1948
Radio Edmonton Ltee applied for a French language AM licence in Edmonton. CJCA opposed the application and the CBC deferred the matter for further study.
In March, the CBC recommended for approval, Radio Edmonton Ltee's application for a French language station in Edmonton, using 680 kHz with power of 5,000 watts. After refusing CKUA's application for a commercial licence, Premier Manning called the CHFA decision, "indefensible and discriminating". Radio Edmonton Ltee was organized by a group of Edmonton citizens.
1949
Romain LeClair was named CHFA's manager. He had been manager of CJEM Edmundston (NB) and was with CKSO Sudbury before that.
An ad for the soon to launch CHFA stated the station would serve 45,000 French-speaking Albertans in the Peace River, Lac la Biche, St. Paul and Edmonton areas.
CHFA signed on the air November 20, on 680 kHz with 5,000 watts (single directional pattern), using three 230 foot towers. The station was affiliated with the CBC's French language network. Studios were at 10012-109e rue.
1950
The CBC approved the transfer of four shares in Radio Edmonton Ltee.
A.M. Dechene was manager and L. Hiller was commercial manager.
1951
The CBC Board approved a public commercial licence for CHFA, for the transmission of personal messages where other means of electrical communication were not available.
1953
From an ad: CHFA, "the West's most progressive French radio voice," opens over 60,000 customer sales doors for your product! / La Voix Francaise De l'Alberta.
Approval was given for the transfer of one common share in Radio Edmonton Ltee.
1957
CHFA 680 had a power of 5,000 watts and used a single directional pattern. Ownership of Radio Edmonton Ltee: Mgr. Phillip Lussier 6.7%, Mgr. Henri Routhier 6.7%, Dr. L.O. Beauchemin 33.3%, Dr.L.P. Mousseau 6.7%, P. Sicotte 6.7%, J.W. Beaudry 6.7%, A. Morin 6.7%, J.M. Fontaine 6.7%, A. Dechene 6.6%, M. Lavallee 6.6%, J.O. Pilon 6.6%. CHFA was a supplementary affiliate of the CBC French network. Andre Dechesne was president of the company while Bernardin Gagnon was CHFA's manager.
1974
On April 1, Radio Edmonton Ltee. sold CHFA to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
1975
Around 1975, CHFA 680 increased power to 10,000 watts (single directional pattern for day and night), using three 290 foot towers.
1977
CHFA-1-FM began broadcasting in Lethbridge on March 12.
CBRF-FM signed on the air in Calgary on May 23 to rebroadcast CHFA.
1978
CHFA-2-FM launched in Red Deer on July 19.
1979
CHFA-3-FM Peace River signed on the air on January 5.
CHFA-4-FM Hinton, CHFA-5-FM Grande Prairie and CHFA-6-FM Fort McMurray launched on August 6.
1983
The Falher rebroadcaster – CHFA-7-FM – began operations on March 1.
CHFA-8-FM at Medicine Hat signed on the air July 1.
1985
On December 17, CHFA was authorized to add a transmitter at Bonnyville on 98.7 MHz, with an effective radiated power of 50,000 watts.
1989
When CHFA had its licence renewed, it was noted that CHFA-9-FM Bonnyville was still not on the air.
1990
The CHFA studios and offices moved to 7909-51st Avenue.
1993
Due to financial constraints, the CBC decided not to proceed with the rebroadcast transmitter CHFA-9-FM Bonnyville.
1997
The Radio-Canada network was renamed "Première Chaîne" on September 1.
1998
A community rebroadcaster – CHFB-FM 98.7 – was added at Bonnyville on June 30. CHFA had earlier planned to add its own transmitter (CHFA-9-FM) but cancelled that plan in 1993 for financial reasons.
2001
As of 2001, CHFA operated the following rebroadcast transmitters: CBRF-FM Calgary, CHFA-1-FM Lethbridge, CHFA-2-FM Red Deer, CHFA-3-FM Peace River, CHFA-4-FM Hinton, CHFA-5-FM Grande Prairie, CHFA-6-FM Fort McMurray, CHFA-7-FM Falher, and CHFA-8-FM Medicine Hat. CHFA broadcasts approximately 35 hours and 55 minutes of local programming each week from Edmonton.
2002
On May 7, the CBC was given approval to add transmitters at Calgary and Edmonton to provide Radio-Canada’s La Chaîne culturelle FM stereo service.
2006
On March 16, CHFA was given approval to add a "nested" FM transmitter in downtown Edmonton to boost the Radio One signal in the core of the city. The rebroadcast transmitter for CHFA 680 would operate on 101.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 3,931 watts. Anteanna height would be 123.7 metres - atop Canadian Western Bank Place.
The CBC submitted that urban growth, the construction of high-rise concrete and steel buildings, increased electrical noise from overhead wires, large and small appliances and portable radio transmitters have impeded the ability of its radio stations to deliver reliable high quality AM signals to listeners in Winnipeg, particularly in the downtown area and in crowded, industrial areas.
The Edmonton FM transmitter went on the air later in the year and was licenced as CHFA-10-FM.
2009
On May 12 the CRTC renewed CHFA's licence. The renewal included the following transmitters: CBRF-FM Calgary, CHFA-1-FM Lethbridge, CHFA-2-FM Red Deer, CHFA-3-FM Peace River, CHFA-4-FM Hinton, CHFA-5-FM Grande Prairie, CHFA-6-FM Fort McMurray, CHFA-7-FM Falher, CHFA-8-FM Medicine Hat and CHFA-10-FM Edmonton.
Written by Bill Dulmage - Updated June, 2010
