CIOC-FM

David Armstrong, founder of CKDA-AM, applied for and received British Columbia’s first FM licence. CKDA-FM signed on the air later in the year. The station broadcast at 98.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 370 watts, and was owned by Capital Broadcasting System Ltd. CKDA-FM originally acted as a link to the CKDA-AM transmitter on Chatham Island, in Oak Bay. The “DA” in the call letters: David Armstrong. 

David Armstrong acquired British Columbia’s first low-powered television station – CHEK – Victoria.

Armstrong sold CHEK-TV.

CKDA-FM operated as a relay for the AM station until March 18, when it became a fully operational FM station under the CFMS-FM call letters. CFMS offered a beautiful music format, six hours a day.

The purchase of CKDA/CFMS by CHQT Broadcasting Ltd. of Edmonton was denied by the CRTC. The Commission criticized the proposal for its lack of local ownership or participation. Meantime, the CFMS licence was renewed for only 18 months. The Commission called for improved programming and an explanation of how planned automation equipment would contribute. 

Walter Cowden became manager of operations for CKDA and CFMS-FM. He had been program director.

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

Jack Dunbar, with Capital Broadcasting almost 30 years, was now sales manager, and Ron Andrew was both program director and account executive. 

Gerald Laing became director of operations for CFMS/CKDA. He had been with CKPG in Prince George.

Ron Andrews joined the CFMS morning show.

David M. Armstrong, who established CKDA in 1950, died on April 22. He was 65. Armstrong was president of Capital Broadcasting Systems, which operated both CFMS and CKDA.

Mary Jo Molzan became promotions manager for CFMS/CKDA. She had been with CKGY in Red Deer.

CKDA/CFMS appointments: Sheridon Armstrong, president; Gowan Guest, secretary; and Gerald Laing, general manager. Margaret Armstrong, former vice president; and Ruby Masters, former secretary, resigned as directors of Capital Broadcasting System Ltd. 

Martha Cody joined the CFMS news team. She had been at CFOR in Orillia.

A bid by Wayne Stafford to gain control of CKDA/CFMS ran in to strong opposition from some of the employees. Their arguments were backed by George Jones, a close friend of the late owner, David Armstrong, who said that Armstrong intended that his family inherit Capital Broadcasting and had no wish to see Stafford buy it. Armstrong’s widow, Sheridon, also opposed the application. Gerald Lang, a former general manager of the stations supported the sale, saying continued operation by Mrs. Armstrong would be disastrous.

Fred Cole was chief engineer.

Chuck Camroux purchased 25% of Capital Broadcasting System Ltd. Mrs. Sheridan Armstrong held 75%. 

Gerald A. Laing left CFMS/CKDA where he had been general manager to become VP and GM at Westwood One Canada.

CFMS and CKDA had long since outgrown their basement space on downtown Douglas Street and now also occupied some offices on the floor above.

On August 21, the CRTC approved a two-stage intra-corporate re-organization of Capital Broadcasting, owner of CFMS and CKDA. In the end, Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. would own CFMS-FM while O.K. Radio Group Ltd. would own CKDA-AM. Rogers already owned CJVI-AM while O.K. owned CKKQ-FM.

These sales were completed September 1. CFMS left the air, returning on December 11 as CIOC-FM – “The Ocean” – with an adult contemporary format. A new 350 foot tower was installed on the Malahat, 2000 feet above Victoria. 

Gorde Edlund became program director at The Ocean. He had been in promotions and marketing at CHFM Calgary.

On May 28, CIOC was granted a decrease in effective radiated power, from 100,000 to 47,000 watts. 

Former CJVI talk host Robin Adair was now News Director at CIOC-FM.

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

On March 25, The CRTC denied an application to amend the broadcasting licence for CIOC-FM in order to operate a transmitter at Saltspring Island at 98.5 MHz (channel 253C1) with an average effective radiated power of 635 watts (maximum ERP of 3,500 watts with an effective height of the antenna above average terrain of 662 metres). Rogers proposed to operate a synchronous repeater; that is, a transmitter operating at the same 98.5 MHz frequency as CIOC-FM’s main transmitter in Victoria. Rogers indicated that the proposed transmitter would be located north of the main transmitter to provide service to those areas currently not served because of the mountainous terrain surrounding Victoria. According to Rogers, the transmitter would improve reception quality within CIOC-FM’s existing coverage area and provide a better signal to the north of Saltspring Island. Rogers further argued that the transmitter would correct a serious deficiency in CIOC-FM’s existing reception on the Saanich Peninsula, which includes Sydney, the ferry dock serving Vancouver and the area around Victoria international airport. The Commission’s analysis did find some technical deficiencies within CIOC-FM’s currently authorized service area. Overall, however, the Commission’s analysis revealed that the proposed transmitter would serve to improve CIOC-FM’s coverage in areas beyond its primary and secondary markets and extend its signal further to the west and to the north spreading to the Cowichan Valley as well as to the city of Nanaimo. The Commission was of the view that Rogers could explore other technical solutions that would better address coverage deficiencies within CIOC-FM’s authorized contours without extending them.

The new General Manager at Rogers Radio Victoria was Jim Schneider, transferring to Vancouver Island from Country 93.3 (CJOK)/Rock 97.9 (CKYX) Fort McMurray. He succeeded Kim Hesketh in leading The Ocean and Jack FM. Schneider succeeded Kelly Boyd at Rogers Fort McMurray (CJOK/KYX 98)where he had been Assistant GM/General Sales Manager. Coincidental to Schneider’s promotion were the departures of Gorde Edlund and Dawn Kaysoe. Edlund was Program Director at Jack FM while Kaysoe was PD at The Ocean.

Jason Manning was the new Program Director at Rogers Victoria (98.5 The OCEAN and Jack FM). He moved from Rock 105.3 Medicine Hat where he was also PD and where he’d been since December of 2007. Before that, he was Music Director at Sonic 102.9 Edmonton.

2011
On February 23, the CRTC approved an application to amend the licence for CIOC-FM in order for the licensee to operate an FM transmitter on Saltspring Island to rebroadcast the programming of CIOC-FM. The new transmitter would be a synchronous repeater and would therefore operate at 98.5 MHz (channel 253A) with an average effective radiated power of 15 watts (maximum ERP of 45 watts with an effective height of antenna above terrain of 662 metres). The licensee stated that the addition of a transmitter on Saltspring Island would be the optimal solution for correcting the reception deficiencies of CIOC-FM in the northern part of its coverage area, which was not being served because of the mountainous terrain surrounding Victoria.

On August 31, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CIOC-FM until March 31, 2012.

Rob Michaels became assistant program director, music director and afternoon host at Ocean 98.5 on February 23. He had been PD and morning host at Mountain FM in Squamish. Dean Fox, chief engineer at Rogers Radio Victoria, was named regional engineering manager for B.C. and moved to Vancouver at the beginning of July. With Rogers since 1996, Fox succeeded Rick Dal Farra who moved to Rogers Radio Toronto at the beginning of June.

On March 20, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CIOC-FM to August 31, 2012. On August 28, the licence was administratively renewed to December 31, 2012. On December 21, the CRTC renewed the licence of CIOC-FM Victoria and its transmitter CIOC-FM-1 Saltspring Island to August 31, 2019.

Sheridan Anne Armstrong passed away at age 69. She was the wife of former CKDA-AM/CFMS-FM owner and founder David Armstrong. She assumed ownership of the stations when he died in 1985. The stations were sold to the OK Radio Group and later to the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.

Barry Fontayne (Ron Quail) died at age 76. He had a 44-year broadcast career, first as an announcer and then in sales and sales management at CKDA, CFMS-FM, CFAX and The Ocean/Jack FM.

Jim Schneider, General Manager/General Sales Manager at Rogers Radio Victoria for close to four years, was no longer with company. 

On June 24, the CRTC approved an amendment to the condition of licence for CIOC which stated the station was prohibited from soliciting advertising in the Vancouver market. Rogers indicated that the amendment was not necessary for the financial viability of the station and would not impact its financial projections. It added that the prohibition was not relevant as CIOC did not solicit advertising in the Vancouver market as its signal did not reach the market with any degree of quality.