CFCP-FM

CFCP Radio Ltd. opened CFCP 1440 on September 1. Power was 1,000 watts (DA-N). The principal owner and founder was William G. (Billy) Browne, formerly of station CJOR in Vancouver and son of well-known radio pioneer William J. Browne.

Sunshine Coast Broadcasting Co. Ltd. was given approval to transfer shares from Donald V. Cartmell to CFCP Radio Ltd. (W.G. Browne 60%) and from Fraser Valley Broadcasting Ltd. to CFCP Radio Ltd.

On February 12, the CRTC approved application by CFCP Radio Ltd. to drop its CBC affiliation.

William George Browne passed away in April. He was 63. Known as Billy Browne, he was the founder of CFCP, and also owned CFWB Campbell River, CFNI Port Hardy and CHQB Powell River. Browne was first heard on the radio 51 years earlier (age 12) – on CJOR Vancouver – as a guest on his father’s radio program. Billy carried on the morning show when he opened CFCP in 1959.

Norma E. Browne took over management of CFCP Radio Ltd. following the death of her husband. The CRTC approved the transfer of control on December 21.

William George Browne passed away in April. He was 63. Known as Billy Browne, he was the founder of CFCP, and also owned CFWB Campbell River, CFNI Port Hardy and CHQB Powell River. Browne was first heard on the radio 51 years earlier (age 12) – on CJOR Vancouver – as a guest on his father’s radio program. Billy carried on the morning show when he opened CFCP in 1959.

Norma E. Browne took over management of CFCP Radio Ltd. following the death of her husband. The CRTC approved the transfer of control on December 21.

On November 11, CFCP 1440 (1,000 watts DA-2) became CFCP-FM “Magic 98.9”.

Sister stations CFWB Campbell River, CFNI Port Hardy and CHQB Powell River reduced the hours of local daily programming to 6 per day (6 a.m. to noon). All other programming for these stations originated from CFCP. 

Tim Blackwell left Magic 98 for CIXK-FM in Owen Sound, ON. He had been morning announcer and music director.

In late July, it was announced that CFCP Radio Ltd., owners of CFCP-FM Courtenay, CFWB-AM Campbell River, CFNI-AM Port Hardy and CHPQ-AM Powell River had been purchased by a Calgary group, headed by Margot Micallef.  On September 1, The CRTC announced approval of the sale to 1126144 Alberta Ltd., a company affiliated with Vista Broadcast Group Inc.

In late October, CFCP’s format was changed to “Jet FM – The Island’s Best Rock”, with its previous adult favourites and identification of “Magic FM” moving across the water to sister station CHQB Powell River. 

News Director Marc Mulvaney left Vista Radio Courtenay.

Kathy Thompson joined the Vista Radio management team November 29 in the combined role of Jet FM Retail Sales Manager and as Vista’s Regional Sales Manager. She moved from Corus Calgary where she has been a Senior Account Manager for the past 12 years.

On March 7, Randy Kilburn joined Jet FM as News Director. He had been with Northlands Park in Edmonton and had worked in the past for CHED, CISN-FM and CIRK-FM in Edmonton. He would also be heard on the three other Coast Group stations (99.7 The River in Campbell River, 95.7 Sun FM in Powell River and 1240AM The Port in Port Hardy, managed by Operations Manager Patti Mertz and Program Director Dave Reynolds). Jennifer Faerber moved from 103.9 The Juice Kelowna to JET FM Courtenay September 1, remaining in news.

Two new appointments were announced with Vista Radio Ltd’s Coast Group of stations on Vancouver Island. Jennifer Faerber became assistant news director. She joined 103.9 The Juice in Kelowna, before transferring to the North Island. Coast Group program director, Pete Montana, was promoted to general manager of the group. Pete had been with the group since its addition to Vista in 2005. He launched 98.9 Jet FM in Courtenay, before moving on to kick off Vista’s property in Grande Prairie, 104.7 Free FM in 2007. He had a short stop to assist with Vista’s country music AM in 100 Mile House, The Wolf, before returning to the Island in September 2009. In the short term, Pete would continue to program all four Coast Group stations as well as hold down the Morning Show on The Jet. 

Jason Hatton joined Jet FM as producer/announcer. He’d been handling the afternoon drive and music duties at Vista’s Sun FM in Powell River, and replaced Robyn Nicholson, who received a promotion and moves to Vista’s The Bridge in Nelson.

Vista Radio’s Coast Group announced that journalist Art Aronson would move from 99.7 The River to the larger newsroom at 98.9 Jet FM. Kelly Linehan would take Art’s place at The River. 

Vista Radio Ltd Coast Group general manager/program director and Jet FM morning host Pete Montana left after more than a handful of years with the company. He accepted the position as general manager of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association. Montana’s last morning show was April 11th.

News director Randy Kilburn left Vista Radio Courtenay on January 23. He moved on to the Workers Compensation Board in Edmonton.

Justin (Drex) Wilcomes left his role as program director and afternoon drive announcer at 103.9 The Juice in Kelowna, to take on the role of PD for Vista’s Coast Group (98.9 Jet FM Courtenay / Comox, 99.7 The River in Campbell River, 1240AM The Port in Port Hardy, and 95.7 Sun FM in Powell River). Drex also assumed the role of morning man for Jet FM in Courtenay. The new general manager of Vista’s Coast Group was Pete Montana, the Group program director. In the near term, he’d continue to hold down the PD gig as well as hosting the morning show on Jet FM (CFCP) Courtenay. Reporter Jennifer Faerber, formerly of The Juice Kelowna, transferred to sister station Jet FM Courtenay as its assistant news director. 

On August 17, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CFCP-FM to August 31, 2013.

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.

Vista Radio and longtime program director and on air personality Justin “Drex” Wilcomes parted ways in January. Within 24 hours of his departure, Drex landed a new opportunity with FOX FM Vancouver.

Andrew “Rock Dawg” Davis was promoted to Program Director at Vista Radio’s Coast Group stations (98.9 Jet FM Courtenay, 99.7 The River Campbell River, 95.7 Sun FM Powell River and 1240 AM The Port Port Hardy). He continued doing afternoon drive. The new Assistant Program Director/morning host at Jet FM was Jason Hatton, moved up from middays.

JET FM rebranded as 98.9 The Goat.

Norma E. Browne passed away on November 21. Norma and her husband Billy Browne Jr. founded CFCP Radio Ltd., which included CFPA Port Alice, CFNI Port Hardy, CFWB Campbell River, CHQB Powell River, and CFCP Comox Valley. When her husband died in 1990, Norma took over as CEO and continued to run the business. In 2005, she decided to retire and sold the company.