CKRK-FM

Founder Conway Jocks and the Mohawk Radio Broadcasting system launched the station on March 31st on 103.5MHz as “the communication voice of the local Kanienkehaka Raotitiphkwa Cultural Centre”. Its intent was to be an information source for the Kahnawake reserve and others in the immediate area. Its 50-watt transmitter however reached a much broader audience in Montreal and along the south shore of the St. Lawrence. The station was to operate primarily in English, but the Mohawk language would be heard from time to time in the schedule.

In the summer of 1990, CKRK-FM played a major role in keeping their community informed, and at the same time preserving an air of calm, in what became a confrontation between local residents and the authorities, over a proposed golf course extension onto what were regarded as sacred burial grounds. Conway Jocks’ phone-in-show The Party Line played a significant part by providing an even-handed forum for the expression of differing ideas.

On April 13th the CRTC approved the station’s application to change its frequency from 103.5MHx to 103.7.MHz.

On June 4th, the CRTC approved CKRK-FM increasing its effective radiated power from 17 to 250 watts.

On August 4th, the Commission approved an application from the Kahnawake Economic Development Authority, on behalf of a company to be incorporated (later identified as Mohawk Radio Kahnawake Association), for them to acquire the assets of CFRK-FM from then-owner Conway Jocks.

At the same time as they renewed CKRK-FM’s licence on June 15th, the CRTC announced changes in conditions of licence for some native radio undertakings, including CKRK-FM. There were no longer any limits on the amount of advertising the station could carry, but the station was now required to carry at least 35% in Canadian popular (Category 2) music.

Station founder Conway Jocks died.

On July 7th, the station – now known as K-103 – was relaunched with a new logo and new programming. 

Jesse “Big Sexy” Deer died at age 25. Deer was most recently heard on K103 doing afternoon drive.

Former CHOM-FM morning host Ted Bird began at K103 on April 19. He was co-host of the morning show alongside James “Java” Jacobs, who’d been on the air there for most of the last 20 years, and Paul Graif, who recently re-joined K103 as the morning news and sports anchor. Graif began his career at K103 before moving to TV sports at Global and CTV.

Ted Bird, who moved to K103 as morning host two years ago, left and made a quick landing at TSN Radio 990 Montreal.