CKDR was launched in 1963 on its original frequency of AM 900 kHz. In 1979, Fawcett Broadcasting was given approval to add rebroadcast transmitters for CKDR at Ear Falls, Hudson, and Sioux Lookout, while a transmitter was added to Red Lake in 1980. CKDR moved from 900 to 800 kHz in 1984 and remained on 800 until November 8, 2005, when the station converted to the FM band at 92.7 MHz.
Rebroadcasters
In 1977, CKDR received approval for a 50 watt rebroadcaster at Ignace, to operate on 1340 kHz with a call sign CKIG. On June 27, 1979, CKDR received approval to add rebroadcast transmitters at Ear Falls, Hudson, and Sioux Lookout. In 1981, CKEF Ear Falls was authorized to change frequencies from 1490 kHz to 1450 kHz. During the 1980s, rebroadcasters CKIG, CKEF, CKHD and CKSI would all adopt the CKDR callsign. In 2006, CKDR was given approval by the CRTC to convert CKDR-2 Sioux Lookout and CKDR-5 Red Lake to the FM band, both at 97.1 MHz to replace the AM signals. In December 2007 the Sioux Lookout repeater was converted to 97.1 FM. In the fall of 2008 the Red Lake AM repeater was also converted to FM, also at 97.1 MHz. On June 8, 2010, co-owned CFOB-FMFort Frances applied to use the rebroadcasting transmitter CKDR-6-AM Atikokan to rebroadcast CFOB-FM instead of CKDR-2-FM Sioux Lookout. The CRTC approved the plan on August 19, 2010. Community leaders in Atikokan said their community has stronger ties to Fort Frances, than to Dryden. The 50-Watt rebroadcaster and an FM CBC Radio One transmitter provide the only local radio reception in Atikokan, which has a population of about 3,300. On June 2, 2014, CKDR received approval from the CRTC to convert CKDR-1 Ignace from the AM band to the FM band at 97.5 MHz with the effective radiated power of 50 watts. On November 27, 2015, CKDR submitted an application to convert CKDR-4 Ear Falls from the AM band to the FM band at 97.5 MHz. This was approved on March 9, 2016. CKDR-3 Hudson is the last AM transmitter to rebroadcast CKDR-FM Dryden. On December 18, 2018, Acadia Broadcasting has applied to convert CKDR-3 Hudson from the AM band to the FM band. This application to move CKDR-3 Hudson from the AM band to the FM band was approved by the CRTC on March 5, 2019. CKDR shut down its last AM transmitter at 1450 kHz in Hudson and moved to its new FM frequency at 97.5 MHz in August 2019.
