CKCY (AM)
Encyclopedia
CKCY was a Canadian
radio station, which signed on May 25, 1955 and broadcast until August 30, 1992 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
.
The station was originally launched by Algonquin Radio, a local business consortium led by Carmen Greco, with a 250 watt
signal at 1400 on the AM dial. In 1961, the station moved to 920 AM, and increased its signal to 10,000 watts daytime and 5,000 watts nighttime. In 1965, Algonquin launched CKCY-FM
. In the early 1970s, Harry Wolfe, the play-by-play voice of the Ontario Hockey League
's Sault Greyhounds, hosted a daily call-in talk show called Open Mike. By then, CKCY had become the principal Top 40 music station in the Twin Saults.
Among the station's alumni is current Hamilton City Councillor Bob Bratina
.
In 1976, the stations were acquired by Huron Broadcasting
, who also launched CKCY-TV
in 1978. Huron subsequently sold the radio stations to a new business consortium, CKCY 920 Ltd., in 1985. That group subsequently sold them to Mid-Canada Radio in 1988, and Mid-Canada in turn was acquired by the Pelmorex Radio Network
in 1990.
In 1984, CKCY received CRTC approval to move from 920 kHz to 540 kHz. The change to AM 540 was never implemented. CKCY remained at AM 920 until its permanent sign-off in 1992.
Due to the economic circumstances of the Sault Ste. Marie market, with competition from stations in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
severely curtailing the profitability of the Ontario stations, Pelmorex shut down the AM station in 1992. The FM station is still operating as CJQM-FM
.
The final song to be played by CKCY was Sweeney Todd's 1975 single "Roxy Roller" at approximately 11:56 pm on August 30, 1992. Once the song was completed, an automated, repeating farewell message was broadcast past midnight and continued for several days. The actual date when CKCY ceased transmitting is not known.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
radio station, which signed on May 25, 1955 and broadcast until August 30, 1992 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. The community was founded as a French religious mission: Sault either means "jump" or "rapids" in...
.
The station was originally launched by Algonquin Radio, a local business consortium led by Carmen Greco, with a 250 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
signal at 1400 on the AM dial. In 1961, the station moved to 920 AM, and increased its signal to 10,000 watts daytime and 5,000 watts nighttime. In 1965, Algonquin launched CKCY-FM
CJQM-FM
CJQM-FM is a Canadian radio station at 104.3 FM in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The station broadcasts a country music format under the slogan and branding, "Today's Country, Q104." Despite the "Today's Country" branding, the format is actually a mix of current and classic country hits, with the...
. In the early 1970s, Harry Wolfe, the play-by-play voice of the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
's Sault Greyhounds, hosted a daily call-in talk show called Open Mike. By then, CKCY had become the principal Top 40 music station in the Twin Saults.
Among the station's alumni is current Hamilton City Councillor Bob Bratina
Bob Bratina
Bob Bratina is the Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario. Prior to becoming mayor he represented Ward 2, which encompasses the city's downtown core.-Biography:...
.
In 1976, the stations were acquired by Huron Broadcasting
Huron Broadcasting
Huron Broadcasting was a Canadian radio and television broadcasting company, active in Sault Ste. Marie from 1976 to 1990.The company first entered the broadcasting business in 1976, when it acquired the assets of the city's prior Highland Broadcasting and Algonquin Broadcasting companies,...
, who also launched CKCY-TV
CHBX-TV
CHBX is a Canadian television station, broadcasting in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. It is an O&O of CTV. The station's signal also reaches the eastern portion of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and the station can be seen over the air as far south as Gaylord, Michigan.CHBX is essentially a...
in 1978. Huron subsequently sold the radio stations to a new business consortium, CKCY 920 Ltd., in 1985. That group subsequently sold them to Mid-Canada Radio in 1988, and Mid-Canada in turn was acquired by the Pelmorex Radio Network
Pelmorex Radio Network
The Pelmorex Radio Network was a system of Canadian radio stations in Northern Ontario, owned and operated by Pelmorex.-History:In 1989, Pierre Morrissette founded his own communications company, Pelmorex Media Inc., and acquired several french and english-language radio stations that were serving...
in 1990.
In 1984, CKCY received CRTC approval to move from 920 kHz to 540 kHz. The change to AM 540 was never implemented. CKCY remained at AM 920 until its permanent sign-off in 1992.
Due to the economic circumstances of the Sault Ste. Marie market, with competition from stations in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie is a city in and the county seat of Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in the north-eastern end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on the Canadian border, separated from its twin city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, by the St. Marys River...
severely curtailing the profitability of the Ontario stations, Pelmorex shut down the AM station in 1992. The FM station is still operating as CJQM-FM
CJQM-FM
CJQM-FM is a Canadian radio station at 104.3 FM in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The station broadcasts a country music format under the slogan and branding, "Today's Country, Q104." Despite the "Today's Country" branding, the format is actually a mix of current and classic country hits, with the...
.
The final song to be played by CKCY was Sweeney Todd's 1975 single "Roxy Roller" at approximately 11:56 pm on August 30, 1992. Once the song was completed, an automated, repeating farewell message was broadcast past midnight and continued for several days. The actual date when CKCY ceased transmitting is not known.
External links
- History of CKCY at Canadian Communications FoundationCanadian Communications FoundationThe Canadian Communications Foundation is a history of Canadian broadcasting for radio and television chronicles and documents. It also provides a history of radio and television stations, including networks, programs, broadcasters and many others....