1973: Date of establishment.
1974: Date of incorporation.
1980: Move to new studios on Lancaster Street.
1981: Broadcasts in stereo.
1985: Move to new studios on Regina Street.
1998: Change frequency on the dial from 98.7 to 98.5.
2001: Awarded a grant from The Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Receives the results of its first ever audience ratings survey from Bureau of Broadcast Measurement.
2002: Move to new studios on 375 University Ave. East.
Purchase and install modern studio broadcast equipment.
Installed New Harris transmitter.
2003: Application for major power increase approved by CRTC.
2006: Awarded a grant from The Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Alumni Memories
CKWR FM made history! Canada’s first community-owned-and-operated radio station was established in 1974. Before the internet, before YouTube, before MySpace, before blogs and the rest, CKWR FM was the place to share ideas and interests, music and the arts, opinions and discussion, and our rich ethnic diversity. A passionate group of local residents and radio aficionados formed Wired World Inc. Through regular public meetings and a weekly community-produced hour on a local station, the group grew, while its volunteer members worked together to find a frequency, raise funds for equipment, find a location and apply for an FM licence. That was just the beginning.
"CKWR has evolved to become a full service radio station while still retaining its roots as The Region’s #1 Community Station.” — Lawrence McNaught, Founder and First Program Director
FM 98.5 CKWR invites alumni to share their experiences and stories about the radio station. If you were involved directly or indirectly with FM 98.7 or 98.5 CKWR, we would like to hear from you. Share with us your experience or story, where you are now and what you are doing. In turn, we will post it to Alumni Memories. E-mail: general@ckwr.com