1981 Hougen's history

Cancom

Rolf and Margaret Hougen's dining room walls are lined with liqueur bottles that he has collected from over 65 countries around the world. In his office at Hougen's Department Store, among other things, is a tusk and a jaw bone from a mastodon 22,000 years old, which came from the Klondike Goldfields in Dawson City. Up on a shelf is an antique radio and gramophone. The tall, blonde Canadian born Norwegian grew up in Whitehorse, which some now refer to as Hougenville, and he admits that at least two or three businesses will be offered to him this year. He is the entrepreneur of the north, but unlike others who came to this fascinating land, with its anticipatory sense of adventure, Hougen has always planned to stay. He likes it. And 1981 may be the year that the first Canadian multi-channel package will be offered to remote areas across Canada.

The package initiated by Hougen and called Cancom, will be heard by the CRTC in February. It involves the leasing of four transponders from Anik A-3 (Telesat) to carry the programs of CHAN-TV Vancouver, CITV Edmonton, CHCH Hamilton, and the TVA network in Quebec. The partnership involves Dr, Charles Allard, chairman of Allarco Broadcasting Co. Ltd., Philippe de Gaspe Beaubien, head of Telemedia Communications Ltee., J Stuart MacKay, president of Selkirk Communications Ltd. and J Raymond Peters, president of British Columbia Broadcasting Co. Ltd. in Vancouver.