CHEZ was launched at 6 p.m. on March 25, 1977 by CHEZ-FM Inc., a company owned and operated by Harvey Glatt.

The original morning show host was Mike O'Reilly, better known at the time as frontman in the rock group Bolt Upright and the Erections.

Other early DJs included Geoff Winter, Steve Colwill, Sheryl Nicholson, Brian Murphy, Pierre Bourque, Paul Hunks, and Kathy Donovan.

The station focused on the 18-34-year-old demographic by playing English progressive rock music.

[3] CHEZ had two sister stations, CHEQ and CJET, under the umbrella of Rideau Broadcasting, located in Smiths Falls.