1925
Canadian National Railways opened CNRV on 1100 kHz.
CBU can trace its birth to the founding in 1925 of CNVR - one of three owned-and-operated radio stations established by the Canadian National Railways (CNRO Ottawa and CNRA Moncton in 1924) ostensibly, to provide entertainment and news to passengers in parlour cars of the trains as they approached and departed from major cities across Canada and for the benefit of the area residents. The stations, which included private stations on which the CNR leased approximately three hours per week, were supplied with "live" programs over CN telegraph wires, and also engaged in local programming. While awaiting the completion of "network" facilities to Vancouver, CNRV was programmed entirely locally until December 28th, 1929.
During those years local actors and musicians found a new outlet for their talent, when drama and musical shows were produced regularly. Well known pianist John Avison started out accompanying various soloists, but was soon conducting a small chamber orchestra.
1929
On December 28, CNRV was linked to the rest of the CNR network. While some programs from the network made it before then, using telephone lines to complete the connection from wherever the telegraph lines ended as the crews worked there way thru the Rockies. The official completion of the coast to coast network was a great event in Vancouver just before the New Year,
1933
CNR closed its radio operations and CNRV was purchased by the new Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission on March 1. The CRBC also became the regulator of radio broadcasting in Canada.
CNRV became CRCV on April 16.
CRCV continued the commitment to the drama and music format established by the CNR.
1936
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was formed on November 2 (replacing the CRBC) and took over CRCV 1100.
1937
On February 16, CRCV increased power from 500 to 5,000 watts, and began operating from new studios located in the Hotel Vancouver.
The call letters officially changed from CRCV to CBR on October 1.
Music and drama flourished under these conditions, and Vancouver vied with Toronto for top production centre. Many famous Canadian writers, actors and directors developed their skills at CBC Vancouver. Andrew Allan, Lister Sinclair, John Drainie, Bernard Braden and wife Barbara Kelley, Fletcher Markle and management by Ira Dilworth gave Vancouver a great boost in the Arts field.
Perhaps the forerunner of the soap operas could be found in programs such as "The Carsons" on daily (following the noon news, and farm market reports), a 15 minute drama about farm life, or the series "Mr. and Mrs." a domestic comedy staring Esther and Allan Roughton. Both these programs ran for several years in the '30s and '40s.
1938
Station manager Ira Dilworth formed the CBC Vancouver Chamber Orchestra, conducted by John Avison.
1939
The CBC was working to provide more adequate coverage in B.C. Power at CBV (CBR) Vancouver would be increased and a number of subsidiary stations would be built in the interior.
1940
On October 22, CBR added its first low power repeat transmitter at Revelstoke. The station operated on 840 kHz with a power of 20 watts.
1941
On March 29, CBR moved from 1100 to 1130 kHz. Power remained 5,000 watts.
A shortwave transmitter was established at Vancouver to provide service to B. C.'s interior.
1942
CBR added more LPRT’s – North Bend (September 11), Fernie (December 14), Cranbrook (December 17), Kimberley (December 18) and Creston (December 22).
On September 16, Gladstone Murray, general manager of the CBC announced that the networks would sign off at 11:30 p.m. local time in all regions as of September 27. The reduction was designed to reduce wear on equipment. Murray said that such a reduction would lengthen the life of a large amount of the equipment, some of which could not be replaced. Some of the vacuum tubes used at the 50,000 watt outlets were water cooled and cost as much as $3,000. The half hour reduction would not apply on all nights to CBA Sackville. It would continue to operate for the extra 30 minutes on some nights.
1943
Bill Herbert, chief announcer and special events supervisor of the B.C. region of the CBC (at Vancouver), joined the Canadian Army.
1944
Roy Dunlop was named production manager at CBR. He had been a radio and stage producer and a member of the CBC Vancouver production staff. Kenneth Caple, former director of school broadcasts was named program director. Phil Kitley joined CBR as school broadcasts chief. Traffic chief Ted Pegg joined the army (RCCS). Pat Lewis joined CBR's news staff. Doug Nixon moved from news to handle talks with the production department.
1945
CBC Trans-Canada Basic stations: CJCB, CBH, CBA, CHSJ, CFNB, CBO, CKWS, CBL, CKSO, CFCH, CJKL, CKGB, CKPR, CBM, CKY, CBK, CJCA, CFAC, CJOC, CFJC, CKOV, CJAT, CBR.
Gordon Bennett joined the CBC Vancouver studio staff from CJAT Trail where he had been an engineer. William Cruikshank joined the CBR announce staff after overseas service with the Canadian Army. Jack Bingham joined CBR's annouce staff from CKWX Vancouver. Douglas Marshall was now with the Army. Ira Dilworth was manager. Announcer Alan Thompson joined CBR. Dick Halhed left CBR as chief announcer for CBC Winnipeg where he would be a producer in the program department. Clayt Wilson returned to CBR after some time as an engineer with the CBC Overseas Unit.
1946
The Smithers Chamber of Commerce was trying to convince the CBC to open a rebroadcast transmitter in their town to carry the programs of CBC Vancouver. Residents felt it was exaggerated that it would cost $15,000 annually to operate a 15 watt repeter station. The chamber was looking into the possibility of purchasing equipment from the War Assets Corporation.
F.B.C. Hilton was CBR's chief operator. Bill Herbert and Don Smith were in CBR's news department. Gordon Benett joined CBR as special events man, under Ted Le Veque. He had been an engineer at CJAT Trail. Arthur Ellis was the CBC's regional engineer. Pat Keatley worked in the publicity department.
UBC's Allan Ainsworth did some relief announcing at CBR this year. Dick Elson was news director. Vancouver Sun feature writer Pierre Burton was doing a series of talks on CBR after the 10 o'clock news. Margaret Fielder was the last CBR staffer back from the war. Jimmy Gilmore was a technician. Tom Leach was farm editor. Mavor Moore succeeded Archie MacCorkindale as drama chief at CBR.
A new special effect studio was constructed at CBR, with two turntables and other equipment.
The CBC announced plans to increase CBR's power to 50,000 watts.
1947
The CBC opened an FM station in Vancouver – VE9FG (eventually became CBR-FM and then CBU-FM).
Ira Dilworth, regional representative of the CBC for B.C., was appointed to a two year term to be general supervisor of the CBC International Service. Jean-Marie Beaudet, CBC supervisor of music and director of the CBC French network succeeded Dilworth at Vancouver.
Arthur B. Ellis was senior engineer for the CBC Pacific region. Bill Herbert was special events man. J.K. Nesbitt was the station's veteran legislative press gallery reporter. Ellen Harris did her 300th broadcast of "Morning Visit".
Ira Dilworth was manager and Harold Paulson was commercial manager. Dilworth was transferred from CBR to the post of supervisor of the CBC's international services in Montreal. He had been with CBR for nine years. Jean-Marie Beaudet became CBC's regional director in Vancouver. Lloyd Morris was an announcer at CBR. Kenneth P. Caple was the CBC's regional program director for B.C.
In July, three CBR rebroadcast transmitters changed frequency. CBRA Revelstoke moved from 560 to 860 kHz. CBRF Fernie moved from 940 to 860 kHz. CBRL Williams Lake moved from 940 to 690 kHz. CBRA's change was to improve reception due to the mountainous terrain. The changes at CBRF and CBRL were required to avoid interference to the soon to open CJIB (940) in Vernon.
1950
CBR increased power to 10,000 watts full-time in September. The transmitter was on Lulu Island, and two 404 foot towers were used.
1951
CBR became CBU.
1952
On January 25, CBU moved to 690 kHz.
To give more adequate coverage of network programs to isolated communities, the CBC was building 20 additional 50 watt transmitters throughout the country. This would bring the total of such CBC repeaters to 47. Most were located in railway telegraph offices and connected to the main CBC network landline system. The following B.C. communities would be next in line for CBC repeaters: Natal, Hutton, McBride, Foster, Golden, Grand Forks, Greenwood and Lytton - all in the Rocky Mountain region of the province.
1953
The CBC purchased CFPR-AM Prince Rupert.
CBUT Television signed on the air in Vancouver.
1956
Rebroadcaster CBUE 740 signed on in Hope.
1957
CBU’s shortwave transmitter – CBUX – was noted as operating on 6,160 kHz with a power of 500 watts. CBUX had been on the air for a number of years. The transmitter rebroadcast the programming of CBU-AM.
1958
J. Douglas Nixon, program director of CBU for the past seven years, was named assistant director of CBC English radio network planning at Toronto's program headquarters.
1967
CBU was given permission in December to increase power to 50,000 using four 200 foot top-loaded towers.
1975
On November 24, CBU moved to the new CBC Vancouver Broadcasting Centre at 700 Hamilton Street. CBC radio and TV operations in the city had been scattered at various locations. It was a time of decentralizing at the CBC and there was a need for a lot of studios. Most of the studios were underground, with five storeys above ground. The top two floors were filled with technical systems.
1977
The CBC applied for a new AM rebroadcaster at Gold Bridge, using 860 kHz with a power of 40 watts. The CBC also applied for a change of transmitter site for CBRZ Bralorne.
1980
British conductor John Eliot Gardiner was named the successor to a retiring John Avison, as the CBC Vancouver Chamber Orchestra became known as the CBC Vancouver Orchestra.
1983
Mario Bernardi succeeded John Eliot Gardiner as the conductor of the CBC Vancouver Orchestra.
1986
CBU was given approval to increase the power of its shortwave transmitter CKZU (formerly known as CBUX), from 500 to 1,000 watts.
1988
The following transmitters were removed from CBU’s licence as they became rebroadcasters of CBYG Prince George: CBUZ Chetwynd, CBKQ-FM Dawson Creek, CBDA Fort Nelson, CBUO-FM Fort Nelson, CBYJ-FM Fort St. John, CBUW Fort St. John, CBXU Hudson Hope, CBYY-FM Kersley, CBWF Mackenzie, CBXM McBride, CBRQ Quesnel, CBTU-FM Tumbler Ridge, CBKI Valemount, CBYW Wells.
The following transmitters were removed from CBU’s licence as they became rebroadcasters of CBTK Kelowna: CBYU-FM Alexis Creek, CBWA Ashcroft, CBYO-FM Barriere, CBKM Blue River, CBUD-FM Bonnington, CBXH Boss Mountain, CBRZ Bralorne, CBKS Cache Creek, CBYC-FM Canal Flats, CBUD Castlegar, CBUH Chase, CBRI Christina Lake, CBKZ Clearwater, CBUU Clinton, CBXH Cooper Creek, CBRR-FM Cranbrook, CBTE-FM Crawford Bay, CBRM Creston, CBRM-FM Creston, CBWD Donald, CBXW Edgewood, CBYX-FM Enderby, CBTN-FM Fernie, CBTF-FM Falkland, CBRD Field, CBTG Gold Bridge, CBXE-FM Golden, CBRJ Grand Forks, CBRO Greenwood, CBKW Jaffray, CBYK-FM Kamloops, CBUG Kaslo, CBKY Keremeos, CBRK Kimberley, CBUY Lac La Hache, CBUQ Lake Windermere, CBUL Lillooet, CBYE-FM Logan Lake, CBYL-FM Lumby, CBRE Lytton, CBTY-FM Lytton, CBUP Merritt, CBXA Mica Dam, CBXS Midway, CBUM Nakusp, CBYN-FM Nelson, CBUI New Denver, CBRN-FM North Bend, CBUS 100 Mile House, CBUS-FM 100 Mile House, CBUB-FM Osoyoos, CBKR Parson, CBTP-FM Penticton, CBRP Princeton, CBKV Radium Hot Springs, CBRA Revelstoke, CBYR-FM Rock Creek, CBUN Salmo, CBUC Salmon Arm, CBKN Shalalth, CBUJ Slocan, CBKX Sorrento, CBYS-FM Sparwood, CBTA-FM Trail, CBYZ-FM Vavenby, CBYV-FM Vernon, and CBRL Williams Lake.
1995
CBC Radio added overnight programming to its schedule on May 1, with "CBC Radio Overnight". The programming started out on certain CBC stations and was expanded to all of its stations by September. The program aired between 1:00 and 6:00 a.m. (local time) and offered reports from public broadcasters in 25 countries, with Canadian news on the hour. The program service was provided by the World Radio Network in London, England.
1997
On September 1 (not 1998), the CBC Radio network (CBC Radio) was renamed "CBC Radio One".
On November 20, CBU was given approval to delete the following rebroadcasters from its licence: CBRY-FM Alert Bay, CBYT-FM Campbell River, CBKO Coal Harbour, CBKJ Gold River, CBTQ-FM Port Alberni, CBUX Port Alice, CBUY-FM Port Hardy, CBUW-FM Powell River, CBKU Sayward, CBXP Tahsis, CBXZ-FM Tofino, CBXQ Ucluelet and CBTW-FM Woss Camp. These transmitters were now included in the proposed new CBC Radio station at Victoria, granted a licence this date.
1998
On September 28 at 6 a.m., CBCV 90.5 Victoria signed on.
On November 3, the CRTC gave CBU approval to add digital radio broadcasting transmitters, operating on 1454.560 MHz (channel 2) with Effective Isotropic Radiated Power of 5,046 watts from Mount Seymour and 2,774 watts from Burnaby.
2000
On January 19, the CRTC approved the CBC's application for a transitional digital radio undertakings for CBU, operating on 1459.792 MHz with an effective isotropic radiated power of 5,046 watts from Mount Seymour and 2,774 watts from Burnaby.
The CBC Vancouver Orchestra became the CBC Radio Orchestra following the elimination of the other CBC radio orchestras in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, and Winnipeg due to federal budget cuts in the early 1990s.
2001
At this time CBU Vancouver operated the following transmitters: CBYF-FM Chilliwack, CBYH-FM Harrison Hot Springs, CBUE-FM Hope, CBXK Pemberton, CBRU Squamish, CKZU Vancouver, CBYW-FM Whistler. CBU broadcast approximately 42 hours and 15 minutes of local programming each week from Vancouver.
2004
On September 7, CBU was given approval to add a rebroadcast transmitter at Abbotsford, operating on 101.7 MHz with an effective radiated power of 67 watts.
2006
Trombonist and conductor Alain Trudel succeeded CBC Radio Orchestra conductor Mario Bernardi.
2008
On March 27, Director of CBC Radio Music, Mark Steinmetz, flew from Toronto to tell the CBC Radio Orchestra's 35 freelance musicians that it would be disbanded later in the year. Richard Kurth, head of the University of British Columbia's school of music, called the loss of the orchestra, "a tragic event, both culturally and economically, for the musical life of the region and of the nation." The dismantling of the orchestra, the last of its kind in North America, followed the Corporation's cancellation of such classical music shows as "Music for a While" and "In Performance", along with other key CBC Vancouver radio shows "Sounds Like Canada" and "Disc Drive".
2009
On May 12 CBU had its licence renewed by the CRTC. The renewal included the following rebroadcast transmitters: CBU-DR-2 Vancouver, CBRU Squamish, CBXK Pemberton, CKZU (Shortwave) Vancouver, CBRU-FM Squamish, CBUE-FM Hope, CBYF-FM Chilliwack, CBYH-FM Harrison Hot Springs, and CBYW-FM Whistler.
On December 4, the CBC held an open house to show off its revamped Vancouver headquarters at 700 Hamilton Street. The renovations took four years and $65 million to complete. The corporation considered selling the building and constructing a new facility, but that would have cost $100 million or more. It also would have been difficult to find a new location as central as the existing facility. The old building was still there, but it was kind of hidden behind a new wing in front. The new 25,000-square-foot space housed all local news gathering operations - TV, radio, English, French, and internet.
Johnny Michel was CBC Vancouver's managing director.
Written by Bill Dulmage, Gord Lansdell - Updated February, 2010
