 Ontario, Eastern Ontario - St. Lawrence River  CKLC-FM (98.9 The Drive), Kingston, Bell Media1950 Robert Stuart Grant applied for an AM licence at Kingston, using a frequency of 1380 kHz with a power of 1,000 watts. The CBC Board of Governors deferred the application to a later date.
1953 Before the AM station went on the air, Grant's company, St. Lawrence Broadcasting Co. Ltd., applied for an FM licence at Kingston (88.9 MHz with 250 watts of power). The application was approved and the CBC said the establishment of this FM station would provide an additional program service and would also serve as a studio to transmitter link for the AM operation.
Opening date for CKLC-AM was set for December 1. Vern Stauffer was chief engineer. He was a former RCA engineer. Block programming would be used. News service would come from PN and BUP...with news on the hour. CKLC would use an RCA 1,000 watt transmitter. CKLC-AM-FM officially opened in January, following two months of trial operation. An evening ceremony of special programs was aired. CKLC would be in operation daily from 6:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. and would offer news every hour, on the hour. Regular shows included - This is Show Business, Campbell Goes Calling, Date with Joe & Kate, and Honor Roll of Hits. Evening programs were devoted mainly to national transcribed dramatic and play by play accounts of sports events. Late evenings featured music and news. Facilities included a large auditorium type studio, studios for general use, 2 master control rooms, newsroom and recording room. Slogan: The Voice of the Limestone City. (The "LC" in CKLC - Limestone City) Al Boliska was their first morning announcer. Revolutionary for his time, he would often be seen leaning out the window to talk to passers-by, stringing microphones down to the street from the second floor studios. Boliska subsequently went on to greater fame as morning announcer at CHUM and CKEY in Toronto, and to national syndication. The late Allan Saunders hosted the feature newscasts. Confined to a wheelchair for his entire life, Allan would be carried up to the second floor studios by his fellow announcers. Other notables included Max Jackson, who began his all-Kingston radio career as colour commentator during local hockey broadcasts. Jackson moved on to CKWS Radio and Television. CKLC hired Johnny Kelly, a Canadian repatriate to handle sports chores. A veteran of BBC Radio Sports, he returned to Canada to handle play by play for the Kingston Goodyears Senior "A" Hockey team. (In the late 50's the team became known as The Kingston CKLC's.) Having worked for the BBC, Kelly was unused for commercial sponsorships and responsibilities the station had to their client. One memorable moment went like this: "That's the end of the first period, brought to you by 7- UP. We'll now send you back to the CKLC studios while Max and I go downstairs for a Coke." Doug Whelan was an announcer at CKLC. Dick Harrington was special events reporter. The chief engineer was Barry Ogden. Marilyn Bell completed her historic long distance swim across Lake Ontario this year. Even a few years later, no man had accomplished the feat. Local penitentiary employee Jim Edmunds, also a long distance swimmer, joined Johnny Kelly and CKLC to change that historic fact. The station sponsored his swim from Niagara-on-The-Lake to Toronto's CNE grounds - and to the thousands massed to congratulate Edmunds. Johnny Kelly would do the broadcasts from the boat accompanying Edmunds. Less than a kilometer from shore, a huge storm blew up, tossing the swimmer further off shore, back into the lake. The storm was so severe it disabled the boat carrying Jim's entourage. The steamer Cayuga was pressed into service to rescue Edmunds and his crew. While he never did complete that particular swim, he later did successfully cross Lake Ontario from Cape Vincent, New York to Kingston Harbour.Special events reporters: Barry Ogden, Dick Herrington and staff announcer Al Boliska. Slogan: CKLC covers 236 communities in Eastern Ontario. CKLC received a licence to broadcast events, remote from the studios. 1955Slogans: To sell Kingston and Eastern Ontario you MUST use CKLC. / You get action when you use CKLC Kingston. Johnnie Kelly was a sportscaster at CKLC. John French was sales manager. 1957CKLC was a CBC Dominion affiliate, operating on 1380 kHz with a power of 1,000 watts full-time (single directional pattern for day and night operation). Ownership of St. Lawrence Broadcasting Co. Ltd.: R. S. Grant 19.9%, H. N. Stovin 8.4%, H. L. Wright 5.1%, T. D. French 19.9%, F. B. Bishop 1.9%, Mrs. N. M. Stovin 16.1%, 27 other shareholders 18.7%. Robert Grant was president of the company and Terry D. French was CKLC's manager. John F. French was commercial manager. John Bermingham was production manager. Ken Phillips was program director. Joe Walters was music director. Allan Saunders was news director. Bermingham had been program director with Ken Phillips, the assistant program director. Ron Bertrand was an announcer at CKLC. W.W. (Bill) Grant joined CKLC where his son - R.S. (Bob) Grant was president. 1958 CKLC-AM increased power from 1,000 watts to 5,000 watts day and night (separate day and night directional patterns) from a site on Lots 5 and 6, Concession 8, North Range, Wolfe Island Township, Frontenac County. There were four 184 foot towers. Power increase print ad: Good news for Kingston's CKLC! Power? We've increased it by five times! Now 5000 watts. When the station was all set to go with the new antenna system, the station decided to give away the hottest new invention – transistor radios, encouraging listeners to write reception reports to the station. They wanted to see how far the signal would travel, and solicited letters indicating same. The letters started pouring in – from Pennsylvania, Virginia and New York states, hundreds of miles away. Unfortunately the engineer had installed the new antenna array 180 degrees opposite the original design, thus sending the signal south, instead of north. The station received scant few letters from Canada. W. W. Gtant, who had put CFCN Calgary on the air in 1921, was visiting his son at Queens University and had been assisting the engineers in installing the new antenna array for CKLC, looked over the blueprint of the pattern and discovered and error. A minus sign should have been a plus sign. When corrected, the proper Canadian coverage was attained. Buddy Guilfoyle was an announcer. John Bermingham was program director. Ken Phillips was assistant program director. Ron Bertrand was an announcer. Ad slogans: CKLC is now serving all of Eastern Ontario with 5000 watts. CKLC - Kingston's Favorite Station. / CKLC - By every survey - Kingston's favorite station. 1960 Ads: Even in Moscow (Ont) people are listening to CKLC! And in Kingston, more people are listening to CKLC than to all other stations combined! / CKLC - Kingston's second radio station. It's nice to know what you're getting (balanced programming, static air personalities, coverage, trustworthy operation). Second to none in the Kingston market!! 1962 The Trans-Canada and Dominion networks consolidated into a single service. CKWS was the Trans-Canada (main network) affiliate so remained Kingston’s CBC station after the merger. CKLC became an independent station. 1965 Bob Grant was President of St. Lawrence Broadcasting Co. Ltd. and Terry French was General Manager of CKLC. John French was commercial manager. John Bermingham was production manager. Bill Grant was chief engineer.
On November 1, CKLC increased power from 5,000 watts day and night to 10,000 watts day and 5,000 watts night, using different day and night directional patterns and the same towers and transmitter site. Gary Parr was on-air at CKLC. 1969 CKLC subscribed to the NewsRadio news service, started by Stephens & Towndrow in September of 1968. NewsRadio received news content from CBS in New York. 1970 Slogans: CKLC - In the air everywhere! We've got a good thing going! / CKLC IS Kingston! CKLC was carrying Toronto Argo's (CFL) football. 1971 Don Biefer joined CKLC as a swing announcer from CHIC in Brampton. He arrived at CKLC in January and left in May for Toronto's CKFH. 1973 On August 23, CKLC power was increased to 10,000 watts day and night. The station continued to use different day and night directional patterns. Four 179 foot towers were built at a new transmitter site on Wolfe Island. 1975 On November 10, the CRTC denied the transfer of 99.71% of St. Lawrence Broadcasting Co. Ltd. to James Allan Waters. Steve Young was midday host and music director. He joined and left the station this year.
Robert Grant was president of the company and Terry D. French was CKLC's manager. John F. French was commercial manager. John Bermingham was production manager. Ken Phillips was program director. Joe Walters was music director. Allan Saunders was news director. Bermingham had been program director with Ken Phillips, the assistant program director. Ron Bertrand was an announcer at CKLC.
1985
In the summer CKLC began broadcasting in stereo, using the Motorola C-Quam system. Andy Hall joined CKLC/CFLY news as city hall repoerter. He had been with CFCY Charlottetown. Rich Hallson became CKLC's program director. He had been with Toronto's CKEY. He replaced Dave Foreman who moved to CJSB in Ottawa. CKLC / CFLY were in the midst of extensive renovation of their downtown building. CKLC moved next door to make room for a new home for CFLY. 1987In the spring, St. Lawrence Broadcasting Co. Ltd. acquired Eastern Ontario Broadcasting Co. Ltd. of Brockville from John Radford. Eastern owned and operated CFJR-AM and held a licence for a new FM station (CHXL-FM would go on the air in 1988). In June Rick Halson left for CFDR Dartmouth and Chris Ryan took over as program director. On-air: Greg Hunter 6-9, Jim Elyot 9-2 (also handled promotions), Scott O'Brien 2-7 (had been with CFLY-FM), Steev Jordan did 7-midnight (also music director) and Michelle MacKenzie 12-6.
1988 1989 Steve Jordan, and Michelle MacKenzie were CKLC announcers. 1990 Mark Payne moved to CKIS Montreal and was replaced by Chris Micheals from 95 Rock Barrie. Chris Ryan was now also programming sister station CHXL-FM Brockville. Greg Hunter, Jane Douglas, and Steve James were on the air at 1380 CKLC. 1992 In January Chris Ryan left CKSL and CHXL-FM to program CKIS Montreal in January. 1993 Announcers included Greg Hunter, Jane Douglas, Scott O'Brien, Steve James, Bill Hall, and Jim Jones.
1994
2001
CKLC left the music game, and became all-sports "The Team-Kingston", a component of the CHUM owned and operated sports-talk network across Canada. This marked an end to over 48 years of "playing the hits" for Kingston and marked a new era in the new millennium for CKLC. The switch to the "Team 1380" took place at 3:00 p.m., May 7. On July 12 it was announced that Bell Globemedia would pay C$1.7 billion for CHUM Ltd., in a deal that would see the company become part of the BCE-owned media conglomerate, subject to CRTC approval. On August 31, the two companies announced that BGM had been successful in its offer to acquire approximately 6.7 million common shares and approximately 19.2 million non-voting Class B shares of CHUM. The shares were to be placed in the hands of an independent trustee pursuant to a voting trust agreement approved by the CRTC. On December 12th, it was announced that Bell Globemedia would henceforth be known as CTVglobemedia. 2007CHUM Limited was acquired by CTVglobemedia. Before CHUM was purchased, the company had applied to the CRTC to convert CKLC to the FM band. On August 28, the Commission approved that application. CKLC would broadcast on a frequency of 98.9 MHz with an average effective radiated power of 8,700 watts. The station would continue to offer an Adult standards/middle-of-the-road music format and target adults over 45 years of age. On November 29 at 3:00 p.m., after a short test period, CKLC made the flip from AM to FM. The new station was known as the Essential Alternative 98.9 The Drive! The format changed from Standards on AM to Classic Alternative on FM. CKLC-AM 1380 left the air in December without ever simulcasting the new CKLC-FM. The AM had authorization to simulcast the FM for three months. Jim Blundell left CHUM Kingston-Peterborough-Brockville to become Vice President and General Manager at CHUM London. 2010 Matthew Bisson, morning co-host and news anchor on 98.9 THE DRIVE left for Corus Radio Edmonton's 630 CHED and iNews 880 (CHQT). Matthew has been an integral part of THE DRIVE's morning show since it was launched two years ago. On May 28, the CRTC renewed the licence of CKLC-FM until August 31, 2016. After 5 years of leading CHUM Radio Kingston's programming department, Dan Mellon left to take a full-time teaching position at Algonquin College in Ottawa. Jennifer Yascheshyn was named program director for CHUM Radio Kingston (98.3 Fly-FM and 98.9 The Drive). Jen would also host a regular daily shift on FLY-FM. Shawn Whalen was named promotions and marketing director for the stations. He would also continue his on-air work at FLY-FM. 2011 Joe O'Leary joined 98.9 The Drive as the new Morning Show Host. He reunited with his old co-host and friend, Jenn O. Joe had been working in Ottawa radio. His first day on The Drive was February 28. CJPT (BOB FM) Brockville morning co-host Ali MacLean moved to CKLC (98.9 THE DRIVE) to handle promotions and mid-days. On March 7, the CRTC approved an application by BCE Inc. on behalf of CTVglobemedia Inc., for authority to change the effective control of CTVgm's licensed broadcasting subsidiaries to BCE. More... The Commission concluded that the transaction would be beneficial to the Canadian broadcasting system by ensuring the long-term stability of a significant Canadian television network and advancing the Commission's objective of providing relevant high-quality Canadian programming to Canadians through conventional and new media distribution channels. BCE was a public corporation and controlled by its board of directors. Before this approval, BCE held 15% of the voting interest in the capital of CTVgm. The other shareholders were 1565117 Ontario Limited (a corporation ultimately controlled by Mr. David Kenneth R. Thomson) (40% of the voting interest), Ontario Teacher's Plan Board (25% of the voting interest) and Torstar Corporation (20% of the voting interest). Under the transaction agreement dated September 10, 2010, BCE would acquire the remaining 85% of the voting interest in the capital of CTVgm and would therefore exercise effective control. On March 15, CTV Inc., CTV Corp., CTV Limited and CTVglobemedia Inc. amalgamated to continue as CTV Inc. BCE Inc. announced on April 1 that it had completed its acquisition of CTV and that it had launched Bell Media (replacing CTVglobemedia), a new business unit that would make CTV programs and other Bell content available on smartphones and computers as well as traditional television. In addition to CTV and its television stations, Bell Media now also operated 29 specialty channels, 33 radio stations, Dome Productions, a mobile broadcast facilities provider, and dozens of high-traffic news, sports and entertainment websites, including the Sympatico.ca portal. 98.3 FLY FM/98.9 The Drive Kingston program director Jennifer Yascheshyn wrapped it up August 19, moving to Loyalist College in Belleville. Creative director Bonnie Wannemaker resigned to start a creative business.The CRTC approved a change to the ownership of Bell Media Inc., from BCE Inc. to Bell Canada. This transaction would not affect effective control of Bell Media Inc. and of its licensed broadcasting subsidiaries, which continued to be exercised by BCE Inc. Bell Media Inc. held, directly and through its licensed broadcasting subsidiaries, various radio and television programming undertakings as well as specialty and pay-per-view television services. On August 22, the CRTC approved the applications by BCE Inc., on behalf of Bell Media Inc. and 7550413 Canada Inc., carrying on business as Bell Media Ontario Regional Radio Partnership, for authority to acquire, as part of a corporate reorganization, More... CFJR-FM and CJPT-FM Brockville, CKLC-FM and CFLY-FM Kingston, CKPT-FM and CKQM-FM Peterborough, and CKLY-FM Lindsay. Bell Media, the managing partner holding 99.99% of the voting interest in the general partnership, was wholly owned by Bell Canada and controlled by BCE. 7550413, the other partner holding the remaining 0.01% of the voting interest in the general partnership, was wholly owned by Bell Media and was also controlled by BCE. BCE submitted that the purpose of this corporate reorganization was to realize tax efficiencies. The Commission noted that this transaction would not affect the effective control of the undertakings which would continue to be exercised by BCE. Ian March, the Assistant Program Director at Bell Media Ottawa (Magic/Bob FM), became PD at Bell 's Kingston cluster (Fly FM/The Drive) September 19. Edward Bowland joined Fly FM/The Drive as Creative Director. He'd been writing for the Larche Communications stations in Orillia, Midland, Owen Sound and Sudbury, but based at the Barrie head office. March succeeded Jennifer Yascheshyn who joined the faculty at Loyalist College in Belleville. Bowland succeeded Bonnie Wannemaker who resigned to start a creative business. 2012 Ian March who left Bell Media Ottawa September 19, 2011 to become Program Director at 98.3 FLYFM/98.9 The DRIVE Kingston, returned to Bell Media Ottawa as Programming Coordinator of Majic100/93.9 Bob FM. Jacquie Beckett became Program Director at Bell Media Kingston as of August 1. She had been with one of the cluster's stations in the past...Music Director at Fly-FM (2002-2008). In September it was announced that Lindsay May, who had been filling in as mid-day host and Community Events co-coordinator for a maternity leave at 98.9 The Drive, was leaving to do mornings at Moose FM in Bancroft. Lindsay's last day with the station was to be October 26. Riley Jabour was hired to take over the Afternoon Drive/Music Director positions at 98.9 The Drive. Riley had previously worked in Orillia, London and with Corus Kingston. The new program director at Rogers Kingston was Darryl Spring. He had been with Bell Media Kingston. 2013 Jackie Vieira, who had been a part of the 98.3 FLY FM/98.9 The Drive newsroom for the last four and a half years, left Bell Media Kingston effective February 15. 98.3 FLY FM and 98.9 The Drive found a new afternoon news person. Almost three years after leaving Kingston, Matthew Bisson returned home. Matthew previously worked at the stations for 5 years. His first day was February 20. Shawn Whalen was named Assistant Program Director at 98.9 The Drive and 98.3 FLY FM. Shawn would continue his duties of Promotions and Marketing Director for Bell Media Kingston. Written by Bill Dulmage with input from Steve Bolton Updated April, 2013 |
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