I've heard that Q99 in Grande Prairie might be switching formats in October....anyone else heard this? I think it would be an awesome move for them....

picking a format and running with it will be good for them.  a few stations up there with an identity crisis, or "flexible" format.  

A format change may benefit Q 99 but they need to find a Great PD with an original thought or one that knew what they were doing.  Hell, even an average PD would help them.

My guess, easy listening is about to hit Grande Prairie.

Quoted from Mannskilledtheradiostar

A format change may benefit Q 99 but they need to find a Great PD with an original thought or one that knew what they were doing.  Hell, even an average PD would help them.

My guess, easy listening is about to hit Grande Prairie.

how long have they been on the air? a disgruntled former already? lol

Quoted from thatotherguy

picking a format and running with it will be good for them.  a few stations up there with an identity crisis, or "flexible" format.  

Very true....I think they'd do very well as a solid Top 40 station. We shall see!

Quoted from Mannskilledtheradiostar

A format change may benefit Q 99 but they need to find a Great PD with an original thought or one that knew what they were doing.  Hell, even an average PD would help them.

My guess, easy listening is about to hit Grande Prairie.

I was working in BC when Q99s PD was practically pushed out the Zone door, only to land in Grande Prairie.  I don't know the guy personally, but I have been told to never work for or with the guy if I want to enjoy my job.  From what I've heard, his time at the Zone put a bad taste in everyone's mouth.  As well a complete turn-over of staff in less than a year at Q99 has to say something about management, I would imagine.

Q99s website has a lot of flames and fire...rock or modern rock maybe?  

1. You have to HAVE a format to flip it

2. Some people will be miserable wherever they are.  Then they move to regina and post in useless untrue threads on gossip boards.

WOW this is news to everyone who works at Q99... We're not flipping!

Quoted from broadcastvictoria

From what I've heard, his time at the Zone put a bad taste in everyone's mouth.  

that is untrue.

Long time reader, first time poster.  I agree with Flamethrower.  Completely untrue.

Quoted from broadcastvictoria

I was working in BC when Q99s PD was practically pushed out the Zone door, only to land in Grande Prairie. I don't know the guy personally, but I have been told to never work for or with the guy if I want to enjoy my job. From what I've heard, his time at the Zone put a bad taste in everyone's mouth.  As well a complete turn-over of staff in less than a year at Q99 has to say something about management, I would imagine.

Q99s website has a lot of flames and fire...rock or modern rock maybe?  

Sounds like you're really in the know.

looks like a lot of people really know what's going on... plus i'll third,

Quoted from Shippy

Long time reader, first time poster.  I agree with Flamethrower.  Completely untrue.

I have never worked with Dave, but I know him well enough to say that the bs people are saying about him is just that bs.  He is a well respected guy in the community and I believe he moved back to GP from the island for two reasons.
1.  A great opportunity to come back to a town where he had lots of fun and work for an independant owner that has similiar ideas.
2.  His psychic predicted the big earthquake that will sink Vancouver Island will occur on September 12, 2008 and he didn't want to be in town for that.

As for the moved to Regina comment....lol

Broadcastvictoria knows what they are talking about.

I've never worked for Dave or lived in Grande Prairie but it's known he moved to Victoria to eventually be the Zone PD only to get put on a bad shift.  He was not respected as a potential PD therefore did not get the job. Surely he came back to Grande Prairie to take the PD job because it is better than doing evenings in a very expensive city. I've listened to his station and it shows his inexperience and lack of originality.

He could be the nicest most respected guy in the world but that doesn't mean he is good at running a station.  Maybe one day he will be, only time will tell.  

Quoted from gordgboy

I have never worked with Dave, but I know him well enough to say that the bs people are saying about him is just that bs.  He is a well respected guy in the community and I believe he moved back to GP from the island for two reasons.
1.  A great opportunity to come back to a town where he had lots of fun and work for an independant owner that has similiar ideas.
2.  His psychic predicted the big earthquake that will sink Vancouver Island will occur on September 12, 2008 and he didn't want to be in town for that.

As for the moved to Regina comment....lol

about the most true post in this thread

I don't understand the motive of Mannskilledtheradiostar and Broadcastvictoria.

You're both stretching pretty hard to attack the character of Dave.  You have both said you don't fully understand the facts.  Yet you both continue to attack the man despite the fact that broadcasters that HAVE worked with and DO know him have contridicted your claims.

What really is bothering you?

I've never heard anything bad about Dave.  Never.  

Inflammatory comments from disgruntled interns serve no purpose.

disgruntled interns......morning show.........whatever.....

Honestly, I'd assume those working on a morning show would have a touch more class and professionalism than what's been demonstrated on this thread.  Going out of your way to slag someone?  Seriously??

Sorry, maybe they aren't interns.  I just hope they are.

Quoted from broadcastvictoria

  As well a complete turn-over of staff in less than a year at Q99 has to say something about management, I would imagine.

It's not just Q99 that has had to deal with that. Northern Alberta is not an easy place to live on a radio salary. Turnover happens, especially in markets like GP and Ft. Mac. Go to those places and tell me that's a where you want to live long term on 30gs a year(if you're lucky). Losing people to markets like Saskatoon and Regina is a graduation, it's a logical next step and if anything the PD should be commended for playing a role in advancing people.

In addition, and Dave is probably too much of a pro to admit this but it's entirely possible that a meddling owner had more to do with the morning show mistakes than the PD...just a thought.

Being a morning show in the market this thread is referencing,  I see absolutely no reason for the character bashing. I work with Dave. I personally have never, not once, had a problem talking to the PD of this station or the owner for that matter.  Anyone who's worked in this business for any amount of time, knows every station has it's issues, that's a given. We're all insecure, ego maniac, whatever, this entire thread has been nothing but a load of Puffin Crap doled out by people hiding behind these stupid alias's.  Not that my opinion counts in the world of shadows here, but, for what it's worth, I don't see any of what's been described above here.  This has to be the most unrealistic thread I've ever read and I've been around since Puget Sound was nowhere near Grande Prairie, Alberta.

So, when you find that elusive "Northern Alberta Radio Board" you'll let the rest of us know?

This one's a lively one isn't it.  (I feel like I'm fishing in Tofino.)

Funny how former employees get jealous when they don't get rehired after knowing they're done at the current place.

Sawchuk has (maybe not anyomore, I don't know) done more for his town(s) in 5 yrs than most in a useless radio life on a Friday night.

Formatwise (new word):  the station has a promotion right now-in the name of charity-to sell the station....for a day.  The donor will get to do what he/she/it wants 'music-ly', appearently.  This is where the rumour started.

If there is a format change coming, it would emulate VIBE in Calgary or a HOT AC version of BOUNCE in Edmonton, given Grande Prairie's demo.

I know about the promo you are referencing, but that's not where I heard the rumour. They did that last year as well. I was just wondering about what I'd heard... I didn't want it to turn into a PD bashing session.

I have experience working with and for Dave... I agree with Kent S on every point.

*laughs* Nice alias by the way, sir... *begins sarcasm* GOD, I have NO idea who you are! *ends sarcasm*

Whoever thinks Q99 is flipping formats is just plain wrong.  Why not ask people who work there rather than speculating based on very little, or absolutely zero, information.

[quote=1662]

*laughs* Nice alias by the way, sir... *begins sarcasm* GOD, I have NO idea who you are! *ends sarcasm*

quote]

Who are you referring to here?

Quoted from radioshock

I know about the promo you are referencing, but that's not where I heard the rumour. They did that last year as well. I was just wondering about what I'd heard... I didn't want it to turn into a PD bashing session.

Fast response = no life.  We're two of a kind.

LOL Radiodood  

Quoted from broadcastvictoria

I was working in BC when Q99s PD was practically pushed out the Zone door, only to land in Grande Prairie.  I don't know the guy personally, but I have been told to never work for or with the guy if I want to enjoy my job.  From what I've heard, his time at the Zone put a bad taste in everyone's mouth.  As well a complete turn-over of staff in less than a year at Q99 has to say something about management, I would imagine.

Q99s website has a lot of flames and fire...rock or modern rock maybe?  

I'm still in Victoria...I must have missed the day you were talking about.  While here Dave Sawchuk was a great guy to work alongside and I don't seem to recall anyone shoving him out the door.  He brought great on-air work with great energy and passion to the Zone.  I worked with him and wouldn't hesitate to work with him again.  He also left on his own terms, and had he not taken that job would have still been here.  It wasn't a case of him landing in GP.  He chose to go there for the opportunity to launch a radio station.  He was genuinely excited about it.

I doubt those bashing Dave in this thread, and who bash many others in other threads on here would have the spine to say the words to them in person, or in front of their families.

Never have posted on Puget Sound but have to chime in.  Why is everyone so freaking sensitive?  I have not read one post where someone is attacking the PD as a person.  Radio is a business and like most businesses if not doing well it is upper management that gets blamed. Why don't people stick to the facts?

Is the station flipping formats?

Did this guy move out to Victoria to become PD?

Did he get put on evenings because he was not good enough or experienced enough to manage a station?

Did he take the job in Grand Prairie because the chance to launch a station as PD is better than doing evenings?

Does he need more experience in Radio?

Is he liked as a person in Victoria and Grand Prairie?

My guess to all of these questions is yes and in the case of Victoria it is a well known fact he moved there with OK radio to be PD but it did not happen.  Not because they tried to push him out the door, not because people didn't like him but because he was not ready to be PD in Victoria.  

Quit being so sensitive, it is not a personal attack it is the business of radio.

Quoted from Spicoli

Quit being so sensitive, it is not a personal attack it is the business of radio.

Really?  How is the crap flying around in here not a personal attack?  When broadcastvictoria says, "I don't know the guy personally, but I have been told to never work for or with the guy if I want to enjoy my job.  From what I've heard, his time at the Zone put a bad taste in everyone's mouth..." how can a guy NOT take that personally?  It is character assassination in a small, small industry where your reputation is the number one tool on your belt.

Dave, I don't know you, but I've spoken to those who do and would not hesitate to consider you for a job.  Keep your chin up.

I missed that post and you're right, that is a personal attack and that is not right.  I rather keep it to the facts and like one poster said, just because you do great things in a community and are a nice guy doesn't mean you're a good or a bad PD, or GM, or jock or GSM.  

I don't know the guy personally,...You should have STOPPED right there. You don't know Dave so therefore you have NO RIGHT to bash the guy. GP may not be the hilite of living in Canada but there ARE worse places and going back to the island? Lucky bugger! best of luck to ya Dave......

Congratulations to David B. Sawchuk, and all the best in the future!

How much Saw could a Sawchuk Saw if a Sawchuk could Chuck Saw?
*hops around like a lumberjack in a Monty Python sketch*

If Dave was hated so much at the Zone, then why did the hire him back?

From all accounts he wasn't hated he just wasn't cut out to be a PD which is why he was put on evenings.

Did they hire him back as PD or for a different position?  

Quoted from broadcastvictoria

I was working in BC when Q99s PD was practically pushed out the Zone door, only to land in Grande Prairie.  I don't know the guy personally, but I have been told to never work for or with the guy if I want to enjoy my job.  From what I've heard, his time at the Zone put a bad taste in everyone's mouth.  As well a complete turn-over of staff in less than a year at Q99 has to say something about management, I would imagine.

Q99s website has a lot of flames and fire...rock or modern rock maybe?  

Quoted from Mannskilledtheradiostar

Broadcastvictoria knows what they are talking about.

I've never worked for Dave or lived in Grande Prairie but it's known he moved to Victoria to eventually be the Zone PD only to get put on a bad shift.  He was not respected as a potential PD therefore did not get the job. Surely he came back to Grande Prairie to take the PD job because it is better than doing evenings in a very expensive city. I've listened to his station and it shows his inexperience and lack of originality.

He could be the nicest most respected guy in the world but that doesn't mean he is good at running a station.  Maybe one day he will be, only time will tell.  

Quoted from newstalker

I don't know the guy personally,...You should have STOPPED right there. You don't know Dave so therefore you have NO RIGHT to bash the guy. GP may not be the hilite of living in Canada but there ARE worse places and going back to the island? Lucky bugger! best of luck to ya Dave......

Quoted from radiogossip

If Dave was hated so much at the Zone, then why did the hire him back?

well, from what i've heard and from all accounts, not everything on this board is posted with the best of intentions  

So, is Sawchuk back at The Zone now?  Did he snag the open MD vacancy?