CJWL-FM

On June 23, CKMW Radio Ltd. (controlled by William Evanov) on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated was awarded a licence for a new FM station in Ottawa, operating on frequency 98.5 MHz with an effective radiated power of 700 watts. CKMW had originally proposed to use 88.5 MHz with ERP of 2,961 watts. The CRTC authorized the use of 98.5 MHz, a frequency that CKMW had applied for in a previous application. It found the competing application by Newcap to operate a station at 88.5 MHz with class C1 technical parameters represented optimal use of that frequency. CKMW’s new station would operate in a musical format described as featuring a broad range of musical styles, including crooners, standards, ballads, love songs and contemporary hits drawn from both current and past musical eras…targeted to older listeners.

On November 25, CKMW Radio Ltd. was authorized to decrease effective radiated power from 700 to 485 watts, to relocate the transmitter and increase antenna height. 

A corporate reorganization transferring to Evanov Radio Group Inc. 80% voting interest of its subsidiary CKMW Radio Ltd. in Ottawa Media Inc. was approved by the CRTC on November 25.

98.5 FM “The Jewel” (“Jewel 98.5”) began testing on February 20 at 10 a.m.

On March 20, morning hosts Saul Jacobson and Marianne Zahoruk officially launched “The Jewel”. 

Studios and offices were located in an Ottawa heritage building located at 127 York Street in the Byward Market. 

On October 6, the CRTC approved an application to change the authorized contours of CJWL-FM, by increasing the average effective radiated power from 485 watts to 1,100 watts and by decreasing the effective height of the antenna above average terrain from 117.5 metres to 100.5 metres. The applicant submitted that the proposed technical change would allow CJWL-FM to adequately cover the entire area it is licensed to serve.

Brother Bob Derro returned to Ottawa radio as the new morning show host (5:30 to 10:00) at Jewel 985, with Frances Ebbrell, as of August 15. Derro had been with Oldies 1310 before it became 1310News.

On August 31, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CJWL-FM to December 31, 2011. On August 28, the licence was administratively renewed to March 31, 2013.

On March 21, the CRTC renewed CJWL-FM’s licence to August 31, 2019. The Commission denied the licensee’s request for an exception to the policy on the broadcast of hits by English-language FM radio stations in the bilingual markets of Montréal and Ottawa-Gatineau.

Barry White (Barry William Horne) died at age 65. He had been afternoon host at Jewel 98.5 and his 50-year career included stops at CFDR Dartmouth, CJCH Halifax, CKLW Windsor, CI00 Halifax, and CFRQ Dartmouth.

On August 8, CJWL received a short-term licence renewal until August 31, 2025 due to issues of non-compliance.

Frank (Zbigniew) Sasin passed away August 8 at age 68. Over his career, Frank worked at CFGO Ottawa, CFFR Calgary, CKWX Vancouver, CIWW Ottawa and CJWL-FM. Sasin had hosted national programs like “Countdown Canada”, and “Lovin’, Lyin’ or Leaving.” He voiced hundreds of commercials, educational training videos, and corporate narrations as well.