CFWF-FM

Armadale Communications Ltd., owned by the Sifton family, received a licence on March 16 for a new FM station in Regina. In the market, the Siftons also owned the Leader-Post newspaper and Saskatchewan’s pioneer AM radio station, CKCK. They had owned CKCK-TV until 1977. The new station would broadcast with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts, however the 98.9 MHz frequency that was applied for, went to Midwest Broadcasters (CJME-AM). Armadale was told to seek an alternate frequency. CKCK’s FM station would offer an Easy Listening format. The station would produce live concerts (from classical to jazz) in collaboration with the University of Regina. 

CKIT-FM 104.9 signed on the air. It was co-located with CKCK-AM, in the Leader-Post building at 1922 Park Street. The transmitter and antenna were located at the CKCK-TV transmitter site just east of the city on Highway #1. CKIT-FM had an easy listening format.

Con Stevenson was appointed general manager of CKCK and CKIT-FM.

Tom Steve was now news director at CKIT/CKCK.

CKIT-CKCK general manager Con Stevenson was now running quality control for Armadale and moved back to Ontario. Gayle Robinson took over as general manager of the stations. She had been vice president of sales at CKTV (CKCK-TV). 

Still with an easy listening format, CKIT-FM began calling itself “K105 FM”.

It was announced that Western World Communications would purchase CKIT-FM / CKCK-AM and CKRC-AM / CHZZ-FM from Michael Sifton’s Armadale Communications of Markham, Ontario. Sifton said Armadale planned to retain CKOC-AM / CKLH-FM in Hamilton but would focus more strongly on newspaper publishing. 

On January 22, Clint C. Forster’s Western World Communications Ltd. received CRTC approval to acquire Regina’s CKIT-CKCK and Winnipeg’s CHZZ-CKRC from Armadale Communications Ltd. Western World, based in Saskatoon, was licensee of CJWW Saskatoon, SK and CKST Langley, BC, and owned 100% of Balsa Broadcasting Corp., licensee of CHMG St. Albert, AB.

Ottawa June 19,Western World Limited Partnership received approval to acquire CKCK and CKIT-FM Regina, and CKRC and CKLU-FM (formerly CHZZ-FM) Winnipeg from Western World Communications Corp.

The CRTC denied CKIT-FM’s application to change format from Pop, Rock and Dance to Country. Competitor CHMX-FM had made the same request and its application to switch to a Country format was approved.

On August 25, the CRTC approved the applications by Craig Broadcasting Systems Inc. for authority to acquire the assets of CKMM-FM Winnipeg and CKIT-FM Regina from the partners of Western World Communications Limited Partnership. The Commission also approved the application by Radio One Edmonton Corporation, licensee of CIRK-FM Edmonton, for authority to transfer effective control of the licensee through the transfer of all of the licensee’s issued and outstanding shares from Forvest Broadcasting Corporation to Craig. Further, the Commission approved the application by Forvest, on behalf of itself, Western World Communications Corp. and Radio One Investments Inc., the partners of WWC, for authority to acquire the assets of CFQX-FM Selkirk from Craig.

At some point in the mid 1990s, CKIT-FM became known as Magic 104.9.

CKIT-FM and CKCK had been broken up when Craig purchased CKIT last year. On April 12, 1996,Craig Broadcast Systems Inc. received permission to acquire CKCK from Western World Communications Limited Partnership, putting the two stations back under the same ownership..

Craig Broadcasting Systems moved the studio and business operations of CKIT-FM and CKCK to the Harvard Communications Building at 2060 Halifax Street which had, for many years, housed Harvard’s CHMX-FM and CKRM. It was announced that the General Manager of CHMX/CKRM would also manage the affairs of CKITand CKCK.

CKIT-FM “Hot 105”became CFWF-FM “The Wolf” (the “WF” for Wolf).

CFWF Program Director Michael Olstrom was promoted to the position of Operations Manager for CFWF-FM, CKCK, CHMX-FM and CKRM.

CFWF was given approval to change the location of its transmitter site and the height of its antenna.

On November 30, HDL Investments Inc. received approval to purchase CFWF-FM from Craig Broadcasting Systems Inc. HDL had been operating CFWF-FM under the terms of a local management agreement. HDL was also allowed to purchase CKCK-AM from Craig. It would then be sold to Rawlco Communications (Sask.) Limited. 

On December 12 the CRTC approved an application by Harvard Broadcasting Inc. to effect an intracorporate reorganization. Harvard was the licensee of the radio programming undertakings CKRM, CFWF-FM and CHMX-FM Regina, and the radio network Roughriders. The proposed transaction would be implemented through the insertion of a new holding company, The Gabriel Holding Corp., into the existing corporate structure, between Famhill Holdings Limited and Famhill Investments Limited. As a result of this transaction, Famhill Holdings would own 100% of the Class E voting shares and the Class D non-voting shares, and the Paul Hill Family Trust would own 100% of the Class B non-voting participating shares in Gabriel Holding. This transaction would not change the control of Harvard, which remained with Frederick W. Hill, through the holding companies Harvard Developments Inc., Famhill Holdings and Famhill Investments.

On August 25 the CRTC renewed CFWF-FM’s licence to August 31, 2015.

Trapper John left The Wolf in March to become program director at Rock 105.3 (CKMH-FM) in Medicine Hat. In Regina, he had been music director and afternoon drive host. Rhiannon Lewis joined 104.9 The Wolf as evening and weekend announcer. Bill Toffan became program director of Regina’s Rock Station 104.9 The Wolf. Bill was one half of The Wolf’s ‘Bill & Jeff’ morning show several years ago. Chad McDonald joined The Wolf (afternoon drive) in the summer, from Rawlco Radio in Prince Albert.

Regina’s ROCK station 104.9 THE WOLF launched a new morning show…The Manhole With Bill And Ballsy. The new show hit the airwaves on August 3 with Michael (Ballsy) Ball, formerly of the Chris and Ballsy Show and Bill Toffan, veteran broadcaster and original host of the WOLF morning show a dozen years ago. 

Chris White, Program Director and a morning show host at 104.9 The Wolf, hung up his headphones June 30, put on a suit and move into the station’s sales department. He’d been on the air there for 15 years and PD for the last three.

Angie Norton became the new Business Manager for Harvard’s Regina and Yorkton stations. 

The Wolf and Bill Toffan parted company. Grant Biebrick joined The Harvard Regina Team as Program Director for CFWF (104.9 The Wolf) and 620 CKRM. He had been Program Director/ Music Director for CKLM-FM Lloydminster and CFNA Bonnyville. Evan Baran was promoted to afternoon drive host (3:00 to 7:00 p.m.) and Music Director at 104.9 The Wolf. He had been holding down the time slot for a couple months. Replacing Evan in the mid-day shift was Seanna Jefferson, most recently mid-day host with “The Sound” in Edmonton. 

Michael Olstrom left Harvard Broadcasting as station group manager to become general manager of Astral Radio Regina as of February 15. Olstrom had held his post with Harvard since January 1, 2002 when John Huschi retired. Jason Huschi was promoted from his general manager/general sales manager position at MIX 103 FM Fort McMurray to general manager of Harvard’s Regina cluster. He succeeded Michael Olstrom in that position and, prior to that, his father, John Huschi. Grant Biebrick, program director at CKLM Lloydminster moved to The Wolf/CKRM March 28 as PD, succeeding the retiring Willy Cole. 

The CRTC approved the change to the effective control of Harvard Broadcasting Inc. from Frederick W. Hill to Paul J. Hill following the death of Frederick W. Hill in July 2008. Harvard was the licensee of radio stations and the parent company of two other licensees of radio stations in Alberta and Saskatchewan. 

Cam Cowie was promoted from General Manager of Harvard Broadcasting to the newly created position of Vice President/COO. He joined Harvard in 2008.