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<\/p>\nThe addition of a third local station changed the radio landscape in Prince Albert, giving listeners more options than ever before.<\/p>\n
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Longtime broadcaster Garth Kalin said there was tremendous anticipation leading up to launch day.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone was excited that we were finally going to get a true rock station in Prince Albert,\u201d Kalin said. \u201cWe wanted to play not just the big classic rock songs, but those fan-favourite album cuts people loved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over the years, the station\u2019s music has shifted toward a classic hits format from the 1980s and 1990s.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe music has evolved to meet listener demands,\u201d Harrison said. \u201cClassic hits increased in popularity, and we adjusted so we could continue bringing one of the top formats to our area.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the music has changed, many listeners still tune in for the same reason they always have \u2014 local connection.<\/p>\n
\u201cLocal radio gives something that you can\u2019t get from streaming services \u2014 local,\u201d Harrison said. \u201cPeople 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Program director Cristy Beggs said that connection remains the station\u2019s greatest strength.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels like home,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople know the station, they know the voices, and it just fits into their day. We\u2019re local \u2014 real weather, real community, real life.\u201d<\/p>\n
The station has also built a reputation for creative promotions and contests, including one that remains legendary nearly two decades later.<\/p>\n
In 2008, CHQX promoted a \u201cLive Turkey Drop\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
What organizers neglected to mention was that the turkeys were stuffed toys.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly 101 people were entered in the contest, but more than 1,000 showed up to watch,\u201d Harrison recalled. \u201cThe collective groan when they realized they were stuffed toys was the real payoff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond the contests, staff say the station\u2019s 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\u2019s Hospital Foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwenty-five years is a big deal,\u201d said Beggs. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t happen without the support of the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said the station remains part of listeners\u2019 daily routines because it feels local and familiar, with recognizable voices, real weather and regular involvement in community events and fundraisers.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
While listeners now have countless entertainment options at their fingertips, General Manager Karl Johnston believes radio\u2019s role remains much the same as it was in 2001. He pointed to local personalities, news, and events.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what keeps people coming back,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Harrison put it simply: local radio gives listeners something streaming cannot.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s real people, not algorithms,\u201d Beggs added.<\/p>\n
After 25 years, that may be the station\u2019s biggest hit of all.<\/p>\n
The public is invited to an anniversary celebration on June 15th at the Canadian Brewhouse.<\/p>\n
\u2014<\/p>\n
\u00a0panews@pattisonmedia.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The addition of a third local station changed the radio landscape in Prince Albert, giving listeners more options…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":492093,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[146,85,46,409],"class_list":["post-492092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-music","tag-entertainment","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-music"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/492092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=492092"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/492092\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/492093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=492092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=492092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=492092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}