEO. Bryan Edwards moves to Senior VP of Business Development. Vista Kelowna General Manager/General Sales Manager Ross Hawse would become the Director Western Operations. Gary Russell, Vista’s Director of Systems and GM of Vista Prince George, would integrate Haliburton and Vista in Ontario as the Director of Integration and Operations, Vista East. Co-Founder/ Executive VP Paul Mann would add Senior VP of Sales and Training and Development to his duties. Assisting him would be Tracey Gard, the GM/GSM of the Cariboo Group of Vista stations, as Director Vista Sales, West and based in Courtenay. The former finance executive at Corus and Telemedia, Chris Lecomte joined Vista as Senior VP/CFO, based in Toronto.

The CRTC approved a change to the effective control of Vista Radio Ltd. from a control exercised by its board of directors to a control exercised by Westerkirk Capital Inc., a corporation controlled by Thomson Investments Limited. Vista Radio Ltd. was the licensee of radio programming undertakings located in British Columbia, Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

TJ Connors left The Juice as Program Director and morning host to co-host mornings at CJKR in Winnipeg.

Vista West Sales Director Tracey Gard assumed additional duties January 7 as General Manager/General Sales Manager at 103.9 The Juice. Ted Farr, who held the GM position on a contract basis, moved to coaching/mentoring Vista on-air staff in Western Canada. Gard began with Vista in 2006 as GM/GSM of the group’s Cariboo stations and was based at CFFM/CKWL Williams Lake.

January 28 brought a refreshing change to the sound of Okanagan Valley morning radio. 103-9 The Juice added long-time Kelowna morning host Steve Thompson to its team. He joined existing Morning Crew talent Christy Farrell for the 6-10 a.m. show. Steve brought 25 years of radio experience to the team and was also the station’s new Program Director. 

On January 31, the CRTC approved the application by Vista Radio Ltd. to change the authorized contours of CJUI-FM by increasing the average effective radiated power from 5,200 to 17,300 watts (maximum ERP from 10,000 to 36,800 watts), by decreasing the effective height of antenna above average terrain from 506 to -90 metres, by relocating the transmitter site and by changing the class from C1 to C. Vista indicated that it requested these changes in order to improve coverage in the West Kelowna area.

Vista Radio relaunched the NEW 103.9 Juice FM, Kelowna’s Biggest Variety, moving from Greatest Hits. The Classic Hits format had encompassed the best music of the 80s and 90s.

On October 11, the CRTC approved the sale of CJUI-FM by Vista Radio Ltd. to Avenue Radio Ltd., wholly owned by Early Frost Investments Ltd., which was in turn wholly owned by J. Nicholas Frost.

With the change in ownership from Vista Radio to Avenue Radio/Castanet, CJUI flipped from Variety Hits (Juice FM) to Oldies/Classic Hits from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s (Okanagan Oldies 103.9). The change took place November 1 and the new format also featured a strong emphasis on news & information.

In January, CJUI-FM became CKOO-FM.

On January 22, the CRTC approved an application by CKOO to decrease ERP from 17,300 to 14,288 watts (36,800 to 32,959 watts max.). EHAAT would  be raised from -90.0 to -94.3 metres.

In January, CKOO flipped from Oldies to Adult Contemporary “Soft 103.9”.

Soft 103.9 left the air April 3 after filing for bankruptcy due to COVID-19-related ad revenue challenges.

On November 27, the CRTC approved an application by Radius Holdings Inc. for authority to acquire from Grant Thornton Limited, in its capacity as trustee in the bankruptcy of Avenue Radio Ltd., the assets of CKOO-FM. Radius was a corporation wholly owned by the Paul Larsen Family Trust. Paul Larsen was the sole trustee of the Paul Larsen Family Trust and exercised effective control of Radius.

On March 26 at 10:39 a.m., CKOV-FM (The Lake) signed on the air, replacing the former CKOO-FM which left the air a year earlier. This launch also returned the CKOV call letters to Kelowna. The city’s oldest radio station (now CKQQ-FM 103.1) used that call sign from 1928 to 2010 on AM (630) and then FM. The CKOV calls had most recently been used on 104.5 in Strathmore, Alberta. With today’s change, that station became CKMR-FM.