The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Event Paying Tribute To CFOR Orillia

**Posted by RadioActive** May 13, 2025 9:49 am

Did you ever listen to CFOR in Orillia? Back in the day, the station came in pretty well in Toronto and of course those closer to the station could get it very well on AM 1570.

Now the city's history museum is staging an event to remember the history of the place, whose alumni include CKEY newsman Pete McGarvey, George Franks, Rod Coneybeare (later, the voices of Rusty the Rooster and Jerome the Giraffe on The Friendly Giant), not to mention AM640's John Oakley.

The son of the station's founder is giving a talk on May 21st, but you don't have to go back to the place where it happened to hear his memories of the earliest days of the outlet. It's being put on Zoom, and while you do have to pre-register to get the link, it's otherwise free.

More details here.

**Posted by Forward Power** May 13, 2025 11:45 am

As a child, on our way to or from various areas in Simcoe County, we'd always pass CFOR's transmitter site, on Highway 12 near Uptergrove, with the letters "C F O R" on the top of the building, and the Telemedia logo on the front door. The site is now occupied by an RV dealer, and after CFOR converted to FM, the site became a Park & Ride facility for Casino Rama.

Last edited by Forward Power (May 13, 2025 11:45 am)

**Posted by turkeytop** May 13, 2025 1:11 pm

I was working temporarily in Orillia for a few weeks in 1993 when CFOR went dark to be replaced by their new FM station with a new format, cowboy music. At around that same time a new cowboy station came on the air in nearby Midland. I believe that also replaced a AM station.

Are they both still active doing cowboy music?

**Posted by Forward Power** May 13, 2025 1:55 pm

turkeytop wrote:
I was working temporarily in Orillia for a few weeks in 1993 when CFOR went dark to be replaced by their new FM station with a new format, cowboy music. At around that same time a new cowboy station came on the air in nearby Midland. I believe that also replaced a AM station.

Are they both still active doing cowboy music?

Orillia (CICX-FM 105.9) started out continuing the format where CFOR left off, but after a few years each of soft AC and variety hits went back to country and is now a "Pure Country" outlet; Midland (CICZ-FM 104.1, the erstwhile CKMP 1230) was country until some point in the Larche era when it went to its current format, which is now one of Bell's "Bounce" stations. The two stations were part of Telemedia going into their transitions to FM, then split up, and some ownership changes later, Larche reunited them before selling to Bell.

**Posted by turkeytop** May 13, 2025 7:03 pm

When the station in Midland first came on we were living up on the Bruce Peninsula, about 60 mile from Midland across the open water of Georgean Bay. Before they were officially on the air they were in test mode for a week or so. They were asking listeners to call in to report on their signal.

The engineer was quite surprised that I was hearing it that far away. He said they still weren't up to full power. They were only running about 100 Watts.

**Posted by Forward Power** May 13, 2025 7:57 pm

turkeytop wrote:
When the station in Midland first came on we were living up on the Bruce Peninsula, about 60 mile from Midland across the open water of Georgean Bay. Before they were officially on the air they were in test mode for a week or so. They were asking listeners to call in to report on their signal.

The engineer was quite surprised that I was hearing it that far away. He said they still weren't up to full power. They were only running about 100 Watts.

This newspaper clipping was shared previously here on Big Yella about 3-4 years ago... the CKMP transmitter site was off of Highway 12, at the end of a rough road off Sumac Lane. What I'm seeing on Google Earth from last year suggests that the old tower, maybe the transmitter building too, may still be standing today.

Two of CFOR's former studio locations still exist - the West Street North location, across from the former site of ODCVI, is now home to the offices of a chiropractor and an orthodontist, while 7 Progress Drive, just down the hill from the OPP headquarters, appears to be home to various health and wellness businesses. CICX's current home is at the southwest corner of Ontario Street and Progress Drive, about 300 m north of the previous location.

Last edited by Forward Power (May 13, 2025 7:57 pm)