Community radio collaboration culminates as CKMS changes channels and CKRZ comes to Waterloo region.
On March 15th Waterloo Region’s CKMS moves to 102.7 on the FM dial, opening space for Ohsweken’s
CKRZ to expand their broadcast range on 100.3FM.
Radio listeners in Waterloo region tuning into 100.3FM will now hear Six Nation’s “The Voice of the Grand” as
they boost their power to 1000 watts. The switch to 102.7FM for CKMS will launch the station’s 40th
anniversary celebrations, and mark a refocusing of their image, dropping the “Sound FM” brand in favour of
the original “Radio Waterloo”.
Radio Waterloo’s current president, Nat Persaud says of the frequency change, “After four years it is great to
complete this project, to have CKRZ’s unique programming in the region, and to refresh CKMS as we move
into a year of celebration.” Commenting on the rebranding of the station, Persaud adds, “we feel that
returning to CKMS’s roots as Radio Waterloo will help us celebrate the whole region and all the communities
we serve here.”
Barry Rooke, the Executive Directory of the National Community and Campus Radio Association (NCRA)
says of the project, "It's great to see the community broadcasting sector working together. Both organizations
will benefit from the change, being able to better serve the communities they strive so hard to do."
While CKMS has been broadcasting on 100.3FM since 1992, Mark Ciesluk, president of Radio Waterloo
when CKMS was approached about the project, says the decision to switch was made rather easily. “When
CKRZ approached us to discuss swapping frequencies, the CKMS board of directors jumped at the chance to
work in partnership with our friends and neighbours from the Indigenous community of Six Nations. We feel
that CKMS' mandate to champion local engagement with radio broadcasting extends to lending a hand to help
keep the FM radio landscape of Southwestern Ontario both vibrant and representative.”
Looking to the future, Ciesluk added, “It is my hope that both CKRZ and CKMS will find much success in their
new homes on the dial as they continue this tradition into the next decade and beyond. Goodbye, 100.3! Hello,
102.7!“
With CKMS’s frequency shift and the signal boost complete at CKRZ, president Persaud states, “CKRZ’s
programming adds an important voice to Waterloo Region and Radio Waterloo’s shift to 102.7FM sets a new
stage as we build upon our 40 years in the community.”
For more information on the frequency change collaboration project or other information about
CKMS contact:
Nat Persaud President Radio Waterloo Inc nat@soundfm.ca
Background: CKMS has been broadcasting to Waterloo Region since 1977, first on 94.5FM and from 1992, on 100.3FM.
The station was founded as a campus/community operation at the University of Waterloo, and was funded largely
through student levy until 2008. In response to the change in funding Radio Waterloo has been operating as a
cooperative volunteer run organisation, funded through membership fees, programmer contributions, and other
fundraising efforts.