Mission
Evanov Communications is committed to being the best Canadian independent radio broadcaster and communications company that delivers exceptional results to its employees, listeners, clients and community.
Key Core Values
Teamwork. Commitment. Innovation. Accountability. Integrity. Belonging.
2004
On November 26th, the CRTC licensed CMKW Ltd, an Evanov-controlled company, to operate a new FM radio station in Halifax, N.S. The station operated on 103.5 and carried a Youth Contemporary format.
2005
On June 23rd, Evanov’s CKMW Radio Ltd. received approval from the CRTC to launch a new FM station in Ottawa. The stations would operate on 98.5 MHz and provide a musical format targeted to older listeners.
2006
On March 20th, Ottawa Media Ltd., an Evanov company, launched CJWL-FM in Ottawa on 98.5 MHz. The new station was branded as “The Jewel”.
On April 6th, after close scrutiny of the application, the CRTC granted approval for the Evanov Group and the Rainbow Media Group Inc. to establish an FM station in Toronto to serve the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgendered community. It would have the call letters CIRR-FM, and would broadcast on 103.9 MHz.
On August 14th the Evanov group put CKHZ-FM Halifax on the air. The station was branded as “Z103.5 – The Beat of Halifax”.
2007
On April 16, at 6:00am CIRR (“103.9 Proud FM”) was launched becoming the first full time, commercial terrestrial radio station serving the LGBTQ community.
On June 27th, Evanov’s Ottawa Media Ltd. was advised that it had been successful in its application to operate a new FM radio station in Hawkesbury, Ontario on 107.7 MHz.
2008
On April 14th, Evanov Radio Group’s Ottawa Media subsidiary launched CKHK-FM 107.7 in Hawkesbury, Ontario with an Easy Listening format.
On August 21st, Evanov Communications received approval from the Commission to launch a new FM radio station in Winnipeg. However, the approval was conditional on Evanov being able to propose an alternative frequency to 104.7 MHz, within 90 days. Subsequently, the CRTC approved Evanov’s proposal to use 106.1 as the new frequency. The station took on CFJL-FM call letters and became known as The Jewel.
2012
On October 19th, the CRTC approved the application by Dufferin Communications for a new FM station to serve Hudson St. Lazare, Quebec. The station would operate at 106.7 MHz (channel 294A) with an effective radiated power of 500 watts. The launch of the new station, which would have the call-letters CHSV-FM, was however delayed, as Evanov asked the CRTC to approve technical changes, which would allow it to broadcast at higher power of 2,650 watts.
2013
On February 25th, the CRTC approved Evanov’s application for a new English-language FM radio station to serve the Clarence-Rockland area of Ontario, on 92.5 MHz. The station would broadcast non-directionally at 300 watts, and would be owned by Evanov through licensee Dufferin Communications Inc. It was later announced that the station call letters would be CHRC-FM.
On July 12th, Evanov announced that Dufferin had applied to the CRTC for a licence for a new adult contemporary station in Meaford, Ontario.
CHRC-FM was launched in Clarence-Rockland on October 15th as Jewel 925, the area’s first full service local radio station.
2014
On January 22nd, the CRTC approved the application by Evanov subsidiary Dufferin Communications for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language commercial FM radio station in Meaford, Ontario. The station would operate at 99.3 MHz (channel 257A) with an effective radiated power of 100 watts.
The station, CJGB-FM Jewel 99.3 began testing in August, and launched on September 1st.
Evanov’s application for technical changes to the parameters for CHSV-FM Hudson/St-Lazare was approved on September 18, 2014.
2020
On February 17, the CRTC approved the application by Dufferin Communications Inc. to change the authorized contours of CFWC-FM Brantford by increasing the ERP from 250 to 3,000 watts and relocating the transmitter. The commission also approved the company’s request to swap the program formats of CFWC and CKPC-AM. CKPC’s Country format would move to CFWC while CFWC’s Christian music format would move to CKPC-AM.
Bill Evanov, 77, President and CEO of Evanov Radio died on February 28. Paul Evanov took over as President and CEO of Evanov Communications Inc.
In the summer, Evanov entered into an agreement to sell HFX Broadcasting Inc. (CKHZ-FM and CKHY-FM) of Halifax, to Acadia Broadcasting, subject to CRTC approval.
On August 31, Arise 93.9 (CFWC) officially moved from 93.9 MHz to 1380 kHz. Until the launch of Hot Country 93.9 on September 4 at 4:00 p.m., CFWC was simulcast on both frequencies. Because CKPC-FM already existed on 92.1 MHz, Arise Christian Radio AM 1380 retained the CKPC-AM call letters and the new country station at 93.9 held on to the CFWC call sign.
On October 5, Toronto’s Proud-FM 103.9 introduced the Elvis Duran and the Proud Morning Show from 6 to 10 a.m.
2021
On May 14th the sale of CKHZ & CHKY to Acadia Broadcasting was finalized.
1967
William (Bill) Evanov started in Radio as a salesman for a new radio station in Toronto, CHIN-FM, and quickly rose to Sales Manager. He stayed with the station for 13 years, during which time he learned all facets of the business, which gave him ambitions for the future.
1980
In 1980 Bill moved to become Station Manager at CING-FM in Burlington ON, but he soon realized that running the station wasn’t enough, he had the urge to own one.
1983
With his friend Patrick Hurley, and while still manager of CING-FM, Bill bought his first radio station, CKMW-AM Brampton, on the outskirts of Toronto from Mutual Broadcasting Canada. Mutual was headed by Michel Arpin, who years later would become Vice-President of Broadcasting for the CRTC. From the beginning, the station’s coverage was poor, a problem that would take 7 years to resolve. In the meantime the station would change completely, taking on a new sound and direction.
1991
Bill Evanov and two colleagues from CIAO, Angelo Cremisio and John Dukelow, who left CING-FM but remained major shareholders, went back to Burlington to help the station launch a new Dance Music format.
1994
By now CKMW with call letters changed to CIAO and frequency to 530 AM, became a multilingual station. The program producers and on-air personalities served their local ethnic communities.
Bill Evanov’s next move was the purchase of Dufferin Communications and CIDC-FM Orangeville. The station would become the flagship station of Evanov Communications known as Z103.5.
2001
With his first two stations comfortably established, Bill’s next venture was the purchase of CKDX 88.5FM in Newmarket Ontario from Anthony Panza. The station became “The Jewel” and adopted an easy listening format Evanov Communications had developed.
2010
On February 11th, Dufferin Communications Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Evanov, filed an application for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language commercial FM radio station in Hudson/St-Lazare, Quebec. The station would operate at 106.7 MHz (channel 294A) with an effective radiated power of 500 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 94 metres).
In late August, the new Halifax station, now designated as CKHY-FM – Live 105 – began testing its signal.
CKHY-FM “Live 105” signed on the air at 1:05 p.m. on October 1, kicking things off with a countdown of the Top 105 Modern Rock songs. Regular programming got underway October 4 at 5:30 a.m.
On December 1, the CRTC approved an application by HFX Broadcasting Inc. relating to CKHY-FM Halifax in order to change the authorized contours of its transmitter by increasing the effective radiated power from 32,000 to 100,000 watts, by changing the antenna radiation pattern from directional to non-directional, and by changing the antenna site. The station’s transmitter would now share an antenna with sister station CKHZ FM.
2011
CFJL “Energy 106 – Winnipeg’s NEW #1 Hit Music Station” launched at noon, July 29, by playing 10,000 songs in a row. Energy 106 blended Contemporary Hit Radio and Top 40 music targeting a core audience of 18-34. The first song played was “Give Me Everything Tonight” by Pitbull. On September 1.
On October 24th, the CRTC approved an application by Dufferin Communications Inc. for authority to acquire from Newcap Inc. the assets of the English-language commercial radio stations CHNK-FM and CKJS Winnipeg. On November 26, CHNK-FM became CFJL-FM and was rebranded as “The Lounge 100.7 FM. Sister station Energy 106 changed its call sign from CFJL-FM to CHWE-FM.
2015
Radio Fierté launched February 2 with a Hot Adult Contemporary format serving Montreal’s LGBT community.
On March 9th, the new Evanov station CHSV-FM Hudson/St-Lazare was launched as Jewel 106.7.
2016
On August 12th, the CRTC approved an application by Evanov for authority to acquire, as a part of a corporate reorganization of Evanov Communications Inc., the assets of CHRF Montreal and CHSV-FM Hudson/St-Lazare from Dufferin Communication Inc. (an Evanov subsidiary), as well as the assets of CFMB Montréal from CFMB Limited. Upon surrender of the current licences issued to Dufferin and CFMB Limited for the undertakings, the Commission would issue new licences to Evanov.
2017
Early in the year, CFJL Winnipeg changed from Soft Adult Contemporary Jewel 100.5 to 90’s Classic Hits Hot 100.5.
On July 20, the CRTC approved an application by Dufferin Communications Inc. for authority to acquire from 1486781 Ontario Limited the assets of CFWC-FM Brantford. 1486781 Ontario was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sound of Faith Broadcasting Inc.
In October, Bill Evanov was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Small Business Summit Awards Gala in Caledon, marking 50 years in broadcasting.
On December 4, the Evanov stations joined the Bell Media iHeart Radio Canada streaming service (mobile app).
2018
In March, the CRTC rejected CIDC’s application to increase ERP from 30,700 to 100,000 watts and to relocate the transmitter. It also turned down CIRR’s application to change frequency from 103.9 to 103.7 MHz and increase ERP from 225 to 10,000 watts. Both applications were said to be technically unacceptable.
In August, CKHY-FM Halifax switched from Active Rock as Live 105 to Active Rock/Hard Rock Classics as Rock 105.1.
