Cecil Elphicke, right, sits with station PD Jack Carbutt
Prince George's Very First Radio
Station Is 60 Years Old! (2006)
February 6, 2006 (Prince George,
BC) - Prince George's Classic Rock, 99.3 The Drive is celebrating its 60th
anniversary this99.3 The Drive Wednesday, February 8th. CKPG began broadcasting
at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, February 8, 1946. The station changed positions on the
dial from 1230 AM to 550 AM over the years and remained there until the spring
of 2003 when Prince George's heritage station moved to the FM band and became
99.3 The Drive.
The original station began with
a 250-watt transmitter with a staff of three, including: Cecil Elphicke,
Managing Director; Jack Carbutt, Announcer; and Ray Tate, Engineer. It was the
only radio station in the city for nearly 25 years and as former Mayor of the
City, Jack Nicholson stated back in 1946, "CKPG will make us better and
closer neighbours".
The station was the start for
countless on air personalities, sales staff and many other talented people who
have moved on. Well respected broadcasters like Brian "Frosty" Forst,
Don Prentice, and the late Bob Harkins started their broadcast careers at the
legendary station.
***
1946
Prince George got its first
radio station after the Canadian government granted a broadcast license to the
Elphicke family (Cecil and Frank) for a 250-watt station to serve central and
northern British Columbia. Broadcasting began for radio station CKPG at 5 p.m.
on Friday, February 8 from the second-floor studios located in the Ritts-Keifer
Hall on George Street. The first announcer was Jack Carbutt. The signal proved
strong enough to reach Endako to the west, McBride to the east, and as far south
as Seattle. Mayor Jack Nicholson joined owner Cecil Elphicke on air for the
official start. Telephone lines were opened to encourage listeners to call in
music requests. Regular features were a report from Parliament Hill broadcast
Tuesday evenings and an "air edition" of the Citizen was read on
Saturday mornings to provide information of interest to people in outlying
districts.
***
1944
In November the Canadian
Department of Transport granted a license to operate a radio station to CKPG
Radio Limited. The principals were brothers Cecil and Frank (Tiny) Elphicke.
1945
In May land was purchased for
the transmitter site near the Hudson Bay Slough in Prince George. In August construction of the transmitter
began along with leasing of office space. Radio Station CKPG Limited was
incorporated and capitalized at $25,000 (2500 shares at 10.00 per share). 1490 shares were issued. In October 1945 Cecil Elphicke moved to
Prince George to begin building and equipping office space and studios on the
upper floor of the historic Ritts-Kifer Hall on George Street.
1946
CKPG signed on the air on at
5:00 p.m., February 8, operating on 1230 kHz. Studios were in Ritz-Kiefer Hall
on George Street and the 250 watt transmitter was at South Fort George. The PG
in the call letters represented Prince George. CKPG was owned by Radio Station
CKPG Ltd. and was a CBC Trans-Canada affiliate. Some of the original staff
consisted of Cecil Elphicke (Managing Director), Ray Tate (Engineer) and Jack
Carbutt (announcer).
1947
CKPG moved to 550 kHz with power
remaining at 250 watts. However, the
listening range increased because of the lower frequency, a factor for stations
operating in the mountainous British Columbia interior.
1953
CKPG moved to a new building at
1220 - 6th Avenue, designed by Vancouver architect William Henry Birmingham.
1954
Bob Harkins began as a copy
writer at the station.
1957
Harkins was appointed general
manager and president of the station at age 26. He went on to become a City Alderman in 1986, spent more than 40
years of his life making the general public aware of the unique local history
of Prince George and was presented with the Broadcaster of the Year Award from
the B.C. Association of Broadcasters.
1959
On March 1 Cecil Elphicke died and
on May 26 Frank Elphicke died.
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