It was 70 years ago today that CFOS hit the air in Owen Sound and Grey Bruce.
CFOS hit the air at 8 AM on March 1st, 1940 with Norman Child introducing listeners to “the voice of Grey and Bruce.”
CFOS began life at 1400 on the AM dial with a 100 watt transmitter and was the vision of Howard Fleming.
In 1949, the CFOS studios moved to its present location on 9th Street East in Owen Sound.
In 1958, CFOS changed frequency to 560 AM.
Bill Hawkins would become owner in 1969 and later sold the radio station in 1984 to current owner Doug Caldwell, who established Bayshore Broadcasting.
Now the company’s stable includes five other FM stations and will begin construction shortly on a sixth FM station in Orillia.
It has grown from a staff of four in 1940 to 70 people across all of its markets.
CFOS has also been home to many successful radio announcers and journalists over the years.
The list includes Don Danard, Heather Hiscox, Janice Mackey Frayer, John Roberts and more recently Cheryl Hickey.
And while other AM stations went dark in Collingwood, Barrie, Midland and Orillia — CFOS remains an active part of the Grey Bruce community.
Hundreds of people toured the CFOS studios in downtown Owen Sound today.
Dozens of listeners also called the Open Line and Georgian Bay Today to share in the celebrations by telling stories of their greatest memories.
Among the guests were former Open Line host Dave Carr, Station General Manager Ross Kentner and Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Larry Miller.
Callers ranged from long time employees like Ron Wray to people who remember listening to the station as youngsters
It is home to the OHL Attack and the annual Christmas Fund Broadcasts.
CFOS is also part of Bayshore’s Healthy Tomorrows campaign that benefits 7 local hospitals, supports Cops for Cancer and hosts Environmental Forums.
CFOS also hands out the Tommy Cooper Award for agriculture, the Charlie Kelly Award for tourism and the Mack Kirk Environmental Award.
CFOS and Bayshore Broadcasting have also won several awards in recent years from the RTNDA for its news coverage.
CFOS and Bayshore Broadcasting is also celebrating its Business of the Year award from the Owen Sound Chamber of Commerce and an Environmental Award from the Community Foundation Grey Bruce.
CFOS will continue the 70th anniversary celebration on Sunday March 14th when Craig Smith hosts an new exhibit at Grey Roots.
Plus on June 25th, the anniversary celebrations climax with a performance by the Glenn Miller Orchestra