CFYM-AM

Stanley J. Solberg received a licence to operate an AM station at Rosetown, a local farming community in West Central Saskatchewan. It would broadcast with a full-time power of 10,000 watts on a frequency of 1330 kHz. Dinosaur Broacasting Ltd., owner of CJDV in Drumheller, Alberta would be a temporary owner of 51% of the new station. Solberg had an option to buy that 51% over five years. Twenty  local businessmen and farmers would also hold shares

CKKR 1330 began broadcasting on August 8. The station was owned by Goose Lake Broadcasting Co. Ltd. Stanley Solberg was the first general manager.

CKKR was one of the first stations in Saskatchewan with a country and western format and was known across the province as “Wide West Radio”. Sonny James, the “Southern Gentleman” and one of the biggest names in country music at the time, participated in the station’s grand opening ceremonies.

The studios were located in a converted one-storey house. With a population of only 2,500, Rosetown was one of the smallest communities in Canada with a 10,000 watt radio station.

The CRTC approved a transfer of shares in CKKR to John P. Hamilton.

On May 16, the CRTC deferred a decision on the transfer of 99.1% of Dinosaur Broadcasting (1957) Ltd., owner of three stations in Alberta, including CJDV-AM in Drumheller, to Stanley J. Solberg and Eneas A. Toshach. Solberg, owner of CKKR, planned to finance the purchase by selling Goose Lake Broadcasting to John P. Hamilton which was granted in 1977. The Goose Lake sale to Hamilton did not move forward. Solberg would now file an application with the CRTC to sell CKKR to Ronald Hykaway and Dennis W. Williams. Until the Commission had an opportunity to review that application, the sale of Dinosaur was on hold.

On August 10, the sale of 89.56% of the common shares and 7.69% of the preferred shares of Goose Lake Broadcasting Co. Ltd. was denied. Stan Solberg and W. H. McVeigh had planned to transfer the shares to Ronald Hyckaway and Dennis W. Williams (equally), with Hyckaway holding the shares in trust for both himself and Williams.

Wax Williams was Production Manager and News Director, Jim Blundell was Sales Manager (and would also be one of the new shareholders) and Ron Hyckaway was General Manager. The group would run CKKR under Solberg’s licence until such time as the CRTC awarded them the licence for the station.

On June 27, the transfer of 89.56% of the common and 7.69% of the preferred shares of Goose Lake Broadcasting from S. L. Solberg and the estate of William H. McVeigh to Ronald Hyckaway, Dennis W. Williams and James Blundell was approved. The earlier application was denied because the CRTC felt the purchasers had failed to demonstrate they had sufficient financial resources.

Jim Blundell became sales manager.

Wax Williams became President and General Manager. Jim Blundell was sales manager.

The focus of CKKR was on agriculture, and community involvement. Station promotions were geared to a rural audience and the annual ”Grain Bin Giveaway” awarded a total of 10 grain bins to farmers across the area.

CKKR 1330 switched call letters on March 1 to CJYM and replaced its long time country music format with the “Music Of Your Life”.

CJYM received approval to establish CFYM Kindersley on August 8. CFYM would operate with a power of 1,000 watts daytime and 250 watts night-time on a frequency of 1210 kHz. An auxiliary studio would be set up in Kindersley and CFYM would offer 20 hours a week of local programming. 

CJYM received approval to establish CFYM Kindersley on August 8. CFYM would operate with a power of 1,000 watts daytime and 250 watts night-time on a frequency of 1210 kHz. An auxiliary studio would be set up in Kindersley and CFYM would offer 20 hours a week of local programming. 

Around this time CJYM-CFYM changed format from the Music of Your Life to Adult Contemporary Gold.

On October 8, the CRTC approved, by Letter of Authority, the change of effective control of Dace Broadcasting Corp. Golden West Broadcasting Ltd. acquired all the issued and outstanding shares of Triad Communications Inc., shareholder of 91.52% of the class A common voting shares of Dace. Golden West was based in  Altona, Manitoba, and owned by Elmer Hildebrand.