CFCW Historical Timeline

Some Information provided by the Canadian Communications Foundation

1954

Camrose Broadcasting Co. Ltd. opened CFCW at 1:00pm on November 2nd. The station operated with 250 watts of power on a frequency of 1230 kHz, covering the Wetaskiwin, Camrose and East Central section of Alberta with a radius of 25 miles. The transmitter and single tower were located a mile and a half east of town. Studios and offices were located at 4832-50th Street in Camrose.

The opening broadcast was a presentation of the story of CFCW’s listening area…the builders of the district, including the pioneers of the past and the service club members of past and present who helped mould the growth of the district. The station’s music format covered a full range, from heavy classics to hot boogey and hillbilly.

Tom Shandro was the Managing Director of CFCW. Hal Yerxa handled sales promotion and was production manager. He was already known to residents as “Uncle Hal” of the “Sunny Boy” program and for being MC at bingos and wrestling matches. He started in radio in Regina in 1936, was associated with the CBC in Toronto and later joined CJCA Edmonton as news editor. He was a former director of Central Alberta Broadcasting Co. (CKRD) Red Deer.

1956

Lyndon Olson would start on July 1st. He started as a writer. Was the host of “Uncle Willy’s Story Time”. He would retire from CFCW, 45 years later! Lyndy passed away at the age of 76 on March 4th, 2013.

1957

CFCW was an independent station with no network affiliation and it broadcast on a frequency of 1230 kHz with full-time (non-directional) power of 250 watts. CFCW was owned by Camrose Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (Hal J. Yerxa 61.2%, R. C. Byers 5.0%, E. W. Schnell 5.0%, J. E. Stuart 5.0 and 24 other shareholders 23.8%). Hal Yerxa was president of the company and CFCW’s manager.

1958

CFCW 1230 received federal approval to increase power from 250 watts full-time to 1,000 watts during the day and 250 watts at night

1960

CFCW became Canada’s first full-time country music station in October. Curley Gurlock, Mr. D.J. USA of 1957, starts on CFCW and retired in 1985. Curley would be inducted posthumously into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, Broadcaster category in 2006. Curley passed away on September 11th, 1995 at the age of 76.

1961

CFCW’s frequency changed from 1230 kHz to 790 kHz. Power was raised from 1,000 watts to 10,000 watts.

1963

Bev Munro, Mr. D.J. USA of 1959, makes his debut on CFCW. He would be with CFCW until his retirement in 1993. Bev would be inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, Broadcaster category in 2002. Bev passed away in 2018.

1967

Dale Smith starts working at CFCW full time on May 1st. Dale would go on to do the morning news from 1982 until his retirement in 2014.

1976

Power increased to 50,000 watts (day and night).

1980

Pete Hicks starts on February 4th. He continues to work at CFCW today, hosting the Country Classics Show every Sunday morning, which he’s done since 1994.

1985

Curley Gurlock retires. He would be inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame posthumously in 2006.

1989

On June 23rd, the CRTC approved the transfer of effective control of CFCW Ltd., to Newcap Broadcasting Ltd. NewCap was 100% owned and controlled by Mr. Harry Steele with the head office located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. CFCW hires Jackie Rae as their Marketing Director.

1993

CFCW acquires the broadcast rights to Edmonton Oilers hockey games, which they held for 3 years. Wes Montgomery starts at CFCW where he would remain until his death in 2005. Wes would be inducted posthumously into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, Broadcaster category in 2008. Bev Munro retires.

1994

Pete Hicks starts hosting the Country Classics Show, which still airs today every Sunday morning from 9:00am – 12:00pm.

1995

Curley Gurlock passes away at the age of 76 on September 11th.

1997

Hal Yerxa, CFCW founder, passes away at the age of 76 on April 12th.

2002

Bev Munro is inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, Broadcaster category.

2005

Wes Montgomery passes away at the age of 66 on April 25th.

2006

Danny Hooper & Sharon Mallon take over the CFCW Morning Show for six years of fun! And CFCW wins Radio Station of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards. Curley Gurlock is posthumously inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.

2007

Stella Stevens makes her debut on CFCW on May 9th.

2008

On November 14th, the CRTC approved the change of frequency for CFCW—from 790 kHz to 840 kHz. The proposed change would restore night time coverage to listeners in north-central Alberta, which has been reduced by noise and interference over time. Wes Montgomery is inducted posthumously into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, Broadcaster category.

2011

A.J. Keller’s first day at CFCW was on October 7th.

2013

Lyndy Olson passes away at the age of 76 on March 4th.

2014

In October, Dale Smith retires after more than 47 years with CFCW’s news department. CFCW celebrates its’ 60th Anniversary on November 2nd with a special SOLD OUT concert at the Winspear Centre, starring Gene Watson & Brett Kissel.

2015

On August 1st at 8:40pm on the Main Stage at Big Valley Jamboree, thousands of country music fans help CFCW count down as we “flip” from 790 to 840. CFCW also wins Radio Station of the Year at the North American Country Music Association Awards in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

2017

Jackie Rae is inducted into the Country Music Alberta Hall of Fame

2018

Greg Shannon joins Stella Stevens on the CFCW Morning Show in February. On April 8th, Bev Munro passes away. In September, Jackie Rae is inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, Builder category. On October 23rd, the CRTC approves the sale of Newcap to Stingray. On December 21^st, Music Director Larry Donohue retires after 35 years with CFCW.

2019

Bev Munro and Larry Donohue are both inducted into the Alberta Country Music Hall of Fame

2021

CFCW wins Radio Station of the Year at the Country Music Alberta Awards and the Canadian Country Music Awards

2022