Take a look at the CFRN-FM Photo Album

1927
CHMA - licensed to the Christian and Missionary Alliance was launched Easter Sunday, April 17th, with power of 100 watts and shared airtime on the same frequency with other pioneer Edmonton stations on 580 kHz. Calls: Christian & Missionary Alliance.

1930
CHMA, while retaining studios in the Beulah Tabernacle, re-located its 100-watt transmitter in the Crestwood Community (area of 99 Avenue and 146 Street), utilizing a 150-foot tower supported by four sets of guy wires.

1934
CHMA was taken-over by Taylor & Pearson Ltd. who, in 1927, had sold their first station (CFCK) to the Department of Extension of the University of Alberta and which had become operational as CKUA on November 21st of that year. CHMA became CFTP (“TP” for Taylor & Pearson), and obtained sole use of the frequency of 1260 kHz. Studios were set up in the Birks Building, 347 - 10360 Jasper Avenue. CFTP operated daily except Sundays. Airtime on CFTP was allocated on the Sabbath to the Christian and Missionary Alliance as part of the acquisition deal.

Dick Rice

Dick Rice had always wanted to own a radio station but he never had the money. In 1922, he went to work for CJCA instead. He helped build that station and put it on the air. Rice was CJCA's manager. In the 30s, Rice again had the urge to own a station. At this time, in addition to CJCA, Edmonton now also had CKUA and CFTP. Jim Taylor & Hugh Pearson's CFTP was in financial trouble. Rice convinced his friend Hans Nielsen (a grocer in Coalspur) to help him raise the $10,000 needed to take over CFTP.

In the meantime, responding to an invitation by the Edmonton Journal (Southam Newspapers) to submit a proposal for the management and operation of the Journal's station CJCA, Taylor & Pearson Ltd. was named the successful bidder over a competing proposal submitted by Rice and Nielsen.

Rice & Neilsen formed Sunwapta Broadcasting Co. Ltd. to purchase CFTP from Taylor & Pearson. A licence was issued November 1, with the call letters - CFRN ("RN" for Rice & Nielsen). CFRN signed on the air on November 3. Taylor & Pearson moved their staff from the Birks Building to CJCA's McGee Building studios and programmed CJCA on 730 kHz, starting November 1. Rice and Nielsen, simultaneously, established their CFRN staff in the former CFTP studios in the Birks Building, using CFTP's existing schedule of programs at the outset. CFRN was on the air daily from 7:30 a.m. to midnight.

When Rice chose the corporate name Sunwapta Broadcasting Co. Ltd., he wanted the word "Sunwapta" because it was the Stony Indian word for "radiating waves". The Indians noted the small waves that radiated in all directions when stones were dropped in still pools. These waves were given the name "Sunwapta". Rice felt this was a natural for a radio station because radio waves followed almost the same pattern from a transmitter.

In addition to Rice & Nielsen, there were seven other staff: members in the early going: Frank Mackepeace (plant engineer), Gordon Williamson (sports announcer), Albert Churchill (music director), Gordon Shillabeer (control engineer), Dave Hill (chief announcer), Gilbert Seabrooke (announcer, continuity), Doris Neale (secretary) and Susan Agar (on-air hostess). She would eventually become Mrs. Rice. Sid Lancaster joined CFRN from CKUA.

1935
CFRN moved into new studios in the CPR Building at 10032 Jasper Avenue.

1936
The CRBC approved on June 15th a change of frequency for CFRN from 1260 to to 960 kHz, which took effect September 13th.

In November, the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission was replaced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.  CFRN became a CBC affiliate.

1938
CFRN received approval for a power increase from 100 watts to 500 watts.

1941
On March 29, CFRN moved from 960 kHz to 1260 kHz.

CFRN celebrated its seventh birthday on December 1 with newly enlarged and redecorated studios and a new 1,000 watt RCA Victor transmitter. The station also operated shortwave station VD2N, using its own gas driven power plant, for use where regular current was not available. VD2N operated in the 10 meter band and was a small pack type transmitter which could be carried on the announcer's back for special broadcasts. At this time, CFRN's accent was on news and sport. G.R.A. (Dick) Rice was manager of the broadcasting division of Sunwapta Broadcasting and H.F. Neilsen managed the sound division.

Trevor C. Schofield joined CFRN as continuity writer.

1944
CFRN joined the newly formed CBC Dominion network.

S.S. (Sid) Lancaster left CFRN for Radio Representatives Ltd. in Toronto. He had been with the station for 9 years, the past four as assistant manager.

On April 30, the dedicatory ceremony of the oil refinery at Whitehorse completed by the U.S. Army was carried by CFRN over a line 1,400 miles long. It was the first broadcast made from Whitehorse direct to any local station.

Gordon Reid was CFRN's production manager. T.H. Mansell was news editor.

CFRN marked its 10th anniversary on November 29. The actual birthday was November 1 but the celebration of the event was moved to the end of the month due to the Victory Loan.

1945
Jane E. Jones left CFRN's traffic department. Jack Wilson became CFRN's new staff announcer.

CBC Dominion Basic Stations: CJFX, CHNS, CFCY, CKCW, CKNB, CJLS, CKCO, CHOV, CFBR, CJBC, CHEX, CFPL, CFCO, CFPA, CHLT, CFCF, CKRC, CJGX, CKX, CKRM, CHAB, CFQC, CKBI, CFCN, CFRN, CJRL, CHWK, CJOR, CJVI.

G.R.A. Rice was manager and A.J. Hopps was commercial manager. Gordon Williamson returned to his sports announcing post at CFRN after three years with the RCAF. David Wood, formerly with CFRN's continuity department, took over the newly organized publicity and advertising department at the station. Trevor Schofield returned to CFRN as continuity editor after two years instructing in the army.

1946
Dick Rice became sole owner of Sunwapta Broadcasting Co. Ltd. He bought out his partner, H.F. Nielsen, at this time.

On Thursdays at 8 p.m., CFRN presented "Education and Your Child", a program about educational problems discussed by a special committee of educationalists comprised of members of the Edmonton School Board, officials and teachers of Edmonton schools.

Gordon Williamson was heard on-air at CFRN. A.J. "Red" Hopps was assistant manager.

An ad for the station noted that since 1934 CFRN had catered to the country audience with programs like its weekly Barn Dance - a solid hour of authentic hoedown and hillbilly tunes, played by Gabie Haas and his Rhythm Rangers, with vocals by Dixie Dean the Barn Dance Queen.

Gordon Reid, CFRN's assistant manager, left for CKNW New Westminster.

1947
CFRN increased power to 5,000 watts from a new transmitter site located along Jasper Highway, about six and a half miles west of the city’s centre.

At this time, CFRN was on the air from 6:30 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and 7:30 a.m. to midnight, Sundays.

CFRN issued invitations to the Dominion Network's coast to coast ceremonies, marking the station's increase in power to 5,000 watts - at the Trocadero Ballroom - March 3. This special event did take place. Premier E.C. Manning praised Dick Rice for the part he had played in Canadian radio since he first joined the Marconi Company before World War I. Following the change in power, a coast to coast broadcast was sent over the CBC Dominion network as planned.

Lew Roskin, former CJOB Winnipeg production manager, was now an announcer at CFRN.

Tom Marshall left CFRN to become news editor at CKMO Vancouver. Gordon Williamson was sports editor. Three Royal Canadian Navy veterans joined the CFRN staff: Tony Lefroy (sales), Wally Clarke (continuity) and Tommy Graham (promotions and publicity director). Eve Henderson joined CFRN. She had left CKRC Winnipeg earlier in the year, to retire in Edmonton. She didn't like retirement. Lew Roskin joined CFRN in January. He had been working for a produciton company but had been with stations CJOB Winnipeg and CJOC Lethbridge before that.

Slogan: The Pioneer 5,000 watter In Alberta's Largest City. (CFRN was operating with 5 kW non-directional day and night).

CFRN received approval to operate an emergency transmitter.

An FM licence was recommended for approval by the CBC in December.

1948
Harry Sedgwick, founder of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters in its present form (1948) and the chairman of the board since 1934, stepped down in favour of CFRN's Dick Rice. Rice had been honorary president. Sedgwick would remain as a CAB director. CKAC's Phil Lalonde became honorary president. The post of general manager, made vacant by the resignation of Harry Dawson, went to Jim Allard, who started in radio in 1935 on CJCA, where he worked under Percy Gayner, Tiny Elphicke and Gordon Henry.

Plans were made to turn CFRN over to members of the Kiwanis Club on May 17. They would fully take over the programming, announcing and operating of the station. The purpose for the one day event was to tell the story of the club's community service activities.

1949
Lew Roskin left CFRN to head up the re-organized CJDC in Dawson Creek. Helen Kent was women's editor.

CFRN had a new transmitter west of Edmonton.

1950
Omar Blondahl was a staff announcer. A.J. (Red) Hopps was assistant manager (and commercial manager). He joined CFTP in July of 1934 and that November, shifted over with others, to the new CFRN. Allan Slaight joined CFRN news from CHAB Moose Jaw.

CKUA was reportedly about to close, so both CFRN and CJCA applied to use that station's 580 kHz frequency (CFRN would use an omni-directional antenna and CJCA would use a directional antenna at night). The CBC Board of Governors told the applicants that 580 kHz was being used by CKUA so the frequency was not available.

1951
Sunwapta Broadcasting Ltd launched CFRN-FM to simulcast the programming of CFRN-AM.

Frank Makepeace was CFRN's chief engineer. He had been a ham radio operator since 1918 and operated VE6AH since 1921. He joined CJCA in 1928. That station was under the management then of G.R.A. Rice. In 1934, he moved over to CFRN, serving as engineer and transmitter operator. He distinguished himself shortly after by building a temporary 1,000 watt amplifier when delivery of a new transmitter was held up.

CFRN received approval to operate a 1,000 watt emergency transmitter.

Bert Gibb handled Edmonton Eskimo CFL broadcasts for CFRN.

1952
Slogan: In Edmonton it's CFRN.

Allan Slaight left CFRN news for CJCA.

1953
Sunwapta Broadcasting Co. Ltd. was granted Edmonton's first television licence. Competing applications by William Rea Jr. (CKNW New Westminster) and Edmonton Television Ltd. (CHED and CJCA) were denied.

1954
Sunwapta launched CFRN-TV on October 25.

Trevor Kerbey did news. Tony Biamonte was an emcee.

1957
CFRN had a power of 5,000 watts (non-directional) on 1260 kHz and was a basic CBC Dominion affiliate. Ownership of Sunwapta Broadcasting Co. Ltd.: G. R. A. Rice 99.8%, Mrs. J. C. Rice 0.1% and D. Atkinson 0.1%. G. R. A. Rice was president of the company while Arnold Hopps was manager of CFRN and also commercial manager.

A. J. (Red) Hopps, a senior executive with the company, was appointed manager of CFRN Radio. He had been assistant manager, with CFRN since it opened in 1934. S. S. (Sid) Lancaster was appointed manager of CFRN-TV. He had been actively supervising the TV station since it opened, and had been with CFRN Radio.

1959
The transmitter site was moved to six miles south of Winterburn. Power increased to 10,000 watts. These changes took place October 29.

1961
Power increased to 50,000 watts (directional at night), utilizing two towers.

1962
The Dominion and Trans-Canada networks consolidated into a single CBC Radio network. CFCN became an independent station. CFAC 960 remained the CBC network affiliate in the city until the corporation opened CBR in 1964.

1964
The CFRN studios and offices moved on March 15 from the CPR Building at 10012 Jasper Avenue, to Broadcast House at 18520 Stoney Plain Road.

CFRN-FM received permission to begin offering programming that was different than that offered by CFRN-AM.

1968
Bruce Hogle was news director and Bob Smith was in continuity.

1976
Bruce Alloway became vice president of Sunwapta Broadcasting. He had been station manager of the company's CFRN-TV.

1979
CFRN-FM became CKXM-FM. The station now operated fully separate from CFRN-AM.

1982
Don O'Neil was now CFRN's program director. He had been with CHEX-AM in Peterborough. Don Percy was CFRN's morning man. Bruce Alloway became vice president and general manager of the CFRN stations.

1984
George Churchill was named manager of CFRN. He had been general sales manager.

1985-86
CFRN-AM-TV/CKXM-FM news director Art Kennard became vice-chairman of the national editorial committee at Broadcast News.

1986
Walt Gidyk became CFRN's program director.

1987
Chuck Chandler was back at CFRN doing the morning show.

1988
Bruce D. Alloway, president of Sunwapta Broadcasting, announced the appointment of Stan Knaga as manager of engineering. Knaga had been with the company since 1977 as assistant director of engineering. He succeeds E.W. (Ted) Wadson upon his retirement from the company on June 1.

On April 8, the CRTC approved the sale of CFRN-AM-TV and CKXM-FM by Sunwapta Broadcasting Ltd. to CAP Communications Ltd. of Kitchener, ON. Sunwapta was controlled by Dr. G.R.A. Rice, who has had a distinguished history in Canada's broadcasting industry. He was involved in Edmonton broadcasting since 1922, placing him amongst the earliest pioneers in Canadian broadcasting. Both Sunwapta and Dr. Rice have won a number of awards over the past 54 years, including several Gold Ribbon awards from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. Under Dr. Rice's leadership, Sunwapta established a reputation of public service and involvement in the local community. CAP was the licensee of CKKW, CFCA-FM CKCO-TV Kitchener, and was indirectly effectively controlled by Mr. J.A. Pollock. Dr. Rice retired when Sunwapta was sold but would continue to serve as honorary chairman.

W.D. McGregor, vice chairman and chief executive officer of Sunwapta Broadcasting, announced the appointment of Bruce E. Cowie as president and chief operating officer of Sunwapta (effective July 1). Cowie had been with CKCK-TV in Regina where he had been president. He was also president of Harvard Communications. Cowie was a director of the CTV Television Network; past president of both the Saskatchewan and Western Association of Broadcasters; and founding chairman of Can Pro. He was the WAB Broadcaster of the Year in 1981. Cowie succeeded Bruce D. Alloway who was retiring after 33 years with Sunwapta. He became president of the company earlier this year.

Manager George Churchill left the CFRN stations to start Churchill Marketing.

1989
CKXM-FM changed call letters to CJKE-FM.

CFRN secured the rights for the Edmonton Eskimo football games for the next three years. This ended an era that saw the games broadcast over CJCA for 24 years. Part of the new deal called for CFRN, CKXM-FM and CFRN-TV to promote and support Eskimo sales and marketing efforts.

L.G. (Gord) Williams was appointed general sales manager of CFRN and CJKE-FM.

Bruce Hogle

Bruce Hogle was appointed general manager of Sunwapta's radio division as well as a member of the executive committee and station manager of CFRN-AM.

1990
Large scale renovations of the Sunwapta Broadcast Centre begun two years ago were completed at a cost of about $9 million. Electrohome chairman John Pollock was on hand for the grand opening on June 1. The staff of 250 had worked in 5,000 square metres on three floors. That was expanded to 7,400 square metres on three floors. The original building was started over 30 years ago and just kept growing. First it was a TV studio and a few offices, then more offices, another studio, then radio control rooms, more offices, FM control rooms, new equipment connected to old, and building additions and subdivisions... Over time an Edmonton landmark emerged - a huge log cabin style building housing TV and AM. FM had outgrown the main building in 1971 and was relocated to an outbuilding that was over 50 years old. While the recent project was underway, FM control and studios were moved to the lobby of the Convention Centre in downtown Edmonton. It stayed there until January. AM and AM-FM production kept their basement locations. All that really remains of the old building is the foundation and the central core of two TV studios.

1991
George Churchill, former manager of CFRN, died in January at age 57.

1992
Dr. G.R.A. Rice died in Edmonton on February 25 after a short illness. He was 92. In addition to helping build CJCA-AM, and then his own Edmonton radio and television stations (CFRN), Rice served as president of the Western Association of Broadcasters, and was chosen Broadcaster of the Half Century by the WAB in 1984. He also served a term as chairman of the CAB. In 1984 he was selected to the CAB's Canadian Broadcasting Hall of Fame and received RTNDA Canada's President's Award for his contributions to the industry.

On June 19, approval was given for Standard Radio Inc. to purchase the former Sunwapta stations CFRN-AM and CJKE-FM from CAP Communications. CAP retained CFRN-TV.

CJKE-FM became CFBR-FM.

2000
Frank George Arthur Makepeace, 93, passed away. He started his broadcasting career in 1928 and joined Sunwapta Broadcasting where he remained for 30 years.

2002
In June, CFRN joined CHUM’s all sports network – The Team – adopting an all sports format. It had been simulcasting the oldies format of sister station CISL-AM in Vancouver.

CFRN continued programming all sports despite CHUM’s closure of The Team radio network on August 27.

2007
On September 27, Astral Media Radio G.P. received CRTC approval to acquire the assets of the radio and TV undertakings owned by Standard Radio Ltd., subject to certain conditions.  The purchase included CFRN-AM, CFBR-FM abd CFNG-FM.

2009
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.

Written by Bill Dulmage with early recollections from veteran
Sunwapta executive George Duffield - Updated June, 2010