Fonds PR-2000 - CKCQ/Dr. John Roberts oral history collection

Cariboo Broadcasters CKCQ began broadcasting in 1957, initially signing on at 570 kHz and 1000 watts for approximately 17 hours each day. The station was founded by Fred Webber, Jim Richie, and Dennis Reid. By 1960, CKCQ was becoming known as ‘Cariboo Radio’ and had added 250-watt re-broadcast station CKCQ-1 in Williams Lake, which was promoted as Canada’s only full time privately operated radio network. The network further expanded in 1971 with the addition of CKBX 100 Mile House, resulting in radio coverage over most of the urban Cariboo region. In 1975, CKCQ shifted from 570 to 920 kHz and increased power from 1000 to 10,000 watts, and in 1982, Stan Davis and Ron East purchased Cariboo Broadcasters. The radio network of CKCQ Quesnel, CKWL Williams Lake and CKBX 100 Mile House agreed to purchase CFFM-FM and its rebroadcasters from Jim Pattison Industries in 1993, with the result that CFFM began to broadcast pop and rock music instead of country, which was subsequently picked up by the AM stations. By 2004, CKCQ converted to FM, operating on 100.3 MHz, and changing names from “Wild Country” to “The Wolf.” As “The Wolf,” the station broadcast Modern Country and the best of Southern Rock. A year later, a Calgary group headed by Margot Micallef purchased CKCQ’s parent company, Cariboo Central Interior Radio Inc., and on September 1, the CRTC approved the sale to 1126144 Alberta Ltd., a company affiliated with the Vista Broadcast Group Inc.

By 2007, members of the Communications, Energy, and Paperworkers Union voted in favour of strike action to back wage and job security demands at several of Vista’s stations, including CKCQ. The stations, however, remained on air, and a contract ratification was announced in October. Three years later, the CRTC announced a short-term renewal of CKCQ’s broadcasting license, which would allow for a review of the station’s compliance with the Radio Regulations (1986). By 2012, Gary Long was announced as new general manager, and Vista president Terry Coles moved into retirement, despite maintaining a consulting role with the company. The following year, Pete Montana was promoted at Vista Radio to General Manager and Program Director of the five station Cariboo Group.