1933
On April 16, CKOC (and CKTB) moved from 630 to 1010 kHz.

On November 7 at 9:00 p.m., CKTB ceased to be a phantom station of CKOC. It had been granted a regular broadcasting licence and its very own frequency - 1230 kHz with 100 watts of power. CKTB operated from a new 244 foot tower located on Lakeshore Road, near Port Dalhousie. This was one of the first vertical radio tower to be used in Canada. Capitalizing upon its unique silver vertical tower, CKTB began using the slogan "CKTB - the station of the Silver Spire”. Taylor & Bate launched a new brand of beer - "Silver Spire”.

Alan Savage joined CKTB from CKCR Kitchener where he had been announcer-operator.

1934
Alan Savage left for CKLW in Windsor.

1936
CKTB became an affiliate of the new CBC network (Canadian Broadcasting Corp.).

1938
In September, CKTB's studios moved to the Oak Hill Mansion at 12 Yates Street at the corner of St. Paul. Oak Hill was a 19th century mansion, originally the home of the Honourable William Hamilton Merritt.

CKTB was operating on 1200 kHz with 100 watts of power.

1940
Norm Marshall left CKTB for Hamilton's CHML. Norm started at CKTB as a teenager and was a singer on the station.

1941
On March 29, CKTB switched from 1200 to 1230 kHz.

CKTB was operating with 1,000 watts full time on clear channel 1550 kHz, as of December 9. Power had been 100 watts. A new RCA K1 transmitter was now in use. The new operation came into effect on the eve of president E.T. Sandell's 72 birthday. CKTB was a CBC affiliate and the new signal covered the Niagara Peninsula and Southern Ontario, rich in industry and prosperous farming. The Lakeshore Road transmitter site was still in use.

1942
Station manager Bernard (Bun) Mitchell died suddenly. He joined CKTB as an announcer from CKGW (Toronto) in 1934, became program director, and in February of 1941, was appointed station manager.

Major James Annand was named manager of CKTB. He had manageed CFRC Kingston for the past six years. 

1943 
CKTB's founder E.T. "Ed" Sandell passed away at his home in St. Catharines on August 15. He was in his 74th year. Sandell spent 18 years with the Toronto police force and then purchased the Taylor & Bate Brewery in March, 1927. Through that company, he started CKTB. Sandell was also a former director of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. 

1944
CKTB was purchased from the Estate of E.T. Sandell by the Niagara District Broadcasting Co., under the presidency of Captain W.B.C. Burgoyne, who was now overseas with RCA. His daughter Mary was also involved with the company. During W.B.C.'s absence the station would be run by Major H.B. Burgoyne, managing editor of the St. Catharines Standard. The purchase took place on October 4.

1945
CBC Dominion Supplementary Stations: CKCV, CKTB, CHML, CKLW, CKPC, CKCR, CKNX, CJCS, CFOS.

John Knox and John Gould were added to the CKTB air staff. Both had served with the RCAF. Knox had been associated with CKGB, CKRN and CHML. Miss M. Hallett was manager. Cec McKnight returned to the CKTB announce staff after service with the Canadian Army.

1947
Cliff Wingrove was appointed manager of CKTB. He had been with National Broadcast Sales and Northern Broadcasting and Publishing in Toronto.

1948
Rex Stimers was doing sports at CKTB. Cec McKnight was farm editor.

CKTB applied for a change of frequency from 1550 to 620 kHz (DA-1). Power would remain 1,000 watts.

1949
CKTB was informed that it would forced to vacate its Class 2 clear channel of 1550 kHz so that the CBC could use that frequency for its new station in Windsor.

CKTB had 32 news correspondents. Elda Flintoft was women's commentator. Cec McKnight was farm editor. Norm Marshall was named news editor, succeeding Charles Compton, who moved to the Chamber of Commerce. Announcer John Morrison took over Marshall's news post.

W. Burgoyne was manager and C. Wingrove was commercial manager.

1950
On February 21, CKTB moved from 1550 to 620 kHz. Power remained 1,000 watts. A new $90,000 transmitter was used at a new antenna site on River Road in Port Robinson. CKTB 620 used four towers for a single day and night directional pattern. Related slogan: Now CKTB (is) at the choice '620' spot on the dial. Another slogan: Your Niagara District Station. The station's signal strength was tripled with the move to 620.

Bill Wheeler was program director. Tommy Morrison did sports.

Major H.B. Burgoyne passed away. He was 65.

1951
Mary Burgoyne became managing director of Niagara District Broadcasting Co. Ltd.

1953
Cliff Wingrove was CKTB's manager. He was also president of the Central Canada Broadcasters Association.

1953-54
Cliff Wingrove resigned as manager of CKTB to become assistant manager at London's CFPL-AM. CKTB vice president Mary Burgoyne would continue at the helm of the station. Wingrove had been with CKTB since 1948.

1954
Roy Bonnisteel was farm director.

1954-55
The Canada Labour Relations Board ordered a vote by CKTB employees where NABET had applied for certification.

1957
CKTB 620 had a power of 1,000 watts (single directional pattern) and was affiliated with the CBC Dominion netowrk. Ownership of Niagara District Broadcasting Co. Ltd.: W. B. C. Burgoyne 54.30%, Mary C. Burgoyne 18.30%, Susette Anne Reid 15.00%, Harriet L. Burgoyne 0.10%, Dorothy Burgoyne 0.10%, Estate of H. B. Burgoyne 12.20%.

W. B. C. Burgoyne was president of the company. Mary C. Burgoyne was manager of CKTB. Jack Dawson was program and production manager. Roy Bonisteel was farm and promotions director.

1959
On April 9, CKTB moved from 620 to 610 kHz. Power increased from 1,000 to 5,000 watts (fulltime), using the same directional pattern for day and night operation (but different from the pattern being used on 620). The same transmitter site was used, but there were now five towers. On 620 CKTB had experienced an intolerable amount of co-channel interference from a station in Syracuse, N.Y.

1961
In objecting to CKEY's application to move its transmitter to the Toronto Islands and to change frequency from 580 to 590 kHz (and increase power), CKTB told the Department of Transport that it aired a number of programs directed at Toronto audiences. Programs included foreign language shows (German, Italian, Ukrainian and Polish), and classical music. CKTB was concerned that CKEY's proposed move would make the St. Catharines signal unlistenable in the Toronto area.

1964
On April 1, CKTB's power increased to 10,000 watts day and 5,000 watts night (same directional pattern, day and night). The same site and towers at Port Robinson were used. 
 
1965
CKTB began broadcasting 24 hours a day.

William B. C. Burgoyne was president of the company. Mary C. Burgoyne was manager of CKTB. William V. Stoekel was commercial and promotions manager. Jack Dawson was program and production manager. Ernie Courtney was morning man. News director was Jay Glover.

1967
Retail sales manager Larry Lamb left for the RTVR rep firm.

1970
Mary Burgoyne became president of the company.

1978
In the summer, CKTB installed a diesel generator and standby transmitter at the antenna site.

1979
CKTB-FM became CJQR-FM.

1980
Niagara District Broadcasting Co. Ltd. received approval to merge with sister company St. Catharines Standard Ltd.

On October 14, Mary C. Burgoyne, Susette A. Reid and Dorothy F. Burgoyne agreed to sell Niagara District Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (CKTB-AM/CJQR-FM) to Standard Broadcasting's CFRB Limited.

Evelyn Macko left the news department for CFTR in Toronto.

1981
The sale of CKTB and CJQR to Standard Broadcasting was completed early in the year. . Standard undertook to upgrade facilities, particularly for CKTB, production and news, and add a mobile stereo studio. News staff would be increased by three full-time, as well as freelance personnel.

John Stahl left CKTB for CFRB in Toronto.

1982
Chief engineer Warren Parker reported he had taken delivery of new studio equipment and was building a new CKTB master control room in a large studio, to be used while the old one was rebuilt.

Christmas marked the 50th consecutive year that CKTB broadcast Midnight Mass, and the station believed it was a record for Canadian broadcasting. The broadcast began in 1933 when owner Edward T. Sandell donated the time in memory of his wife who had died that year. The broadcast had only had two commentators over all of those years: Edward Boyne from 1933 to 1964, and John Morrison from 1965 to the present. The broadcast originated from St. Catharine's Church, which in 1958 became the cathedral for the Diocese of St. Catharines.

1983
During CKTB's licence renewal hearing, the station noted it would spend $22,000 within the next year to renovate the newsroom. This was in addition to technical improvements already completed.

1983-84
After 18 years at CJRN, popular talk host John Michael and his producer, Darryl Whitehead, moved to CKTB.

1984
Newsman Tedd Colbear left CKTB for CHML.

Mike Page was promoted from promotion director to program director at CKTB/ CJQR. Heather Hall added promotions to her sales responsibilities. Cairine Coulis-Brown was promoted from copywriter to creative services director.

1985
Slaight Communications (J. Allan Slaight) purchased Standard Broadcasting from Argus Corp. (Montague & Conrad Black).

1986
CJQR-FM became CHTZ-FM.

CFRB Limited (CKTB and CHTZ-FM) and CJAD Inc. merged to form Standard Radio Inc.

1986-87
After about 3 years at CKTB, talk host John Michael left to return to CJRN Niagara Falls.

1987
Former CKTB/CHTZ general manager Pat Kiely was now GM at CFDR/Rock 104 in Dartmouth.

Gene Stevens became general manager of CKTB/CHTZ-FM.

1989
Mary Burgoyne, chairman of the board of the St. Catharines Standard and former president of CKTB and CHTZ, died at the age of 69. She served in World War II as a Red Cross ambulance driver. Burgoyne was elected director of Niagara District Broadcasting Co. Ltd. on her return to St. Catharines. She became managing director in 1951 and president in 1970. Burgoyne was president and publisher of the St. Catharines Standard Ltd., owner of the Standard, the Cobourg Star and the Port Hope Guide, from 1970 to 1977 and was active in the corporation as chairman until her death.

Ray Plourde was appointed production director for CKTB and CHTZ.

1991
A big band dance with the Spitfire band on October 11 marked 60 years since the Taylor & Bate Brewery put CKTB on the air.

Manager Greg Slaight said CKTB was finding that programming for the mature audience was paying off. Since February of 1989, Super Seniors Network (Sundays 8 a.m. to noon) had increased quarter hour averages. He said it was proving to be as popular with the 35-54 audience as with the 55+. That program was followed by an hour of old time radio comedy, Make Believe Ballroom (1-3 p.m.), and Golden Memories (3-6 p.m.) hosted by John Gilbert. Super Seniors Network hosts Don and Meegan Hildebrand had also added a Saturday afternoon show to the line-up.

1995
CKTB installed a new solid state digital transmitter.

The Super Seniors Radio Network, on CKTB for six years, was hoping to go national via satellite by the fall. The program was hosted by Don and Meegan Hildebrand.

1996
CKTB applied to the CRTC for permission to increase the amount of ethnic programming it aired. The application was turned down and was opposed by ethnic broadcasters in the Toronto area. CKTB had expected to earn 75% of its ethnic revenues in that area.

1997
Affinity Radio Group agreed to acquire CKSL London from Telemedia. A new player, Affinity already had an agreement to buy CKTB from Standard Radio and was reportedly wanting to purchase CHAM Hamilton from Golden West, with the aim of launching a network of AM talk stations.

On June 25, the sale of CKTB from Standard Radio Inc. to Affinity Radio Group Inc. (James O'Brien) was approved. Standard kept CHTZ-FM.

1999
Affinity Radio Group Inc., owner of CHTZ-FM and CKTB, purchased CHRE-FM in St. Catharines.
 
2000
Telemedia Radio Group Inc. purchased CKTB, CHTZ-FM and CHRE-FM from Radio Group Inc. (Affinity).

2001
Con Stevenson left CKTB news. He was replaced by Mark LaPointe from CFOS in Owen Sound.

Telemedia Radio VP Braden Doerr, most recently vice president of the Ontario regional group, assumed responsibility for the Southern Ontario cluster (London, Hamilton and St. Catharines). Rick Doughty, VP of Telemedia Northern Ontario (Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Pembroke and Orillia) would continue in that assignment but also added responsibilities as a member of the executive committee of the Ontario division, reporting to Claude Beaudoin, Telemedia executive VP for Ontario region.

2002
On April 19, the purchase of several Telemedia radio and television stations by Standard Radio Inc. was approved. Standard in turn sold off some stations to other companies, but kept CKTB, CHRE-FM and CHTZ-FM St. Catharines.

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 CKTB-AM, CHRE-FM, and CHTZ-FM.

2009
Sarah Cummings was appointed the program director for Astral's new FM station in Ottawa. Sarah would head to Ottawa in November to take on this exciting new project. During November she would be in-between the markets - going from Ottawa back to St. Catharines to wind up her role as the PD of 105.7 EZ Rock and Newstalk 610 CKTB. In announcing Sarah's departure, general manager Madelyn Hamilton announced Sarah's replacement and the replacement for the recently departed HTZ-FM PD Bruce Gilbert. Moving into the HTZ-FM programming chair was Mike Tyler. Taking on the responsibility of programming of CHRE and CKTB was Gina Lorentz. Currently she is programming 101.7 CKNX-FM in Wingham. Both Mike and Gina would start in their new roles November 23rd.

                                                  Written by Bill Dulmage – Updated July, 2010