

Collingwood is a radio site on the southern tip of Georgian Bay. The area, part of the Georgian Triangle region of Ontario, is 25 miles west of Barrie, 70 miles northwest of downtown Toronto, 130 miles northwest of Buffalo, 140 miles south of Sudbury, and 200 miles northeast of Detroit. Among the three parks in downtown Collingwood – Harbourview, Sunset Point Beach, and Millennium – the latter was chosen due to its position jutting 6/10 of a mile into the bay.
This site is unique for providing a better understanding of marine signal refraction, the idea that lake ducts – in part fueled by lake breezes – trap any signals that enter them at any point along the shores or open water, thus leading those signals to bounce around, fanning out and refracting in every direction across the water. This has long been a theory on how signals spread across the water as it had been noted for two decades at other sites, but few sites display it so obviously as Collingwood. This concept is often best seen with Detroit stations on Lake Huron, where sites such as the Straits of Mackinac can regularly hear Detroit despite no line-of-sight reception and lying opposite the path of these stations as they cross the water.
Just a few miles to the west of Collingwood lies the Blue Mountains, an area of high elevation formed by the Niagara Escarpment that butts up against Georgian Bay. The terrain reaches an elevation of up to 1,800 feet (550 meters) just 5 miles from Millennium Park, more than 1,200 feet below these hills. With this terrain, few signals from the southwest should be received in Collingwood aside from those close by or more distant signals with decreased reception. Signals across the water come in at lower angles, especially at longer distances; they cannot pass over these high hills as line-of-sight signals then fall 1,200 feet into town. However, indirect stations that are commonly heard across the waters of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay are heard here regardless of this fact, including Detroit, Flint, and Bay City at distances of 200 miles. These signals are received aiming north over Georgian Bay, not from the southwest where they originate. They are being refracted within the marine layer, received as indirect reception.
COLLINGWOOD / GEORGIAN TRIANGLE, ONTARIO BANDSCAN
June 22, 2018 1810-2045 / 22°C, overcast, var. winds
Location: 44°30’44.7″N 80°13’24.0″W (Millennium Park)
585 feet (atop rocks at lake level)
131 stations total / Average distance: 109 mi.
* station was received on seek

*88.1 CFRH ON Penetanguishene / Vague FM //106.7 / 40kw / 65dBµ, stereo (6 mi.)
88.3 = 88.1
*88.5 CKDX ON Newmarket / Jewel 88.5 / 30kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (49 mi.)
88.7 CKAR ON Huntsville / The Bay / 5.7kw / 10dBµ, mono (85 mi.)
88.7 CIWN ON Mt. Forest / The River / 1.884kw / 5dBµ, mono (45 mi.)
88.9 –
89.1 CISO ON Orillia / Sunshine 89FM / 2.5kw / 15dBµ, stereo (33 mi.)
89.3 –
89.5 CIUT ON Toronto / Sound of Your City / 15kw / RDS / 3dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
*89.7 CBCM ON Penetanguishene / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 2.8kw / 40dBµ, mono (21 mi.)
89.9 CJKX-1 ON Sunderland / KX96 / 5kw / 15dBµ, mono (59 mi.)
90.1 WGMC NY Greece / Jazz 90.1 / 15kw / 5dBµ, mono (153 mi.)
90.1 CBBS ON Sudbury / CBC Music Sudbury / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (142 mi.)
90.3 CJBC ON Toronto / Ici Musique Toronto / 10kw / 5dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
90.5 WPHN MI Gaylord / The Promise FM / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (198 mi.)
*90.7 CBL-3 ON Orillia / CBC Music Toronto / 5.5kw / 20dBµ, mono (34 mi.)
90.9 CBBX ON Sudbury / Ici Musique Sudbury / 50kw / 3dBµ, mono (142 mi.)
90.9 WJNY NY Watertown / WCNY Classic FM / 7.1kw / 2dBµ, mono (227 mi.)
91.1 CJRT ON Toronto / Jazz.FM91 / 40kw / 5dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
91.3 CHRZ ON Parry Island / Anishinabek Nation Rez 91 / 60w / faint (57 mi.)
*91.5 CBCO ON Orillia / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 13.52kw / 20dBµ, mono only (34 mi.)
91.7 CICS ON Sudbury / KICX Country / 50kw / 2dBµ, mono (142 mi.)
91.7 CHES ON Erin / Erin Radio / 2.5kw / in car (52 mi.)
91.7 WCML MI Alpena / CMU Public R. / 92kw / weak (198 mi.)
91.9 CKLY ON Lindsay / Bob FM / 11.4kw / 7dBµ, mono (77 mi.)
92.1 CKPC ON Brantford / Jewel 92 / 80kw / 5dBµ, mono (86 mi.)
92.1 CIMA ON Alliston / myFM / 3.75kw / 1dBµ, mono (32 mi.)
*92.3 CJOS ON Owen Sound / The Dock / 9.4kw / RDS / 15dBµ, stereo (36 mi.)
92.5 WFDX MI Atlanta / The Fox FM / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono, dominant (205 mi.)
92.5 WBEE NY Rochester / Country / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (165 mi.)
92.7 CJBX ON London / BX93 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono, high (116 mi.)
92.7 CJRQ ON Sudbury / 92.7 Rock / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono, low (143 mi.)
92.9 = 93.1
*93.1 CHAY ON Barrie / Fresh Radio 93.1 / 100kw / RDS / 50dBµ, stereo (28 mi.)
93.3 = 93.1
93.5 CFZN ON Haliburton / The Moose / 6kw / 5dBµ, mono (94 mi.)
93.5 CIGM ON Sudbury / Hot 93.5 / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (137 mi.)
93.5 CBCL ON London / CBC R. 1 London / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (121 mi.)
*93.7 CKYC ON Owen Sound / Country 93 / 22kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (36 mi.)
93.9 CKKL ON Ottawa / New Country 94 / 95kw / 0dBµ, mono (224 mi.)
94.1 CBL ON Toronto / CBC Music Toronto / 38kw / 5dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
94.1 CKNR ON Elliot Lake / The Moose / 90kw / 3dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
94.3 CBLU ON Huntsville / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 70kw / 10dBµ, mono (78 mi.)
94.5 CIBU ON Wingham / Cl. Rock 94-5 / 75kw / RDS / 10dBµ, mono (57 mi.)
94.5 WNED NY Buffalo / Classical 94.5 / 94kw / 1dBµ, mono (149 mi.)
94.7 CHKX ON Hamilton / KX 94.7 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (93 mi.)
*94.9 CKGE ON Oshawa / The Rock / 50kw / 20dBµ, mono (80 mi.)
94.9 CIMF QC Gatineau / Rouge FM / 84kw / 10dBµ, mono (225 mi.)
*95.1 CKCB ON Collingwood / The Peak / 3.5kw / RDS / 55dBµ, stereo (6 mi.)
95.3 CING ON Hamilton / Fresh Radio 95.3 / 100kw / behind 95.1 (93 mi.)
95.5 CJOJ ON Belleville / Hits FM / 64kw / 5dBµ, mono (135 mi.)
95.5 CJTK ON Sudbury / KFM / 8.1kw / 5dBµ, mono (144 mi.)
*95.7 CFJB ON Barrie / Rock 95 / 100kw / RDS / 55dBµ, stereo (28 mi.)
95.9 CFPL ON London / FM96 / 300kw / 2dBµ, mono in null of 95.7 (120 mi.)
96.1 CBCN ON North Bay / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
96.1 WMSX NY Buffalo / Mix 96 / 47kw / 3dBµ, mono (131 mi.)
96.1 WHNN MI Bay City / My 96.1 / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (184 mi.)
96.3 CFMZ ON Toronto / New Classical 96.3 FM / 60kw / 10dBµ, mono, dist. (73 mi.)
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (234 mi.)
*96.5 CJBC-3 ON Penetanguishene / Ici Première Tor. / 15.3kw / 50dBµ, mono (21 mi.)
96.7 CJWV ON Peterborough / Oldies 96.7 / 7kw / 5dBµ, mono (96 mi.)
96.7 WRGZ MI Rogers City / Country / 42kw / 10dBµ, mono (183 mi.)
96.9 WGRF NY Buffalo / 97 Rock / 24kw / weak (127 mi.)
*97.1 CBL-4 ON Owen Sound / CBC Music Tor. / 20.22kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (37 mi.)
97.3 CHBM ON Toronto / Boom 97.3 / 28.9kw / 10dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
97.3 WMJO MI Essexville / Joe FM / 3kw / good in car (189 mi.)
97.5 CBCE ON Little Current / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 21kw / 10dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
97.5 CIQM ON London / Virgin Radio / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (121 mi.)
*97.7 CHGB ON Wasaga Beach / The Beach / 700w / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (10 mi.)
97.9 WJLB MI Detroit / Urban / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (205 mi.)
97.9 WPXY NY Rochester / 98PXY / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (162 mi.)
98.1 CHFI ON Toronto / Adult Contemp. / 44kw / 10dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
98.1 CBON ON Sudbury / Ici Première Sudbury / 50kw / 0dBµ, mono (142 mi.)
98.3 CFLY ON Kingston / Fly FM / 95.5kw / 3dBµ, mono, very good (177 mi.)
98.5 WKSE NY Niagara Falls / Kiss 98.5 / 41kw / weak in car (123 mi.)
98.5 CJWL ON Ottawa / Jewel 98.5 / 2.5kw / weak in car (229 mi.)
*98.7 CBCB ON Owen Sound / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 100kw / RDS / 35dBµ, mono (37 mi.)
98.9 CJLF-3 ON Huntsville / Life 100.3 //100.3 / 750w / 1dBµ, mono (72 mi.)
98.9 WKLZ MI Petoskey / KLT The Rock Sta. / 100kw / RDS / 5dBµ, mono (240 mi.)
99.1 CBLA ON Toronto / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 98kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
*99.3 CJGB ON Meaford / Jewel 99.3 / 2.875kw / RDS / 35dBµ, stereo (17 mi.)
99.5 CFBG ON Bracebridge / The Moose / 12kw / RDS / 10dBµ, mono (60 mi.)
99.7 CKPT ON Peterborough / Energy 99.7 / 11kw / 1dBµ, mono (93 mi.)
99.7 CJOT ON Ottawa / Boom 99.7 / 100kw / 1dBµ, mono (233 mi.)
99.7 WUGN MI Midland / Family Life R. / 100kw / 0dBµ, mono, good (225 mi.)
99.9 CKFM ON Toronto / Virgin Radio / 40kw / 10dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
99.9 CBCS ON Sudbury / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (142 mi.)
99.9 WHAK MI Rogers City / The Wave / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (191 mi.)
100.1 CHCQ ON Belleville / Cool 100.1 / 32kw / 10dBµ, mono (135 mi.)
*100.3 CJLF ON Barrie / Life 100.3 //98.9 / 32.8kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (28 mi.)
100.5 CHUR ON North Bay / KiSS 100.5 / 100kw / 4dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
100.7 CHIN ON Toronto / Int’l Radio / 8.5kw / 1dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
100.7 CFRM ON Little Current / Glow 100 / 27.5kw / 0dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
100.9 CKHA ON Haliburton / Canoe FM / 3.4kw / 10dBµ, mono (94 mi.)
*101.1 CIQB ON Barrie / Big 101.1 / 7.5kw / RDS / 30dBµ, stereo (28 mi.)
*101.3 CKUN ON Christian Is. / Beausoleil First N. / 900w / 30dBµ, stereo (21 mi.)
101.5 CKWF ON Peterborough / The Wolf / 15.2kw / 5dBµ, mono (96 mi.)
101.7 CKNX ON Wingham / The One / 100kw / RDS / 5dBµ, mono (57 mi.)
101.9 CKFX ON North Bay / 101.9 Rock / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
102.1 CFNY ON Brampton / The Edge / 35.4kw / 5dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
102.3 CKJJ ON Belleville / UCB Canada / 15kw / 10dBµ, mono (149 mi.)
102.3 CHST ON London / Jack 102.3 / 100kw / 0dBµ, mono, good + 102.9 (120 mi.)
102.5 CBLA-4 ON Shelburne / CBC R. 1 Toronto / 6kw / 10dBµ, mono (32 mi.)
102.5 WTSS NY Buffalo / Star 102.5 / 110kw / 2dBµ, mono (151 mi.)
102.5 CBOX ON Ottawa / Ici Musique Ottawa / 94kw / in null (224 mi.)
102.7 WRVM WI Suring / Voice of the Master / 98kw / faint (403 mi.)
*102.9 CFMO ON Collingwood / Classical 102.9 / 23kw / RDS / 65dBµ, stereo (6 mi.)
103.1 = 102.9
103.3 CKLP ON Parry Sound / The Moose / 46.6kw / 10dBµ, mono (61 mi.)
103.5 CIDC ON Orangeville / Z103-5 / 30.7kw / RDS / 10dBµ, mono (44 mi.)
103.7 CJPT ON Brockville / Bob FM / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono, dominant (210 mi.)
103.7 WRTS PA Erie / Star 104 / 50kw / 1dBµ, mono (168 mi.)
103.9 CHNO ON Sudbury / Rewind 103.9 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (137 mi.)
103.9 CKDK ON Woodstock / Country 104 / 51kw / 5dBµ, mono (101 mi.)
*104.1 CICZ ON Midland / The Dock / 20kw / RDS / 45dBµ, stereo (28 mi.)
104.3 WOMC MI Detroit / Classic Hits / 190kw / 10dBµ, mono (202 mi.)
104.5 CHUM ON Toronto / Hot AC / 40kw / 5dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
104.7 WKJC MI Tawas City / Country / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (168 mi.)
104.7 CIHR ON Woodstock / Heart FM / 20kw / brief (101 mi.)
*104.9 CFDC ON Shelburne / Country 105 / 50kw / 20dBµ, mono (19 mi.)
105.1 CKQM ON Peterborough / Country 105 / 25kw / 2dBµ, mono (96 mi.)
105.3 CJMX ON Sudbury / KiSS 105.3 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (143 mi.)
105.3 CISS ON Ottawa / KiSS 105.3 / 84kw / 2dBµ, mono (224 mi.)
105.5 CFBK ON Huntsville / The Moose / 43.4kw / 15dBµ, mono (83 mi.)
105.7 CIKR ON Kingston / K-Rock / 50kw / 2dBµ, mono (189 mi.)
*105.9 CICX ON Orillia / KICX 106 / 20kw / RDS / 50dBµ, stereo (28 mi.)
106.1 CIMJ ON Guelph / Magic 106 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (71 mi.)
106.1 CHEZ ON Ottawa / Classic Rock / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (224 mi.)
106.3 CJBC-5 ON Peterborough / Ici Première Tor. / 12.438kw / 5dBµ, mono (107 mi.)
*106.5 CIXK ON Owen Sound / Mix 106.5 / 28kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (36 mi.)
106.7 CFRH-1 ON Barrie / Vague FM //88.1 / 175w / 15dBµ, stereo (27 mi.)
106.9 CBL-1 ON Huntsville / CBC Music Toronto / 70kw / 5dBµ, mono (78 mi.)
107.1 CILQ ON Toronto / Q107 / 40kw / 5dBµ, mono (73 mi.)
107.3 CJDL ON Tillsonburg / Country 107.3 / 7.8kw / weak (108 mi.)
*107.5 CKMB ON Barrie / Kool FM / 50kw / RDS / 50dBµ, stereo (28 mi.)
107.7 = 107.5
107.9 CHUC ON Cobourg / Cl. Rock 107.9 / 20kw / 2dBµ, mono (107 mi.)
107.9 WCRZ MI Flint / Cars 108 / 50kw / good in/out in car (198 mi.)
Inconclusive signals: 90.1, 94.7
seek was not monitored but is simulated
Station notes:
99.5 WYSS MI Sault Ste. Marie is at 1.3kw from a backup tower instead of 100kw
105.5 WMKD MI Pickford is at 700w from a backup tower instead of 100kw
Recommendations for this radio site: Collingwood is the main population center along this stretch of Georgian Bay, leading it to be a top choice for a listening site here. Like most of Georgian Bay, it is difficult to find good public sites as most waterfront land is privately-owned. Millennium Park provided a great opportunity at the time for the perfect location and with free parking as well, something that this city is not especially known for. Other suitable park options required steep parking fees that were too burdensome for a short visit or simply fell out of favor compared to Millennium Park with a better setup for a marine environment. However, paid waterfront parking has been further expanded in Collingwood and Millennium Park has since been added to that list in 2021. Parking here is now $10 an hour with a daily maximum of $50 with just 24 spaces available at the listening site with identical prices elsewhere in town, not to mention many spots being resident-only.
Avoid these steep parking fees by parking downtown for 75 cents an hour and walking to the waterfront; a walk from downtown to Millennium Park is less than a mile. Alternatively, parking at Harbourview Park off Birch Street is free, though the park isn’t especially scenic and open water is obstructed here by Collingwood Harbour. Sunset Point Beach to the east of downtown is also a favorable listening spot and is a slightly closer walk from downtown parking than is Millennium Park.
Like most downtowns in Ontario, Collingwood’s Hurontario Street is lined with many beautiful red brick buildings and is worthy of a visit. Because of delayed plans at other sites to the west on the day I visited town, I had no time whatsoever to explore this area aside from passing through and had only time to monitor signals until the sun was setting before continuing my drive from Tobermory east to Collingwood and west to Sarnia that day.
If in this area, a visit to Wasaga Beach, the most popular stretch of shoreline on Georgian Bay and home to long stretches of sandy beaches unlike any others in the area, is certainly recommended. It was avoided as a listening site on this trip for the same reason Collingwood was a struggle: exorbitant parking fees, but also the fact the beach is a provincial park with day-use fees, also very expensive for any park in the Ontario Parks system. Despite this, the unbroken 9-mile stretch of white sand beach boasts being the longest freshwater beach in the world and is famous for its long holiday weekend parties.
Another alternate listening site in the Collingwood area is Craigleith Provincial Park, just 6 miles to the west of downtown. The park’s campground is right along the shore with the ski resorts of the Blue Mountains immediately to the south making for a very favorable radio site. Camping would be recommended here to avoid any steep day-use fees, though the park itself is actually very small compared to most. This is by far the most favorable alternative site in the Collingwood area. In addition, this high elevation along the Niagara Escarpment can provide an opportunity for better listening higher above the water. Areas such as the Blue Mountain Ski Resort could be a worthwhile visit for this purpose, though will also likely enhance local and semi-local Toronto stations providing additional challenges.
Less than a mile down the road to the west of Craigleith is Delphi Point Park. Also on the shore of the bay, this ecological park in Clarksburg uses the same parking model as nearby Collingwood – $10 per hour. It overlooks the high hills immediately to the south, and is large enough for some privacy and generally less busy than others if you’re willing to pay the price. It is also a popular spot for checking out rock fossils.

Location rating: Collingwood generally is plagued with far more disadvantages than advantages as a radio listening site. Parking fees make this area undesirable and quite inconvenient. The city is too close to major urban areas such as Toronto, not to mention Barrie and Owen Sound stations being locals and with plenty more stations surrounding Collingwood itself. This means more frequencies are occupied or prone to interference. Being at the southern tip of Georgian Bay, Bruce Peninsula – especially with its closer proximity – blocks out many Lake Huron stations. The Blue Mountains’ high elevation just down the road takes care of the rest of the stations as well.
Skip Collingwood and instead reserve a campsite at Craigleigh just outside of town for an extended stay. Park cheaply downtown in Collingwood and explore the city from there and enjoy the Blue Mountains area from the campground.