In June 2005, the
CRTC granted a license to CKMW Radio Ltd.—a company owned by
Bill Evanov—for a new FM radio station in Ottawa, Ontario; the company proposed an
adult standards/
easy listening format. On February 20, 2006, the station launched as CJWL-FM with the branding
Jewel 98.5; similar to sister stations
CKDX and
CKPC-FM, the station broadcast a mix of
soft adult contemporary and adult standards music. On October 6, 2009, CJWL received CRTC approval to increase power from 485 watts to 1,100 watts. In May 2021, Evanov rebranded CJWL as
Lite 98.5, maintaining an adult contemporary format. Evanov stated that
Lite would be "more current" while still "retain[ing] the best elements" of
Jewel.
Sale to Torres Media On September 5, 2024, Evanov announced that the station, along with
CKHK-FM in
Hawkesbury and
CHRC-FM in
Rockland, would close effective September 20, 2024, due to increased competition, changing listener habits, and economic conditions brought upon by the
COVID-19 pandemic. However, on September 19, Evanov announced that it had reached agreements to sell all three stations, with plans for CJWL to be announced the following week. On September 23, Evanov announced that CJWL would be sold to Torres Media, owner of 101.7
CIDG-FM, pending approval by the CRTC. On November 1, 2024, Torres Media began operating the station under a
temporary management agreement ending no later than November 30, 2025, pending the CRTC's approval of the sale. At this time, the station relaunched its adult contemporary format as
Mix 98.5, and applied for the new call letters CITM-FM. On January 24, 2025, Torres Media formally submitted an application with the CRTC to acquire CITM-FM The CRTC approved Torres Media's application on June 30, 2025. ==References==