CJNB-AM

CJNB was licenced to operate on a frequency of 1240 kHz with a power of 250 watts. The licence was held by R.R. MacIntosh, Liberal M.P. and publisher of the weekly paper, the North Battleford News. A licence had been granted in 1938 to C.R. McIntosh. Because of the war, the launch of the station was delayed and a new licence was granted this year.

General Manager Jack Coalston expected CJNB to be on the air around the middle of October. The station had been under construction for some period of time now.

CJNB officially opened in November. It was Saskatchewan’s first post-war radio station. The music library included World Transcription Service and news was furnished by BUP. The “NB” in the call sign represented the city of licence.

CJNB was officially launched on January 28. The station was on the air 16 hours a day.

CJNB became a member of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters.

The owners of CJNB filed an application in the fall to transfer twenty shares of the company.

Wilf Collier became manager of CJNB, succeeding Jack Coalston, effective February 1. Collier had been production manager at CKCK in Regina. Coalston moved on to British United Press. Wilf Collier was only at CJNB a short time before being hired away by the soon to open CKY Winnipeg, where he would be program director. Collier was succeeded by Hume Lethbridge who had been out of radio for some time, but had worked in the past at CKOV Kelowna and CKLN Nelson.

Approval was given for CJNB to change frequency from 1240 to 1460 kHz and to increase power from 250 to 1,000 watts (non-directional). A new 1,000 watt transmitter was ordered.

CJNB was now operating at 1,000 watts.

Clint Nichol was chief engineer. Art Kennard joined the CJNB staff.

CJNB moved to 1460 kHz with a power of 1,000 watts.

CJNB received approval for the operation of a 250 watt emergency transmitter.

The transfer of 20 common shares of the company was approved by the CBC.

Hume Lethbridge resigned as manager of CJNB. Harry Dekker, production manager of CFQC would take over effective November 1st. Dekker would be replaced at CFQC by chief announcer Roy Currie.

CJNB’s application for a rebroadcast transmitter at Lloydminster was denied.

CJNB was an independent station with no network affiliation. Ownership of Northwestern Broadcasting Co. Ltd.: C. R. McIntosh 7.3%, A. G. Lamarsh 4.4%, H. J. Bell 2.9%, F. R. Cosford 6.0%, L. D. Haselton 5.9%, H. S. Hay 7.3%, W. Scott 1.5%, A. H. Silvester 1.6%, A. F. Shortell 0.7%, Mrs. E. DeRoche 17.7% and 15 other shareholders 44.7%. Harry S. Hay was president of the company. Harry Dekker was manager.

Northwestern Broadcasting Co. Ltd. increased CJNB 1460’s power to 10,000 watts (directional at night).

E. A. Rawlinson was now president of Northwestern Broadcasting Co. Ltd. Harry G. Dekker was still manager.

On November 1, Northwestern Broadcasting opened CJNS 1240 at Meadow Lake. The station originated some programming of its own, with the remainder coming from CJNB.

Eldon Elliott retired as sports director after 34 years.

Harry Dekker, Sr. was now in his 47th year as morning man at CJNB where he is also general manager. His son, Harry, Jr., marked 10 years at CJME Regina this year.

On May 19,Northwestern Radio Partnership was authorized to acquire CJNB North Battleford and CJNS Meadow Lake from Northwestern Broadcasting Co. Ltd. Both Northwestern Broadcasting and Northwestern Radio Partnership were ultimately controlled by Gordon S. Rawlinson.

Long time CJNB sports personality Eldon Elliot died at 78. He joined the station in 1952 as its first Sports Director, then spent 34 years there before retiring in 1986.

On April 28, Northwestern Radio Partnership was granted a licence for a new FM station at North Battleford.

CJNB launched sister CJCQ-FM in North Battleford.

On January 7, the CRTC approved applications by Rawlco Radio Ltd., on behalf of Northwestern Radio Partnership for authority to acquire the 51% interest held by 587680 Saskatchewan Ltd., in the partnership. The partnership operates CJNB and CJCQ-FM North Battleford and CJNS Meadow Lake. The members of the partnership, 587680, Dekkerco Holdings Ltd. and 587681 Saskatchewan Ltd., currently hold respectively 51%, 31%, and 18% of the partnership’s voting interests. The effective control of the undertakings would not change as a result of this transaction. Since Rawlco and 587680 are both wholly-owned subsidiaries of Rawlco Enterprises Ltd., control of the partnership would remain with Mr. Gordon S. Rawlinson.

On November 30, Northwestern Radio Partnership (587681 Saskatchewan Ltd., Dekkerco Holdings Limited and Rawlco Radio Ltd.) was authorized to convert CJNS Meadow Lake to the FM band.

On the same date, Northwestern was licenced to operate a second FM station in North Battleford (93.3 MHz).

Studios and offices were noted at this time as being at 1711-100th Street in North Battleford.

On January 4 CJNB’s application to move to the FM band (102.9 MHz with effective radiated power of 100,000 watts) was denied by the CRTC. In its evaluation of this application, the Commission took into consideration the fact that Northwestern Radio already owned two FM stations that were authorized to serve North Battleford. The Commission noted that, on a combined basis, CJNB and CJCQ-FM, which was licensed in 2001, had reported increasing profit margins since 2003. In addition, these stations’ combined share of the North Battleford radio audience had remained relatively stable since 2002. Furthermore, the Commission was of the view that Northwestern Radio had not fully addressed the fundamental issues related to the impact on the diversity of news voices and the level of competition in the market that would result from the introduction of the proposed new FM station in North Battleford. Consequently, the Commission determined that Northwestern had not provided compelling reasons to warrant an exception to the common ownership policy. The Commission considered that there were alternative solutions that would enable Northwestern to correct CJNB’s signal deficiencies and still comply with the common ownership policy.

Former CJME Anchor/Reporter Geoff Smith moved to sister Rawlco stations CJNB/Q98/ 93.3 The Rock in North Battleford as News Director.

On June 11, the CRTC approved the applications by Rawlco Radio Ltd., 587681 Saskatchewan Ltd. and 591666 Saskatchewan Ltd., partners in a general partnership carrying on business as Northwestern Radio Partnership, and by Rawlco, 587681 Saskatchewan, 101155515 Saskatchewan Ltd. and 101155510 Saskatchewan Ltd., the subsequent partners in Northwestern Radio Partnership, for authority to effect a multi-step corporate reorganization affecting the ownership of CJCQ-FM, CJHD-FM and CJNB North Battleford and CJNS-FM Meadow Lake. The corporate reorganization will be implemented as follows: Step 1 – The partners of Northwestern Radio Partnership currently consist of Rawlco, 587681 Saskatchewan and Dekkerco Holdings Ltd. Dekkerco, which holds 31 voting units (31%) and 50 equity units (50%) in the partnership, will be wound up (The Commission notes that although the multi-step reorganization involves a change of partners, the partnership under which they carry on business remains the same [i.e., Northwestern Radio Partnership]) into its parent corporation 591666 Saskatchewan. As a result, 591666 Saskatchewan will hold the 31% voting interest and the 50 equity units in the partnership. Upon surrender of the broadcasting licences issued to the current partners, the Commission will issue new licences to Rawlco Radio Ltd., 587681 Saskatchewan Ltd. and 591666 Saskatchewan Ltd., partners in a general partnership carrying on business as Northwestern Radio Partnership. Step 2 – 591666 Saskatchewan, a corporation owned by David Dekker (100% of the voting shares and 80% of the non-voting shares) and Harry Dekker Jr. (20% of the non-voting shares), will transfer its voting and equity units in Northwestern Radio Partnership as follows: 40 equity units and all of its voting units (31%) in the partnership to 101155515 Saskatchewan (wholly owned by David Dekker); and 10 equity units in the partnership to 101155510 Saskatchewan (wholly owned by Harry Dekker Jr.). Following the above transfers, 591666 Saskatchewan will be wound up into 101155515 Saskatchewan. As a result, 101155515 Saskatchewan and 101155510 Saskatchewan will become partners in Northwestern Radio Partnership with Rawlco and 587681 Saskatchewan. Upon surrender of the broadcasting licences issued as part of Step 1, the Commission will issue new licences to Rawlco Radio Ltd., 587681 Saskatchewan Ltd., 101155515 Saskatchewan Ltd. and 101155510 Saskatchewan Ltd., partners in a general partnership carrying on business as Northwestern Radio Partnership. The Commission further notes that this multi-step corporate reorganization will not affect the effective control of the broadcasting undertakings, which will continue to be exercised by Rawlco, a corporation ultimately controlled by Gordon S. Rawlinson.

Christine Dekker passed away at age 82. She began her broadcast career at CFQC Saskatoon, then married Harry Dekker. Together, they were the station’s morning show in the early ’50s. They moved to CJNB North Battleford in 1954 and maintained their morning show while Harry became General Manager. CJNB’s morning show now had their son, Harry Michael, as host.

On April 24, the CRTC approved the applications by Rawlco Radio Ltd. on behalf of itself and two of its partners in the Northwestern Radio Partnership, namely 587681 Saskatchewan Ltd. and 101155515 Saskatchewan Ltd., for authority to effect a multi-step corporate reorganization involving the assets of the radio programming undertakings CJCQ-FM, CJHD-FM and CJNB North Battleford and CJNS-FM Meadow Lake. The proposed corporate reorganization would be executed in three steps, each requiring the issuance of licences: Step 1 – Transfer of all equity units (non-voting) held by 101155515 Saskatchewan (40 units) and 101155510 Saskatchewan (10 units) in the Partnership to 587681 Saskatchewan. As a result, 101155510 Saskatchewan would no longer be a partner. Step 2 – Transfer of all voting units (31%) held by 101155515 Saskatchewan in the Partnership to Rawlco. As a result, 101155515 Saskatchewan would no longer be a partner. Step 3 – Transfer of all equity units and all voting units held by 587681 Saskatchewan in the Partnership to Rawlco. As a result, the Partnership would be dissolved and Rawlco would become the licensee of the broadcasting undertakings. Subsequent to this multi-step corporate reorganization, the control of the undertakings would continue to be exercised by Rawlco Inc. The new licences for CJCQ-FM and CJNB would expire on the same dates as the existing licences (31 August 2012 and 31 August 2014).

On December 16, the CRTC approved the application by Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Ltd. (the general partner) and Jim Pattison Industries Ltd. (the limited partner), carrying on business as Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Limited Partnership, for authority to acquire from Rawlco Radio Ltd. the assets of the following radio stations: CKNO-FM Edmonton, CIUP-FM Edmonton, CKBI Prince Albert and its transmitters CKBI-FM La Ronge and CKBI-FM-1 Big River, CFMM-FM Prince Albert and its transmitter CFMM-FM-1 Waskesiu Lake, CHQX-FM Prince Albert and its transmitters CHQX-FM-1 Waskesiu Lake, CHQX-FM-2 La Ronge and CHQX-FM-3 Big River, CJCQ-FM North Battleford and its transmitter CJCQ-FM-1 Meadow Lake, CJHD-FM North Battleford, CJNB North Battleford and CJNS-FM Meadow Lake.

David Dekker, the GM at CJNB/Q98/93.3 The Rock, retired after a broadcast career spanning 40 years. His departure also ended over 60 years of Dekker family involvement in the stations.

Doug Harrison retired from CJNB 45 years to the day that he started with the station on January 10, 1973. Over that time, Harrison worked in news, sports, as music director, program director, and held down various on-air shifts, including hosting the long-running Swap and Shop program.