NOTE FROM PETER RADCLIFFEYellowknife and Hay River being the main locations during my association with the Canadian Corps of Signals, although I had dealings with Fort Smith and Fort Simpson.
Yellowknife radio station was CFYK, the transmitter, (an old AT3 modified to work on the broadcast band ), being located at Ptarmigan transmitter site, as the site was across the lake from the town, audio to the transmitter was via a marine cable. Service for the equipment was via a boat. At a later date a bridge over the Yellowknife River made things easier.
Signals building was at a prime location, being located between the RCMP and the Goverment Liquor Store, also the same group of buildings included the Northern Affairs Offices, the basement of which was being used as the studios of CFYK. Communication for the town centered around the Army Signals building, there was no road and no telephone system to the outside, telegrams were via morse code.
A plaque in my possession, has the following inscription,
RADIO STATION C. F. Y. K. "VOICE OF THE GOLDEN NORTH", OPENED IN THE BASEMENT OF THE DEPARTEMENT OF NORTHERN AFFAIRS AND NATIONAL RESOURCES BUILDING, IN THE FALL OF 1949. IT WAS MANNED BY VOLUNTEER ANNOUNCERS AND WORKERS, WITH THE TECHNICAL DIRECTION OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN CORPS OF SIGNALS AND LICENCED AS AN ARMED FORCES RADIO STATION.
THE STATION WAS OPERATED BY A RADIO COMMITEE ELECTED EACH YEAR, WITH APPOINTED MEMBERS FROM THE DEPARTEMENT OF N.A.N.R. THE R.C.C.S. AND THE MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF YELLOWKNIFE.
C.F.Y.K. OPERATED IN THIS MANNER FOR OVER TWO YEARS, DURING WHICH TIME MANY VOLUNTEERS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STATION AND MANY ORIGINAL PROGRAMMES WERE BROADCAST FOR THE PLEASURE OF THE CITIZENS OF YELLOWKNIFE. RECORDS AND EQUIPMENT WERE BOUGHT FROM DONATIONS BY THE CITIZENS AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. THE MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF YELLOWKNIFE MADE AN ANNUAL GRANT FOR OPERATIONAL EXPENCES.
AT A CEREMONY HELD IN THE STATION THIS DAY, SUNDAY THE 14TH. DECEMBER 1958. THE MANAGEMENT OF C.F.Y.K. WAS FORMALLY TURNED OVER TO THE CANADIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NORTHERN SEVICE AND IT'S PIONEER EMPLOYEE PETER RADCLIFFE.
THIS PLAQUE COMMEMORATES THE HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPEMENT OF RADIO STATION C.F.Y.K. AND THE 28 YEARS OF SERVICE OF PETER RADCLIFFE AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE NORTHERN SERVICE OF THE CANADIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION.
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