FM 98.5 CKWR – CKWR

From humble beginnings, FM 98.5 CKWR has grown into a thriving community-licensed radio station. Wired World Inc.’s (o/a FM 98.5 CKWR) inception is largely due to federal youth grants, given to University of Waterloo (UW) students. Riding the community media wave in 1973, the students received money from the Canadian government to start a community television station. Their ambitious goal was also expensive, compelling them to find an alternate project as Grand River Cable took over the role of community cablecaster. That was the start of community radio — FM 98.5 CKWR — and the first station of its kind in Canada.The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) gave Wired World Inc. non-profit charitable status, a license to operate a non-commercial, community-oriented station in 1974. The CRTC said, “We applaud Wired World Inc. for their noble ambition. The Commission will follow with interest this experiement in facilitating community expression on rad