CFSF-FM

On February 14, Joco Communications Inc. was granted a licence for a low-power FM station at Sturgeon Falls. It would operate on a frequency of 99.3 MHz with an effective radiated power of 50 watts. Approximately 20% of all programming would be in the French language. The applicant proposed to offer a “Top 40” musical format.

The station began broadcasting in April from studios at 12006 Highway 17, Unit 7, in Sturgeon Falls. CFSF-FM offered a range of programming from contemporary pop to country. The SF in the call sign: Sturgeon Falls.

On June 8, CFSF was granted approval to increase effective radiated power from 50 to 1,250 watts and to increase antenna height. With these changes the station would now be able to serve all of the Municipality of West Nipissing and outlying communities. 

On June 30, the CRTC renewed the broadcasting licence for the English-language commercial radio station CFSF-FM Sturgeon Falls from 1 July 2010 to 31 August 2013. This short-term licence renewal will enable the Commission to review the licensee’s compliance with the Radio Regulations, 1986 and its conditions of licence at an earlier date. In Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2009-786, the Commission noted that the licensee may have failed to comply with section 9(2) of the Radio Regulations, 1986, which relates to the provision of annual returns, for the broadcast years 2003 and 2004 and 2006 through 2008. The Commission also noted that the licensee may have failed to comply with its condition of licence relating to contributions to Canadian talent development for broadcast years 2003 and 2007.

On February 21, the CRTC approved the application by Haliburton Broadcasting Group Inc. for authority to acquire, from JOCO Communications Inc., the assets of CFSF-FM Sturgeon Falls. Haliburton was controlled by Christopher Grossman through his ownership and control of Beaumaris Group Inc., Haliburton’s controlling shareholder.

CFSF changed format from Contemporary Hits/Hot Adult Contemporary (Joco FM) to Adult Contemporary (Moose FM).

On October 19, the CRTC approved the application by Vista Radio Ltd. for authority to acquire from Haliburton Broadcasting Group Inc. the assets of Haliburton’s AM and FM radio stations and their transmitters located in Bancroft, Barry’s Bay, Bolton, Bracebridge, Caledon, Cochrane, Elliot Lake, Espanola, Fort Erie, Haldimand, Haliburton, Hearst, Huntsville, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Kemptville, Niagara Falls, North Bay, Parry Sound, Prescott, St. Catharines, Stratford, Sturgeon Falls and Timmins. Vista was a corporation controlled by Westerkirk Capital Inc., in turn controlled by Thompson Investments Limited. CFSF-FM was among the stations acquired by Vista.

Peter Hobbs joined Vista Radio as regional cluster General Manager/Sales Manager for the company’s stations in North Bay, Sturgeon Falls, Espanola and Elliot Lake as well as overseeing Timmins. Hobbs, based in North Bay, was most recently the General Sales Manager at the three-station Bell Media Hamilton cluster. He began at Vista on November 18. 

Fire destroyed Moose FM’s brand new studio this summer. With the help of firefighters, morning host Steph Larouche and engineer Chuck Haskins recovered equipment from the burning building. Moose FM was back on the air within five hours from a temporary set up at the transmitter site.