Long-time CJCA Chief Engineer Gord Skutle had a 90th birthday party earlier today. Needless to say, he retired in the 1990s. But he is still very healthy. I had a chance to talk to him about CJCA's shortwave station at last Fall's Edmonton Broadcasters Club luncheon. He confirmed the ham-like call letters elsewhere attributed to CJCA-FM were, in fact, only ever used for the shortwave station. He surprised me further by pointing out that the shortwave repeater of CJCA-AM changed frequency twice a day, to maximize skywave reception around the world.
Some of those who attended Gord's birthday party today worked at CJCA with him in the 1950s, including Bryan Hall, Murray Blakely and Irene Madoch. Interestingly, two of those three have yet to retire from Radio!
Gord started at CJCA in 1943, just after returning from Toronto, where he got his broadcasting diploma while working at CKCL. He was also one of the founding members of the Edmonton Broadcasters Club.