CIOI-FM was originally launched in 1975 as CHMR, broadcasting on carrier current and cable FM.

On June 6, 1997, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved the Mohawk College Radio Corporation's application to operate a new campus instructional FM station.

Additionally a number of community members volunteer their time by hosting genre-specific radio programs on The Hawk.

The Hawk studios are currently located in F wing at Mohawk College within the Department of Music and Communications Media.

This project called the C+C Music Festival is co-produced by fellow campus-community radio station CFMU-FM, located on the campus of McMaster University in Hamilton.