CJRI-FM

On November 26, Ross Ingram, on behalf of a company to be incorporated (would be known as Faithway Communications Inc.) was awarded a licence for a specialty FM station in Fredericton. I would operate on a frequency of 94.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 25 watts. 

The station would feature Christian music, particularly “available Canadian gospel / country gospel / choir and instrumental praise groups.” During each broadcast week, the station would broadcast 35 hours of religious spoken word programming.

Ross Ingram was an experienced broadcaster, having worked at a number of Canadian stations, including CKEC, New Glasgow; CKCL, Truro; CHSJ, Saint John; and at CBC Radio and Television. 

CJRI-FM 94.7 signed on the air May 18. The program format featured Southern Gospel, Country Gospel, and Praise music, with local news, detailed weather, and coverage of local events. Studios and offices were located at 151 Main Street. 

The station was authorized to operate with an effective radiated power of 50 watts, lower antenna height and use a different transmitter site.

On November 27, the CRTC approved an application by Faithway Communications Inc. to amend the broadcasting licence for CJRI-FM, in order to change the frequency from 94.7 MHz to 104.5 MHz. The licensee indicated that this change was necessary due to interference from a new FM radio station in the United States using the existing frequency of CJRI-FM.

On August 31, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CJRI-FM and its transmitters CJRI-FM-1 Woodstock, CJRI-FM-2 St. Stephen and CJRI-FM-3 New Brandon, until August 31, 2012. The Commission noted that licence renewal applications for this station had not been received. If the licence renewal application was not been received by November 30, 2011, the Commission may not renew the licence further.

The CRTC approved a change to the ownership and effective control of Faithway Communications, from controlled by its board of directors to controlled by Ross Ingram (and Paul Dixon). 

Ross Ingram, owner of Faithway Communications Inc. and CJRI-FM, marked 65 years in broadcasting on July 1. His career started at CJSH-FM Hamilton in 1953. From there, he went to CHVC Niagara Falls; CKEC-FM New Glasgow; CKCL-FM Truro; CHSJ Radio-TV Saint John; CBC-TV Halifax; and CBC Radio-TV Fredericton where he retired after 30 years with the public broadcaster. For the last 15 years, in addition to managing CJRI, Ingram had been hosting the station’s Daybreak morning program.