The station's main studio and transmitter are located in Vermilion Bay, with repeaters in Kenora, Dryden and Sioux Lookout from which it derives its branding.

On April 13, 2004, Norwesto Communications received approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to operate a new FM radio station at Vermilion Bay along with repeaters.

[1] The station launched on November 22, 2004[citation needed] with a hot adult contemporary format.

In March 2022, Golden West announced the sale of CKQV to Acadia Broadcasting pending CRTC approval, making it a sister station to CJRL-FM.

This is due to ongoing interference with the 104.5 signal from associated repeater CKQV-FM-2 in Kenora as received in the Vermilion Bay area.