About K-97 (CIRK)

K-97 (CIRK)

K-97 (CIRK-FM) is Edmonton's classic rock radio station — a Stingray Group outlet broadcasting on 97.3 MHz with 100,000 watts. Its call letters stand for "Canada's Immortal Rock." The station's roots go back to August 23, 1949, when the Edmonton Journal established CJCA-FM on 99.5 MHz simulcasting CJCA-AM; it became CIRK on 97.3 in 1975. Its studios are located inside West Edmonton Mall — a distinctive home shared with its metropolitan sister stations — and its transmitter sits southeast of the city at Ellerslie Road and Provincial Highway 21.

Overview

CIRK-FM is a commercial FM station licensed to Edmonton, Alberta, owned by Stingray Group through Stingray Radio. It broadcasts on 97.3 MHz with 100,000 watts (Class C). Its studios are located inside West Edmonton Mall, alongside sister stations CFCW, CFCW-FM, CKRA-FM, and CKJR.

The station's format is classic rock, and its broadcast area covers the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. As of February 2021, CIRK was the sixth-most-listened-to radio station in the Edmonton market per Numeris PPM data.

History

In June 1944, CJCA launched experimental FM station VE9AI. In 1949, CJCA-FM was established by the Edmonton Journal on 99.5 MHz with 250 watts, simulcasting CJCA-AM programming. In 1953, the Journal sold a 40% interest to Taylor-Pearson-Carson, forming Edmonton Broadcasting Company Limited. By 1957, CJCA-FM was a CBC Trans-Canada affiliate at 400 watts.

The station moved to 97.3 MHz in 1975 with 100,000 watts, adopting the CIRK call letters — "Canada's Immortal Rock." Ownership passed through Selkirk Holdings, Maclean-Hunter (which bought Selkirk in 1989), Western World Communications (1991), Craig Broadcast Systems (1995), and NewCap (2001), which became Stingray Group in 2018. Before 2008, the station was known as K-Rock; it rebranded to K-97.

K-97's lineage reaches back to the dawn of FM in Edmonton. It signed on August 23, 1949, as CJCA-FM on 99.5 MHz — an FM simulcast of CJCA — later programming separately during evening hours. In 1975 it switched to the current frequency and the CIRK-FM calls, and in 1979 it went on air as K-97, becoming an Edmonton favourite through the 1980s with Bruce Kenyon on mornings; in the mid-1980s it was even heard crystal clear across North America as a secondary audio feed on channel 18 of the Anik D satellite.

Ownership moved through Western World Communications and then, on August 25, 1995, to Craig Broadcast Systems. On August 29, 1997, K-97 became K-Rock, updating the classic rock format with '90s music. In 1998 an operations agreement with Newcap Broadcasting's CFCW/CKRA saw the station relocate to the CFCW/MIX 96 facility, and Newcap later bought it outright. Through much of the next five years the station regained its success, but by early 2007 it was struggling — public firings, an 11th-place showing in the Spring 2008 book, and commentators noting an aging, shrinking demographic tired of the same old sound.

The response was a return to the roots: on July 7, 2008, K-Rock became K-97 once again. On February 10, 2009, the station announced the return of the Terry, Bill, and Steve morning team — whose show had dominated Edmonton ratings from 2000 to 2005 — back on air February 23, 2009. The station's features became fixtures: a classic Led Zeppelin song at 10:00 p.m. every night ("Get The Led Out"), a classic AC/DC song at 3:00 p.m. ("AC/D @ 3"), 97 minutes of non-stop classic rock at 9:00 a.m., the All Request Nooner, and Classic Vinyl at 6:00 p.m. The station developed a reputation for keeping long-term talent — Rob Berg since the early 1980s, Melissa Wright since the mid-1990s, Terry Evans a fixture for over 30 years.

As of the February 28, 2021 Numeris PPM report, CIRK was the sixth-most-listened-to station in the Edmonton market, with rebroadcasters extending the signal into Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and Saskatchewan. Broadcasting "Edmonton's Only Classic Rock Station" from studios inside West Edmonton Mall, K-97 trades on four decades of heritage — a brand listeners grew up with and came back to.

Programming

K-97 plays classic rock — the canon of 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s rock — targeting adult listeners with a deep library and personality-driven shows. The station's programming emphasizes the heritage rock acts that defined the format, with local hosts and long-running features.

Coverage and Audience

CIRK's 100,000-watt signal covers the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. The station targets classic rock fans, competing with Bell Media's The Bear (CFBR), Corus's rock outlets, and streaming services. It ranked sixth in the Edmonton market in early 2021 per Numeris PPM data.

The Newcap era reshaped the station physically and sonically. On February 17, 1999, Newcap Inc. was approved to purchase CIRK-FM; Terry Evans became the K-Rock morning host, moving up from afternoon drive and replacing the departing Bruce Kenyon. In 2001 Steve Jones — PD of CIRK and CKRA — was appointed director of programming for Newcap's 30 stations. On June 29, 2005, Newcap Alberta unveiled its new 26,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art broadcast facility prominently situated within West Edmonton Mall, bringing 790 CFCW, 96X, K-Rock, and the Cat Country network studios under one roof; the stations' two former headquarters had been modest, off-the-beaten-track facilities. In January 2006 the CRTC approved an antenna-height increase and transmitter relocation. The July 7, 2008, return to the K-97 name ("Edmonton's classic rock, K-97") brought a documented lineup: Terry Evans and Phil Aubrey 5:30–9, Melissa Wright 9–2, Rob Berg 2–7, Mike Diesel 7–midnight, weekends Brother Brett and Jeff Walker — under program director James "Gruff" Gushnowski.

One modern tradition ties the station to the city's sports identity: since 2022, K-97 has temporarily rebranded as "Konnor 97" during the Stanley Cup playoffs when the Edmonton Oilers are playing — a nod to Connor McDavid that shows how deeply the station is woven into local fandom.

Ownership

CIRK-FM is owned and operated by Stingray Group, Canada's largest independent radio broadcaster. Stingray acquired the station in 2018 as part of its purchase of Newcap Radio. Earlier owners included the Edmonton Journal/Southam (1949–1975), Selkirk (1975–1989), Maclean-Hunter (1989–1991), Western World Communications (1991–1995), Craig (1995–2001), and NewCap (2001–2018).

K-97's current schedule runs on heritage names: the Terry Evans Show with Pete Potipcoe on weekday mornings (5:30–9 a.m.), Lea Miller on middays (9 a.m.–2 p.m.), Todd James on afternoons (weekdays 2–7 p.m.), and the Vinyl Vault with JC Douglas on Saturday evenings (6–7 p.m.). The station's digital home is k97.ca, with the West Edmonton Mall studios at 2394 West Edmonton Mall (Entrance 55), 8882–170 Street, Edmonton — a retail-mall broadcast location that puts the station in front of foot traffic daily. The contest and text line is 1-833-413-8333, the office line 780-437-4996, and the SMS line 780-451-8097, with social accounts under @K97Edmonton and @K97.

As of the February 28, 2021 Numeris PPM report, CIRK was the sixth-most-listened-to station in the Edmonton market — a strong showing for a heritage classic rocker. Rebroadcasters extend the K-97 signal well beyond Edmonton, into Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and Saskatchewan.

Digital Presence

K-97 streams live through Stingray's digital platforms and maintains active social media accounts promoting its hosts, concerts, and contests. The station is associated with the k97.ca web portal; Wikipedia lists k97.ca as the station's official website.

The station's history — from the 1949 CJCA-FM launch through the 1975 move to 97.3 to the Stingray era — is documented by the Canadian Communications Foundation's broadcasting-history.ca project and in CRTC licensing records.