CHAK (AM)

CHAK is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 860 AM in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. The station broadcasts the programming of the CBC Radio One network known as CBC North.

History

CHAK was launched in 1960 as a local community station in neighbouring Aklavik on AM 1230. That same year, a new station was being built by the CBC in the new town of Inuvik to replace the old station in Aklavik. The new CHAK went on the air on November 26, 1960 on a new frequency, 860. The station was now part of the CBC Northern Radio Service. CHAK received CBC news and topical programs by picking up CBX 1010 (later 740) Edmonton and relaying the broadcast. Tapes recorded in Montreal were also flown in on regular airline flights. Eventually the station was linked into the primary CBC network feed.

The history of CHAK may have originated prior to 1960: according to the Canadian Communications Foundation, the station originally began broadcasting on 1230 kHz in 1947, mainly for community broadcasts such as church services. The station was operated by the Canadian Army and was one of Canada's most northerly radio stations. A year later, CHAK was airing CBC's school programs at the request of the Department of Mines and Resources. In 1953, CHAK received federal approval to change frequencies from 1230 kHz to 1490 kHz. It is unknown if the station had moved back to 1230 kHz, prior to CHAK's launch in 1960.