The station originally began broadcasting on October 19, 1957 as CKEK at a frequency of 570 kHz on the AM dial.
The "EK" in the call letters stood for East Kootenay Broadcasting Ltd. (Robert A. Reagh).
On July 24, 1972, EK Radio Ltd. received approval to acquire CKEK and CFEK from East Kootenay Broadcasting Co Ltd. On July 27, 1973, CKEK was authorized to increase its daytime power from 1,000 to 10,000 watts, its nighttime power would remain at 1,000 watts.
[2][3] In 2000, Monarch Broadcasting Limited (division of Jim Pattison Industries Ltd.) purchased Columbia Kootenay Broadcasting Co. Ltd. On September 12, 2001, Columbia Kootenay Broadcasting Co. Ltd., a division of Jim Pattison Industries Ltd. Cranbrook, British Columbia received CRTC approval to move CKEK to 102.9 MHz, which moved there in 2002 and became CHDR-FM 102.9 The Drive.
[4] In September 2021, CHDR-FM flipped to classic hits branded as 102.9 Rewind Radio.