Our History

It all started with an idea for a radio station that would provide local service in all aspects of community life: news, sports, weather, farm and business information, and inspirational programming – and Southern Manitoba Broadcasting Co. Ltd. was incorporated.

A small studio and transmitter site was constructed in Altona and on March 13th at precisely 8:01AM, the switch was flipped and CFAM went live on the air, broadcasting at 1,000 watts. Known as “Your Farm and Good Music Station”, it launched with just eleven employees – one of whom was Elmer Hildebrand, who would become CEO of the company.

Because the staff had little or no experience operating a radio station, its early days were somewhat chaotic. Though there were many skeptics, CFAM’s audience continued to grow, and an application was made to boost CFAM’s power to 5,000 watts.

At first, CFAM signed on at 6:00 every morning and signed off at midnight. All night broadcasting began on November 2, 1959, with the introduction of “Classics till Dawn”. This was also the year that CFAM opened a sales office in Steinbach, with one employee.

With an ever-growing audience, another power increase was granted to CFAM, which now operated at 10,000 watts. Soon Elmer Hildebrand, who had started with the company as copywriter, found there were not enough advertisers on the air to keep him busy, so he began selling. This was when the station’s revenue finally started to grow. By the summer of 1960, he was appointed Sales Manager of CFAM.

CFAM had a strong loyal following growing in Southeastern Manitoba, but many found the signal lacking. And so, an application was made to establish a new radio station in Steinbach: CHSM.

Elmer Hildebrand was promoted to General Manager, ushering the company into a new era of community service radio.

With the acquisition of CHRB in High River, Golden West reached into Alberta.

Continuing to grow in small markets across the Canadian Prairies, Golden West purchased CHAB in Moose Jaw.

Golden West added our first FM station to our Steinbach broadcast location: CILT.

Head office in Altona had grown out of its original building, so the company leased an entire floor in Golden West Plaza (a new commercial and residential complex) in the heart of the community. Its grand opening was well attended by provincial dignitaries.

Starting in fall of 2000, Golden West began expanding its coverage to include digital media, launching community portals SteinbachOnline.com and CHVNRadio.com. Through 2001 its digital media portfolio grew, with PortageOnline.com, SwiftCurrentOnline.com, and PembinaValleyOnline.com.

CKUV-FM went on the air in High River, with studios located in both High River and Okotoks. Over in Saskatchewan, Golden West launched DiscoverMooseJaw.com.

Having outgrown its Main Street location, the Steinbach office moved to a larger building at the corner of Main and Brandt. This same year, CKFI was added in Swift Current, and CKVX in Kindersley. DiscoverFoothills.com (later separated to HighRiverOnline.com and OkotoksOnline.com) launched out of the High River and Okotoks locations. And Golden West was named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies for the first of several times.

Steinbach launched its third radio station with CJXR. Meanwhile, for the first time since 1977, the Golden West engineering team designed and built a complete AM/FM transmitter and tower site from scratch in Estevan, Saskatchewan.

Golden West underwent a lengthy Organizational Clarity process. With feedback from all our Golden West teammates and countless connections with leaders, our company’s purpose emerged: WE EXIST TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES BETTER.