CJRX-FM

Jock Palmer founded CJOC in 1926 with a 50 watt transmitter on 1,000 Kcs. The “JOC”in the call letters were taken from his name “Jock”. Programming consisted of one or two hours a day. Mr. Pamler’s associates were W. W. Grant, a Calgary engineer and H. R. Carson, a local garage and tire dealer who was interested in selling and servicing batteries for this new invention – the radio. CJOC’s first day on the air was May 10.
 

The station moved to 1120 kHz.
 

Harold Carson bought out his partners and took over CJOC, the studios were then located in the Marquis Hotel. Having increased its power to 100 watts in 1928, the station increased the programming to 4 1/2 hours daily. 
 

The frequency changed to 1030 kHz. 

Gerry Gaetz started in radio at CJOC as an announcer.

CJOC moved back to 1120 kHz.

The studios in the Marquis Hotel were completely rebuilt. 

The station broadcast its first live hockey game from Vegreville with Henry Viney doing the play by play. 

The frequency changed to 840 kHz. 

Bob Buss began his radio career at CJOC.

CJOC moved to 1230 kHz.

CJOC fed a live remote broadcast to the CBC Network from Waterton Lakes National Park featuring “Mart Kenney and his Western Gentlemen” with Bob Buss doing the announcing. The frequency changed from 1230 to 950 kHz

CJOC inaugurated the “Radio School of the Air” one of the first school radio broadcasts in Canada. Miss Agnes Davidson conducted drama programs and weekly sing-song sessions. The School Boards of Southern Alberta co-operated by encouraging teachers and parents to loan radios to the schools. 

Lew Roskin started his radio career at CJOC.

The frequency changed from 1230 to 950 kHz. 

Gerry Gaetz left CJOC to become manager of CKCK Regina.

Jack C. Hutchings ide at the age of 46 on January 21. 

The frequency changed from 1210 kHz to 1370 kHz.

Under the Havana Treaty, CJOC moved from 1370 to 1400 kHz (Class IV) on March 29. Power was 100 watts.

Walt Rutherford joined CJOC – on his sixteenth birthday. 

Audrey Counsell left CJOC for CKCK Regina. She was replaced by Margaret Jestley from CJAT Trail. Blair Holland was an announcer at CJOC. After a year on CJOC’s announce staff, Ian Arrol was transferred to CFAC Calgary as of May 15.

Work was underway on the installation of a 1,000 watt transmitter. The new unit was expected to be operational on October 1. Testing was underway in September. CJOC would operate on 1060 kHz with the new transmitter.

Norman Botterill was appointed manager of CJOC. He had been assistant manager at CKWX Vancouver. At CJOC, he replaced Art Balfour who joined the RCAF. R.J. (Bob) Buss left CJOC to become sales manager of CKCK in Regina. Lew Roskin left for the Canadian Army.

CJOC moved to 1060 kHz. 

Victor Staples left CJOC as commercial manager. He took a position with All Canada Radio Facilities. Jack L. Sayers joined CJOC as sales manager. Lew Roskin returned from the army. Announcer Roy Reber left for CKBI Prince Albert. 

CBC Trans-Canada Basic stations: CJCB, CBH, CBA, CHSJ, CFNB, CBO, CKWS, CBL, CKSO, CFCH, CJKL, CKGB, CKPR, CBM, CKY, CBK, CJCA, CFAC, CJOC, CFJC, CKOV, CJAT, CBR.

N. Botterill was manager and J. L. Sayers was commercial manager. Sayers left the station near the end of the year for CKCK Regina. Lew Roskin returned to CJOC after serving in the army.

Norman Botterill, manager of CJOC since 1942, left the station at the end of January to manage new (yet to open) station in Saint John, N.B. (CFBC). William Guild would take over as CJOC’s manager. He had been commercial manager at CKOC in Hamilton for the last four years. 

Utilizing block programming, CJOC set aside the 5-6 p.m. hour for entertainment aimed at juveniles. 

Norm Fisher, CJOC’s chief announcer, took over the station’s publicity department. Cam Perry left the production department to become commercial manager. George Brown switched moved from announcing to become production manager. Lorne McLeod (new to radio) joined the sales department. Lew Roskin left CJOC for Winnipeg’s CJOB.

A January wind storm tore off the outer roof of the newly completed CJOC transmitter building. The structure fell against transmission lines, putting the transmitter off the air for about 20 minutes. The roofing then blew off into a nearby field. The new building was built to house a new 5,000 watt Marconi transmitter following the station’s recent authorization for a power increase. 

A new 5,000 watt transmitter was delivered to the antenna site in February. No date was set as yet for the increase in power. 

Norm Baker, graduate of the Radio School of Fine Arts in Toronto, joined CJOC as staff announcer. Russ Guinan moved from CJOC’s transmitter staff to the station’s announce staff. Boyne Johnston, after obtaining her degree from the University of Alberta, returned to CJOC’s continuity staff. Andy Thompson joined the CJOC announce staff from CKRC Winnipeg. John Russell joined the announce staff from CJOB in Winnipeg. William Guild was manager and C.A. Perry was commercial manager. George Brown was CJOC’s production manager. Kaye Ervine left CJOC for the continuity department at CKRC Winnipeg.

CJOC was now operating with 5,000 watts of power. 

The frequency changed to 1220 kHz. 

Norman McLeod left CJOC for the sales staff at CKRC Winnipeg.

The studios were moved to a brand new building on 3rd Avenue South. 

Bill Guild was manager and C.A. Perry was commercial manager.

Slogans: Serving Southern Alberta. / You canna afford to miss the Lethbridge market.

Slogan: CJOC covers the wealthiest area in Canada – Lethbridge. 

Mary Smart was now heard on CJOC as a home economist. She joined the station in April. Edward Conville was named promotion manager. He had worked in news and announcing at the station. Norman Botterill became manager on September 25, returning from CKRM Regina. Bill Guild had left CJOC as manager for CJVI Victoria. After 17 years with CJOC, Cameron Perry left for CJVI in Victoria.

Joe McCallum was an announcer at CJOC. Blair Holland was on staff. Omar Broughton was farm editor. 
 

CJOC 1220 received federal approval to increase power from 5,000 watts full-time (directional at night) to 10,000 watts day and 5,000 watts at night (directional at night). The power increase took place before the end of the year.Slogan: CFGP Gives you peak audience all the time. 

CJOC-AM and the Lethbridge Herald announced they would form a company for the purpose of making a television application. 

Ad: CJOC Lethbridge throws a 10-thousand watt switch. Another important milestone is reached in the 29 year story of service to South Alberta with a daytime boost in power to 10-thousand watts. For you this means…improved signal to present listeners…and a host of new friends in former fringe areas. 

Frank Birch was a sportscaster. W.H.S. Skelton did news.

Production manager Ron Robison left for CHCT-TV in Calgary.
 

CJOC 1220 operated with a power of 10,000 watts day and 5,000 watts night (directional at night) and was a basic CBC Trans-Canada affiliate. Ownership of Lethbridge Broadcasting Ltd.: H. R. Carson Ltd. 98.8%, H. E. Pearson 0.4%, H. R. Carson 0.4%, J. M. Taylor 0.4%. Ownership of H. R. Carson Ltd.: Taylor, Pearson & Carson (Canada) Ltd. 70.7%; Taylor & Pearson Ltd. 14.5%; Taylor, Pearson & Carson Ltd. 14.5%; J. M. Taylor 0.1%; H. E. Pearson 0.1% and H. R. Carson 0.1%. H. R. Carson was president of the company. N. Botterill was CJOC’s manager. 

According to Elliott-Haynes CJOC reached a total of 72,235 adult listeners every day.

ACMO – the All-Canada Mutually Operated stations set up a radio news bureau in August. The bureau channelled news from Ottawa by telegraph, telephone and tape recorder. Stations using the service: CJVI, CKWX, CJAT, CJCA, CFAC, CFGP, CJOC, CKCK, CKRC and CKOC.

Ad slogans: Complete your coverage of Alberta with CJOC Lethbridge. / Cover Alberta’s third market with CJOC Lethbridge.

Joseph Budd resigned as assistant manager of CJOC to work for Southern Alberta Broadcasting, applicant for a second AM station in Lethbridge. Cam Perry, previously national sales manager at CJCA Edmonton, became manager of CFGP Grande Prairie, a post previously held by Art Balfour who moved on to manage CJOC Lethbridge. Norman Botterill, previously CJOC’s manager, was now executive vice president of Lethbridge Broadcasting Ltd. The appointments were made by Harold R. Carson, president of All-Canada Radio & Television Ltd.

James M. Taylor died in November. He was founder of the Taylor, Pearson & Carson wholesale firm…automotive, appliance, radio parts and equipment outlets in Alberta and British Columbia…with interests in CJCA Edmonton, CFAC Calgary, CJOC Lethbridge and CFGP Grande Prairie. 

Dan Taylor was promotion manager. Art Balfour, manager of CJOC, announced the appointment of Gene Ross as assistant manager. He had been manager of CFCW Camrose.

The Dominion and Trans-Canada networks consolidated into a single CBC Radio network. CJOC remained affiliated with the newly consolidated network.

Dan Taylor was CJOC’s morning man.

A new 450 foot tower replaced the old 150 tower which was sold for salvage. 
 

John McColl became CJOC’s general manager. He had been with the station since the end of World War II.

On May 1st , Southern Alberta was paralyzed by a 3 day snow storm and CJOC stayed on the air for 72 hours as the only means of communication in the area as power and phone lines were down in many areas. Messages were sent out to help the residents of the area and to the outside world for help and advice on how to survive the storm. CJOC received many accolades for a great community effort, including the Canadian Association of Broadcasters “Station of the Year” award. 

John McCall was president and general manager. 

Broadcast News was the main source of news for radio stations in Canada but only a handful at this time were subscribing to BN’s voice (audio) service. CJOC was one of those stations.

CJOC extended its service into the Crowsnest Pass area of Alberta where no consistent Canadian radio service was available due to the terrain. CJPR originated five hours of local service daily, with the rest of the schedule filled in by CJOC.    

General manager John McColl was moved by Selkirk to CFAC-AM Calgary where he took up the same position.

Barry Hegland was at CJOC.

Another “Great Storm” almost duplicated that of 1967, when in March, CJOC again canceled all commercials and regular programming to aid the area residents.

Southern Manitoba Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (division of Elmer Hildebrand’s Golden West Broadcasting Ltd.) purchased Community COmmunications from Justin H. McCarthy, Dennis Whitaker, William M. Hatch and George E. Mara.

On September 27, CJOC received approval to disaffiliate from the CBC. The network was no providing program service over its own transmitter – CBRX-FM.

CJPRs’ local programming was increased from 56 to 62 hours weekly. CJEV Elkford, B. C. another satellite station in the mountains went on the air providing service in an area with inadequate signals.

On July 21, approval was granted for the transfer of 200 Class B voting shares of Selkirk Communications Ltd. from Southam Inc. to John T. Ferguson, and subsequently, the transfer of these shares from Mr. Ferguson, together with 200 Class B shares from each of seven other individual shareholders, to the Canada Trust Co., pursuant to a voting trust agreement. Southam held 20% of the voting shares and approximately 28% of the non-voting shares of Selkirk Communications. Selkirk owned the following broadcast companies: Selkirk 
Broadcasting Ltd., Lethbridge Television Ltd., Calgary Television Ltd., and Niagara Television Ltd. 

Jack Innes was CJOC’s president and general manager.

Brent Sealy was operations manager for CJOC and CILA-FM.

The Canadian Radio-Television & Telecommunications Commission approved Maclean-Hunter Limited’s purchase of Selkirk Communications on September 28. A number of former Maclean-Hunter stations were then transferred to Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. CJOC (along with CILA-FM, CJPR and CJEV) were part of the transfer to Rogers.

CJOC’s FM station changed its call sign from CILA-FM to CFRV-FM.

On June 30, the CRTC renewed the licence of Rogers-owned CJOC until August 31, 1996. This term would enable the Commission to consider the renewal of this licence at the same time as that of other radio stations in the area. CJPR and CJEV had their licences renewed on the same date. The CRTC noted their plans to reduce the amount of local programming originating from CJPR as well as a reduction in the amount of programming rebroadcast from CJOC, from 64 hours a week to 24 hours and 15 minutes a week.

One of the original pioneers at Selkirk Communications, George Brown, died in Lethbridge at the age of 81. He had been with CJOC Lethbridge for several years, then worked a weekend radio show at Taber’s CKTA almost up to the time of his passing.

On January 19, CJOC’s conversion to the FM dial was approved. The new station would operate on 106.7 MHz with effective radiated power of 100,000. The format would change from country to gold-based adult contemporary format.

When CJOC moved to the FM dial, it became CJRX-FM.

Early on the morning of December 2nd, Ted Rogers, founder and former Chief Executive of Rogers Communications, owners of CJRX-FM, died at his home in Toronto, after having suffered from congestive heart failure for some time. 

In October, Jerhett was named the new afternoon drive announcer and music director for Rock 106. He had worked at The Goat in LLoydminster, Z99 in Red Deer and most recently, along with Ross Macleod at the former Fuel 90.3 in Calgary. 

Lewis Roskin passed away December 27. He started his radio career as an announcer (at age 17) at CJOC in Lethbridge. That was in 1937. He went on to work at CFRN Edmonton, CJDC Dawson Creek, CFCN Calgary, CHED Edmonton and CKLG Vancouver. He then went on to co-found CHQT Edmonton where he was president and general manager until he sold the station years later. 

Jerhett Schafer, Rock 106 PM Drive Announcer/Music Director, moved across the hall August 3 to become 1077 The River’s morning host. 

On November 30, the CRTC renewed CJRX’s licence to August 31, 2017.

Tony Marsh added General Manager duties for The River/Rock 106 Lethbridge while retaining that title at Rock 105.3 Medicine Hat. Marsh had been with Rogers for 14 years, first as an Account Manager in Calgary and then as General Sales Manager at Rogers Victoria.

Three senior Rogers Radio managers at separate locations across Canada were released from service: Doug Elliott, Operations Manager at Rogers Radio Kingston joined the station cluster in August, 2007, from his Program Director post at then Newcap Radio Thunder Bay. Terry Voth, who joined Rogers Radio in 1999 and was General Manager at Rock 106/The River Lethbridge, had moved to Rogers after a 19-year career with Rawlco. Terry Williams, Program Director at Lite 92.9 Halifax, joined Rogers in October, 2009, after a long career as PD at C100/CJCH Halifax. 

Jim Blundell succeeded Kevin McKanna and is the Acting General Manager of the 13 Rogers Radio stations in Alberta. Blundell had been the Vice President & GM at CTV Vancouver Island, C-FAX and KooL FM Victoria and left Bell Media in September of last year. Blundell’s background included being the Market Manager for the CHUM radio stations in Brockville, Kingston and Peterborough. In 2007, he was promoted to VP/GM of then Star-FM London and, in 2009, he was promoted again to take the lead at CHUM’s (now Bell Media’s) Victoria properties. 

The new Program Director at Rock 106 / 107.7 The River was Mark Neskar. He had been PD at sister Rogers station CKYX-FM Fort McMurray.

Jim Elliott died at age 71. Elliott began in broadcasting as a library assistant at CKRD Red Deer while still going to school and later on, on the air. He moved to Lethbridge in the early ‘60s and worked at, first, CHEC and later at CJOC. In the ‘70s, he did drive at both CFRN and CJCA Edmonton, eventually moving into sales at CJCA. Later, he went to ITV Edmonton. In the mid ‘80s, he moved back to CHEC Lethbridge/CKTA Taber as General Manager and, in the early ‘90s (still with Shaw), Elliott was GM at CKDK Woodstock. In the late ‘90s, he went back west to the OK Group where he was in sales both in Kelowna and Fort St. John. And, it was in 2004 that he joined Newcap’s engineering group in Edmonton. Elliott and the Alberta engineering team won the Rohde & Schwarz Excellence in Engineering Award in the fall of 2011 at the annual Western Association of Broadcast Engineers (WABE) convention. 

Scott McGregor left Rock 106 where he was Assistant Program Director/Music Director/drive announcer, to become Program Director for 104.9 JRfm and 103.7 BOB-FM Brockville. 

Ashly Stewart joined the Rogers Lethbridge cluster as promotions director. She moved from Rogers Fort McMurray.

In the summer, CJRX rebranded to 106.7 Rock from Rock 106.