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Early staff of CKNX radio standing outside the original station, Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario.
1940s
920 CKNX, Wingham, Ontario

Credits:
North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario

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Growth Despite War ...
Despite the occurence of World War II, the shortage of labour and various restrictions put upon the radio station, CKNX grew in staff and broadcasting power between 1939 and 1946. Radio became more important to the local communities as readily accessible source of information during the war. CKNX carried on with local news about what was happening in the area as well as notices for Red Cross campaigns, Bond drives and other war-related events. Through CKNX, government announcements were disseminated to the listeners of the area.

The station expanded its power and ability to reach a larger audience in 1941 with the purchase of a new $30,000 RCA transmitter set up on a piece of land just 4 miles south of Wingham on Highway 4, a site that is still in use today. In addition to a new transmitter and transmitter house, the studios were enlarged and modernized and the frequency changed from 1200 at one end of the radio dial to 920 kilocycles right in the middle. (The Story of CKNX and its People, 2008) With all this expansion came a larger staff, 13 people plus a number of musicians who now worked to create the programs wanted by the CKNX community.

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In 1941, CKNX radio built a new 100 watt transmitter house and tower, 4 miles south of Wingham.
1935
920 CKNX, Wingham, Ontario

Credits:
North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario
Wingham Professional Businesswomen's Association

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Wartime Measures ...

May 1942 - CKNX reduced its afternoon schedule by 3 hours to curtail their consumption of hydro electricity. It followed the example of several radio stations in the East. It recognized the strains put on the Hydro Electric Power System due to war industries running full steam ahead. "CKNX is merely contributing its bit to the war effort." We expect to save 25 hours of Hydro each week."(CKNX Almanac-2,1942)

Due to the reduction several favourite programs - At Home with the Ladies (Mon, Wed, Fri) will be heard at 11 am instead of 4 pm. Harold Victor Pym's Organ Time will be moved to 5 pm (Mon, Wed, Fri). Market broadcasts will be moved back to the old time of 12:10 and the entertainment guide will be moved to the previous time of 12:40. Laura at the Piano will move to 8:15 pm on Mon & Wed and 7:30 on Fri. (CKNX Almanac-2,1942)

1942 - "Speaking of gasoline and all that, Manager Doc Cruickshank feels that Bell was a pretty smart man with that telephone gadget of his. Ration books become pretty slim in the radio business and Doc's is no exception. Therefore, with a touch of patriotism, station business is transacted over the phone wherever possible. (CKNX Almanac-5, 1942 p.4)

1942 - June 3 - "Of late, a good many newspaper and radio stations have been co-operating with the government in bettering relations between farmers and buyers and in stimulating a bit of cheer for the boys in camps. Beginning June 3, the CBC will carry a series of broadcasts for the Ontario Farm Service Force which may be heard each Wednesday evening at 9:00 pm over CKNX. The program will be fifteen minutes in length and is presented with a view to ensure adequate numbers of farm workers for the 1942 crops. It is under the sponsorship of the Federal Department of Labour and the Ontario Provincial Departments of Agriculture, Labour and Education. The program will consist of musical varieties and dramatic presentations. (CKNX Almanac-3,1942)

1942 - Another feature to be drawn to your attention is the special General Motors series 'Cheers from the Camps.' The broadcast originates with the Columbia Broadcasting System and will be concerned with Military Camp Pick-ups. These programs will be presented over CKNX every Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30, beginning June 9th. (CKNX Almanac-3,1942)

1945 - When the boys came back from overseas, CKNX was on hand to welcome them. Relatives were kept advised of arrival times and veterans on arrival went right on air. "The Story of CKNX and its People" has a picture of Manager Johnson greeting Jack Gorbutt, one of their returning staff members. (Story of CKNX and its People, 2008)

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Staff Who Served in World War II ...

Below are listed some, but not all, of the CKNX staff members who served in World War II. Some worked at CKNX before they were enlisted, and some came to CKNX after their war duties were complete. The information assembled here is based on Almanac articles and CKNX publications. Apologies in advance to any CKNX staff who served but were omitted mention.

Bob Carbert - Farm Editor - Bob was born on a farm in Fullarton Township in Perth County in 1921. He helped his father farm until 1942, when he enlisted in the Canadian Army. He returned to the farm after being discharged, but ill health forced him to give up farmwork. He turned to radio with CKNX, following a hidden desire to write.

Norman Fry - Norman has lived most of his life in Wingham, except for time spent in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He apparently won the title of "greasiest grease monkey of World War II." After 1946, and a few jobs he joined CKNX. He started in the control room as an operator and started reading scripts for his own amusement. He progressed to the point of taking on announcing duties and has been a valid announcer ever since. Norm is married and enjoys a game of golf. (25th Anniversary, 1951)

Glen Scheifele - From 1943 to 1945, Glenn was in the Merchant Marine and joined CKNX in his present capacity in 1945. Glenn is married and has one son, Ray. His hobbies are landscaping and gardening. (25th Anniversary, 1951) Scott was also fortunate when the station acquired the services of another former RCAF radio technician, Glenn Schiefele, who assumed responsibility for the radio transmitter. He and his wife and family lived in a house at the transmitter site, south of Wingham, where he could be available any hour of the day or night, and he also assumed responsibility for the station's flock of sheep, the grass cutters in the field that accommodated the transmitter towers.

Bob Clark - Bob was 12 pounds when he was born on a foggy day in Montreal in 1922. Bob has kept up his weight and his bubbling personality ever since. Bob stayed in Montreal till 1940 at which time he joined the RCAF. In 1941 he joined the RCAF Western Air Command Entertainment Unit, and covered Western Canada, until they shipped him off to Gander, Newfoundland in 1943. At that time he joined the staff of radio station VORG and remained there until 1945 when he was discharged. That same year Bob attended the Training and Re-establishment Institute in Toronto for a technical radio course and returned to Toronto in 1947 and completed a course in Radio Announcing and Production. He came to CKNX in 1947, and has been employed as a Script Writer.

Doug Fry - Doug is an operator-announcer at CKNX. He was born in 1925, in Wingham, received his education in Wingham elementary and secondary schools and joined the RCAF in 1943. After being mustered out in 1945, Doug joined CKNX as an announcer-operator.

Cliff Robb - After fighting in World War II, he bought the farm, raising purebred Holsteins and milking 38 cows. In 1948 he married his wife Sylvia. After 10 years of farming he decided to "try" something else because the farm wasn't going the way it should have been." As a result he put together a taped program and with that won a job at CKLC in Kingston.

Fred Russell - He was an announcer at CKNX radio in the early 1940s until he joined the RCAF military band and returned to CKNX in 1946. He went overseas. Fred was a master trombonist and while in Wingham played in the Salvation Army Band. Fred worked in a variety of jobs in the US and Canada in radio and band music. (S-1, 2002)p.1

Charles Proctor - "That we are doing our bit by Corporal Chas. Proctor, another of the lads who live 'four miles out'. Charlie was in the other day sporting his uniform and looking like a real threat to Axis plans." (CKNX Almanac-8, 1942)p.4

Ronnie Pickup - Heard from Ronnie Pickup again the other day and he tells us that he is doing very well in the navy but that the work is hard. He's in the signal division somewhere and expecting to go on 'active' soon. (he was a CKNX announcer) (CKNX Almanac-10, 1943)p.4

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Gerald "Bud" Cruickshank, son of W.T. Cruickshank worked in both radio and television at CKNX.
1940-1980
CKNX Radio and Television, Wingham, Ontario

Credits:
North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario

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Gerald "Bud" Cruickshank -
This son of W.T. "Doc" Cruickshank was born in Wingham, and served in the Canadian Army for 2 years. "Bud's main hobby is photography, inherited from his father, who is also an avid camera fiend. The war has put a crimp in their style, but there is still enough film floating around to enable them to take the odd potential contest winner. Young Cruickshank has many fine prints which your reporter has been privileged to see and he shows great promise here and in the radio business.
Asked about the effect of the war on radio, Bud had many ideas on two fields near his heart, dance orchestras and women on radio. He feels that the war has been a boon to the music business in the sense that it took away many of the long-time top notchers and gave the smaller fry a chance to make good. Music, and that includes dance music, fills a definite place in the present scheme of things and should be encouraged as far as possible. The fact that many of the American big shots are breaking up will give smaller combines and orchestras an opportunity to make good, providing they aren't broken up as well by the draft.
Women in radio are all right as far as Bud Gerald is concerned, BUT, he adds, they should stick to women's features and stay as far away as possible from newscasting or sports. In that regard it is safe to guess that just about everyone reading this column will concur to a greater or lesser degree. However, it must be admitted that women have become a part of our type of radio presentation and must be given credit. The work is traditionally masculine and most people think it should stay that way.
But to return to the story of Bud; this article was intended to be a thumbnail sketch of one of CKNX's announcers, the "voice" you meet in your homes every day. Bud is of medium height, very slim with sandy brown-blond hair and usually a very serious look on his face. An intelligent and cool lad, Bud gets along well with his fellow workers and does well at the station."(CKNX Almanac-11, 1943)p.5

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John Cruickshank, brother of W.T. Cruickshank became manager of the radio station in 1955.
1955
920 CKNX, Wingham, Ontario

Credits:
North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario

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John Cruickshank ...

(W.T. "Doc" Cruickshank's brother) "In 1937, CKNX again added him to their payroll and there he stayed till June 1942 when the Provost claimed his services for the duration. He is well known in the sporting circles and played with the Wingham Hockey Club and the Wingham Baseball Club for a number of years. He claims he wasn't a star but admits holding down the bench as well as any player in Western Ontario. His other interests are divided between fishing, golfing, hiking, hunting and motoring. In the winter, he finds skating an excellent outlet. "(CKNX Almanac-4, 1942 p.4 )

"Since all the lads have gone to the army, airforce and Provost, it's become increasingly hard to find any of our old friends at the station. With Howard Bedford becoming Lieut. Bedford, Scott Reid sprouting wings in the RCAF and John Cruickshank restoring order in the Provost Corps we sorta feel that we're doing our bit. Howsomever, we dry our tears and smile bravely because with these lads in the service we're as good as celebrating Victory right now! "(CKNX Almanac-4,1941 p.4)
"Hear that John Cruickshank, Ex-News Editor and Sports writer of CKNX has been sent to the West again in his capacity of Provost. This is the second trip he's made since joining up and we wish him more luck this time. Seems that last time he was only allowed two stops during the entire trip, an hour at Calgary and another at Winnipeg on the return leg of a non-stop convoy job. Returned with the conviction that 'the west is too flat'. (CKNX Almanac-5, 1942 p.4)

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Howard Bedford was W.T. Cruickshank's first partner and commercial manager.
1926-1947
920 CKNX, Wingham, Ontario

Credits:
North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario

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Howard Bedford ...

"Since all the lads have gone to the army, airforce and Provost, it's become increasingly hard to find any of our old friends at the station. With Howard Bedford becoming Lieut. Bedford, Scott Reid sprouting wings in the RCAF and John Cruickshank restoring order in the Provost Corps we sorta feel that we're doing our bit. Howsomever, we dry our tears and smile bravely because with these lads in the service we're as good as celebrating Victory right now! (CKNX Almanac-4,1941 p.4)

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Scott Reid began working at CKNX after school and weekends when he was still in high school.
1939
Original radio station, Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario

Credits:
North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario

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Scott Reid ...

"In the spring of the following year, Scott enlisted in the radio branch of the RCAF, receiving promotions until he earned the rank of Flt. Lieut. He served overseas in both Great Britain and the European theatres of operations, returning to Canada and civilian life in 1945. By this time Scott's increased knowledge of the radio field qualified him for the position of Chief Engineer. Scott married a Wingham district girl in June 1950. His hobbies include fishing and photography. (25th Anniversary, 1951) Scott left April 1942 to take up a post with the RCAF. An 1942 CKNX Almanac article notes that "the loss of Scott Reid will be most keenly felt because of his contribution to the station, and his efforts on behalf of furthering the progress made during the last few years. Most of the equipment in the station was made and designed by Scott with the one exception being the new transmitter."

When WW II broke out, Scott, like many others, joined the RCAF and was sent to the RCAF's Radar School at Clinton for his formal wireless training. Scott learned his craft well, although he had to spend most of his service years hidden away in the remote Orkney Islands working on radar stations and anti-submarine projects. After the war, he came back to CKNX and applied his, by now, extensive experience and training to the building of the post-war CKNX studios. Literally every piece of electronic equipment used in the station's service was either built from scratch or remodeled by Scott Reid. His systems were imaginative and he was far ahead of his time in developing equipment that would meet the demands of the growing station.

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l-r Karl Krug, John Strong, John Langridge, Johnny Brent and Margaret Brophy - TV program staff
1950-1970
CKNX Television & Radio station, Wingham, Ontario

Credits:
North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario