The call sign chosen to represent the words "Canada HiFI" or "high fidelity", providing a higher quality sound than on AM radio.

CHFI also initially provided a special Muzak-like background audio service, playing soft instrumental music for offices and retail outlets in the city.

The main programming heard from dawn until midnight was traditional easy listening fare, mostly instrumental cover versions of popular hits, as well as Broadway and Hollywood show tunes.

In 1972, CHFI's AM sister station, by this point under the CFTR call letters, abandoned the beautiful music simulcast of CHFI-FM and adopted a Top 40 format.

The program, hosted by Don Parrish, mixed soothing instrumentals, soft vocals and occasional light classical pieces in "pop" arrangements.

This one-hour program featured full original cast recordings of popular Broadway musicals, with host Don Parish explaining the story between songs.

In the 1970s, Todd Russell began hosting a late evening program called Reminiscing featuring modern recordings of popular songs from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.

In June 2003, CHFI, competing closely with rival adult contemporary station CJEZ, revamped their morning show to attract younger listeners.

Jay and Billie hosted mornings on co-owned Toronto station CISS-FM before it flipped to adult hits earlier that month.

In June 2005, CHFI management fired Jay and Billie, rehired Davis for mornings (who returned on September 6), and also hired Mike Cooper as her co-host on October 26 after his contract with CJEZ expired.

In 2009, CHFI returned to mainstream AC, but retained the "Toronto's Lite Favourites" slogan and added the decimal point back in the station identification.

As well, some upbeat, rhythmic material was also added, while softer artists such as Air Supply were largely dropped from the station's playlist.