Today is the day, a very special day for ALL of us, as we celebrate together, a 60th anniversary! March 13th, 1957 saw the launch of a brand new radio station in Southern Manitoba, and at 8:01pm the switch was officially flipped to put

The original CFAM studio in Altona, MB CFAM radio 950 on the air!

CFAM Radio 950 began as a small radio station located in Altona, Manitoba. At the time the community had a population of just 1,800, and the entire company a staff of 11. The company now encompasses 41 stations in 25 communities, from Kenora, Ontario to Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, as well as 18 community websites.

We've been asking for your memories of joining us over the past 60 years, and some of you have been listening the entire time. We thank you for that! Can you remember how it all started at 8:01 pm March 13th, 1957?

This is a portion of the official opening ceremony of CFAM Radio 950.

 

 

She is one of the most beloved voices from CFAM Radio 950's past, Olly Penner, better known as Aunt Olly from the Children's Party program listened to by thousands of Southern Manitoba children during the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. We went deep into our archives to take you back to December 1965 for an episode of Children's Party with Aunt Olly, for one of the most popular segments of the show... birthday wishes!

 

 

Now, Jim McSweeney did not utter those very first words on CFAM Radio 950, but a lot of the words heard right here have been Jim's. He spent a huge chunk of the past 60 years with us, and we just couldn't celebrate this milestone without him, so he joined us via telphone Monday morning.

 

 

We are very proud to still work with one of the company's original employees, Elmer Hildebrand, Golden West C.E.O. He joined Michelle, Jayme and Chris in studio to reflect on the past six decades.

 

Encouraging local talent, promoting Manitoba music, sharing agricultural information with the province's farming community, connecting with area schools, the best in local news and inspirational programming... pillars of CFAM Radio 950 when it all began. They continue to be pillars and cornerstones of what we do today on CFAM Radio 950, and all Golden West Radio stations across the Prairies.

Thank you for listen for the last sixty years, and here's to sixty more!

Left to right: Chris Sumner, Elmer Hildebrand, Michelle Sawatzky and Jayme Giesbrecht