Whiteoaks Communications Group
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Radio broadcasting,internet radio |
| Founded | 1956 as CHWO Radio Limited |
| Headquarters | Oakville, Ontario |
Area served | Golden Horseshoe |
Key people | Caine family |
| Parent | Caineco Ltd. (Estate of Michael Caine) |
| Subsidiaries | Golden Horseshoe Broadcasting Ltd.,Trafalgar Broadcasting Ltd |
| Website | Whiteoaks Communications Group |
Whiteoaks Communications Group is a media company based in Oakville, Ontario that owns several radio stations in Ontario as well as Christian podcasting platform, Faith Strong Today Media. The company was founded in 1956 as CHWO Radio Limited by Howard and Jean Caine with the launch of CHWO radio in Oakville.[1] After Howard Caine died in 1967, the company was run by his widow, Jean. Their son, Michael Caine (1949–2024)[2] subsequently became company president. The current president is Michael Caine's son, Matthew Caine.[3][4] Whiteoaks is owned by the Caine family through their holding company, Caineco.[5]
In 1974, the company was granted a license to found CJMR to serve Mississauga operating the stations as the "Golden Horseshoe Radio Network". CJYE was founded in 2001 and took over the 1250 AM frequency formerly held by CHWO when that station moved to 740 AM and rebranded as "Prime Time Radio", which also became the name the company operated under until 2008 when CHWO 740 was sold to Moses Znaimer who relaunched it as Zoomer Radio.[6][7]
In 2024, Whiteoaks purchased four stations from Bell Media, CKLH-FM in Hamilton, Ontario and three St. Catharines, Ontario-based stations: CHRE-FM, CHTZ-FM, and CKTB.[8] Whiteoaks created a subsidiary, Golden Horseshoe Broadcasting Ltd. to own and operate the four Hamilton-Niagara Peninsula stations. Another subsidiary, Trafalgar Broadcasting Ltd., owns and operates CJYE and CJMR.[9][5]
In January 2026 two Whiteoaks stations, CJMR and CJYE (Joy Radio) transitioned to an online radio-only presence, marketed as "digital first", and ceased broadcasting on their respective AM frequencies.[10]
| City | Call Sign | Frequency | Band | Branding/Format | Format | Acquired |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississauga | CJMR | NA | internet | CJMR | multilingual | 1974 |
| Oakville | CJYE | NA | internet | Joy Radio | Christian | 2001 |
| Hamilton | CKLH-FM | 102.9 | FM | Legend 102.9 | adult hits | 2024 |
| St. Catharines | CHRE-FM | 105.7 | FM | Dream 105.7 | adult contemporary | 2024 |
| CHTZ-FM | 97.7 | FM | 97.7 HTZ-FM | active rock | 2024 | |
| CKTB | 610 | AM | 610 CKTB | talk radio | 2024 |
Former stations
| City | Call Sign | Frequency | Band | Branding/Format | Format | Time | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakville | CHWO | 740 | AM | Prime-time Radio | easy listening, adult standards, MOR | 1956–2008 | Sold to Moses Znaimer (MZ Media) and renamed CFZM |
References
- ^"CFZM-AM". History of Canadian Broadcasting. Canadian Communications Foundation. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^https://www.koprivataylor.com/obituary/michael-caine
- ^"Bell media cuts mean ownership change looms at Hamilton's Bounce 102.9 (the old K-Lite FM) radio station". Hamilton Spectator. February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (2019). ""Ownership charts – Broadcasting – 2019""(PDF). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ ab"Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2024-335". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Government of Canada. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
- ^"Oakville family marks 60 years in radio broadcasting". Oakville Beaver. November 25, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^Robyn Burnett and Christopher Giardino, Prime Time Radio: How Jean and Howard Caine Built a Radio Dynasty (ISBN 1-55022-749-1). ECW Press, 2006.
- ^Hudes, Sammy (8 February 2024). "'Not a viable business anymore': Bell Media selling 45 radio stations amid layoffs". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^Law, John (February 22, 2024). "New owner sheds light on plans for Niagara radio stations". Niagara Falls Review. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
- ^Thiessen, Connie (January 13, 2026). "Whiteoaks stations in Oakville, Mississauga leave AM for digital-first listener experience". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
