2004
On September 20th the CRTC approved application by McBride Communications & Media Inc. and Umeek Human Resources Development Inc., partners in West Island Radio Enterprises General Partnership to operate a new English-language FM station in Tofino.  Matthew McBride, a long-time British Columbia broadcaster and former General Manager of Central Island Broadcasting (later Island Radio Ltd.) in Nanaimo, had headed up the application. The station was to operate at 90.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 170 watts with a proposed blend of Pop-Rock and Country music.  All programming was to be locally produced and include regular weekday and Saturday newscasts.  The station also was to feature local artists and a weekly four-hour program in a First Nations language.

2005
The station started extensive testing in August, with the official sign-on date of August 16th.   It identified itself as “The Bear”, with call letters CHMZ-FM, when pronounced "Chimz", a local aboriginal word for bear.

Website:  http://www.chmzfm.com

                                                            Written by Gord Lansdell -October, 2006