Prince Albert radio station marks 25 years on the air

The addition of a third local station changed the radio landscape in Prince Albert, giving listeners more options than ever before.

Longtime broadcaster Garth Kalin said there was tremendous anticipation leading up to launch day.

“Everyone was excited that we were finally going to get a true rock station in Prince Albert,” Kalin said. “We wanted to play not just the big classic rock songs, but those fan-favourite album cuts people loved.”

(Image Credit: Submitted)

Over the years, the station’s music has shifted toward a classic hits format from the 1980s and 1990s.

“The music has evolved to meet listener demands,” Harrison said. “Classic hits increased in popularity, and we adjusted so we could continue bringing one of the top formats to our area.”

While the music has changed, many listeners still tune in for the same reason they always have — local connection.

“Local radio gives something that you can’t get from streaming services — local,” Harrison said. “People hear from others who live in the same community, shop at the same stores, cheer for the same teams and deal with the same issues.”

Program director Cristy Beggs said that connection remains the station’s greatest strength.

“It feels like home,” she said. “People know the station, they know the voices, and it just fits into their day. We’re local — real weather, real community, real life.”

The station has also built a reputation for creative promotions and contests, including one that remains legendary nearly two decades later.

In 2008, CHQX promoted a “Live Turkey Drop” contest inspired by the classic WKRP in Cincinnati television episode. Listeners were led to believe 101 turkeys would be dropped from a helicopter onto a target. Concerned residents called police and animal welfare officials, fearing live birds would be involved.

What organizers neglected to mention was that the turkeys were stuffed toys.

“Only 101 people were entered in the contest, but more than 1,000 showed up to watch,” Harrison recalled. “The collective groan when they realized they were stuffed toys was the real payoff.”

Beyond the contests, staff say the station’s proudest accomplishment has been its support for local causes. Along with its sister stations and paNOW, 101.5 has helped raise awareness and funds for organizations including the Victoria Hospital Foundation, Santa Anonymous, Christmas Cheer, the SPCA, the Rawlinson Centre and the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.

“Twenty-five years is a big deal,” said Beggs. “It doesn’t happen without the support of the community.”

She said the station remains part of listeners’ daily routines because it feels local and familiar, with recognizable voices, real weather and regular involvement in community events and fundraisers.

That local connection was a common theme in staff reflections. Kalin said radio still works because it trims down the flood of information and focuses on what matters in the community.

While listeners now have countless entertainment options at their fingertips, General Manager Karl Johnston believes radio’s role remains much the same as it was in 2001. He pointed to local personalities, news, and events.

“That’s what keeps people coming back,” he said.

Harrison put it simply: local radio gives listeners something streaming cannot.

“It’s real people, not algorithms,” Beggs added.

After 25 years, that may be the station’s biggest hit of all.

The public is invited to an anniversary celebration on June 15th at the Canadian Brewhouse.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

by paNOW Staff

Prince Albert radio station marks 25 years on the air

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