1938
The CBC had plans for the near future to open two 50,000 watt transmitters. One would serve the Prairies and the other would serve the Maritmes. The Prairie transmitter would be known as CBK and operate on a frequency of 540 kHz. As of this time, the transmitter was used by CJRM Regina, not far from the proposed site of the new transmitter which had not yet be definitely fixed (the location), according to CBC officials. An RCA 50-kW transmitter would be used. Construction of the two new transmitters was in the hands of G.W. Olive, chief CBC engineer and H.N. Smith, CBC design and construction engineer.

Service in this area started on phantom station CNRR using the frequency of CKCK in Regina. CNRR was owned by the Canadian National Railroad. The Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission was formed in 1932 and it took over the CNR's radio operations. In 1936, the CRBC was replaced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC then started making plans for the expansion of its service.

1939
It was expected the new 50,000 watt CBK (located near Watrous, SK) was to be ready for operation by June 1 at the latest. The station would receive daily 16 hours of CBC sustaining programs. There would be no local commercial programs. The two 460' radiators for CBK and CBA (Sackville) were the first guyed radiators designed in Canada, made by the Canadian Bridge Co. of Walkerville, ON. Both radators were patented and were of triangular cross-section vertical design, having three sets of guy wires extending from the structure to heavy concrete anchors.

It was a little late but CBK Watrous signed on the air on July 29. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation station operated on a frequency of 540 kHz with a power of 50,000 watts (non-directional). The 460 foot tower was located at Watrous on the southwest quarter of Section 26, Township 31, Range 25, west of the second Meridian, two miles north, 55 degrees east of the CN Telegraph station. The "K" in the call sign represented the last name of Henry Kelsey, the first white man to come to the Prairies. At this time, CBK was the only CBC-owned outlet between Winnipeg and Vancouver.

1942
On September 16, Gladstone Murray, general manager of the CBC announced that the networks would sign off at 11:30 p.m. local time in all regions as of September 27. The reduction was designed to reduce wear on equipment. Murray said that such a reduction would lengthen the life of a large amount of the equipment, some of which could not be replaced. Some of the vacuum tubes used at the 50,000 watt outlets were water cooled and cost as much as $3,000. The half hour reduction would not apply on all nights to CBA Sackville. It would continue to operate for the extra 30 minutes on some nights.

1944
Jack Smith (from Vancouver) joined the operating staff at CBK.

On January 2, the CBC formed a second national network, The Dominion. The orginal network became known as the Trans-Canada. CBK was a Trans-Canada station.

1945
CBC Trans-Canada Basic stations: CJCB, CBH, CBA, CHSJ, CFNB, CBO, CKWS, CBL, CKSO, CFCH, CJKL, CKGB, CKPR, CBM, CKY, CBK, CJCA, CFAC, CJOC, CFJC, CKOV, CJAT, CBR.

Jas. Finlay was manager.

A break in the water pipeline from Watrous to CBK's transmitter site forced engineers to use ice packs to keep the transmitter tubes cooled.

Mid-1940s
The CBC’s plans for expansion were put on hold because of the war. CBK began providing programming in English and French from studios located at the Watrous transmitter site.

1947
The CBC, in the process of taking over the frequencies of CFRB Toronto, CFCN Calgary and CKY Winnipeg, was now facing the possibility of losing one of its own channels - 540 kHz, used by CBK Watrous. The International Telecommunications Conference agreed to widen the broadcast band to include 540 kHz. The subject was to be discussed by the North American Regional Engineers in early 1948. Proposals had been presented to use 540 for a group of low-powered stations. Under the existing agreement, CBK was allowed to use 540 kHz until: "When as and if a substitute broadcast channel acceptable to the Canadian Government is made available for this station, Canada agrees to discontinue the use of 540 kcs. for this purpose."

1948
Programming for CBK was now originating from studios in Winnipeg.

J.N. Moggridge was manager and W.G. Carpentier was commercial manager.

1954
Studios and offices for CBK finally opened in Regina.

1962
The Dominion and Trans-Canada networks consolidated into the CBC Radio Network. CBK was the Trans-Canada station in Regina. It was supplemented by private station CKCK. Another private station – CKRM – offered Dominion network service. With the consolidation, CKCK and CKRM were able to end their affiliation with the network.

1975                                                                                                                                 CBK received permission to add FM rebroadcasters at La Ronge (105.1 MHz, 80 watts), Beauval (101.5 MHz, 1,950 watts), Iles-a-la-Crosse (105.1 MHz, 403 watts), Buffalo Narrows (103.5 MHz, 406 watts) and La Loche (93.5 MHz, 81.7 watts).

CBKA-FM La Ronge began broadcasting on July 31.

1976
On June 4, CBK's 465 foot tower was toppled by severe winds of up to 100 miles per hour. The station was off the air for four days. A temporary 300 foot tower was constructed and the station was back on the air June 8 at reduced power. Full 50,000 watt service was restored later that day. While CBK 540 was off the air, CBC AM programming was made available via CBKF-FM (Radio-Canada) in Regina and CJUS-FM in Saskatoon.

CBKB-FM Beauval, CBKC-FM Ile-a-la-Crosse and CBKD-FM Buffalo Narrows began operations on September 3. CBKE-FM La Loche followed a few days later on September 9.

1977
The following rebroadcast transmitters opened: CBKI-FM Stanley Mission – June 6, CBKJ-FM Pinehouse Lake – June 14, CBKH-FM Stony Rapids – September 15, and CBKG-FM Fond du Lac – September 28.

1979
CBKP-FM Southend signed on the air on December 20.

1980
CBDH-FM Uranium City was launched on August 18.

1982
The following rebroadcast transmitters were opened: CBKK-FM Patuanak – Febraury 14, CBKO-FM Denare Beach – June 2, CBKM-FM Meadow Lake – July 1, CBKV-FM Cumberland House – July 19, CBKL-FM Montreal Lake – August 4, and CBKN-FM Island Falls – October 1.

1983
In October, the CBC Regina studios and offices moved from 1840 McIntyre Street to 2440 Broad Street. The facility was to have opened in 1979-80. The new building accommodated both English and French radio and television studios. The CBC Saskatchewan broadcast centre included TV studios of 3,500 and 1,800 square feet, a packaging studio, two automated on-air booths and central equipment room. There were also seven remote electronic field production units, three electronic editing suites, six quad VTR's, three telecine chains, character generators and electronic slide store units. The radio facilities included nine studios, multi-track mixing consoles, 16 listening/editing rooms and automated switching systems.

CBKW-FM Pelican Narrows opened on February 9
 
In October, the CBC Regina studios and offices moved from 1840 McIntyre Street to 2440 Broad Street.
 
1995
CBC Radio added overnight programming to its schedule on May 1, with "CBC Radio Overnight". The programming started out on certain CBC stations and was expanded to all of its stations by September. The program aired between 1:00 and 6:00 a.m. (local time) and offered reports from public broadcasters in 25 countries, with Canadian news on the hour. The program service was provided by the World Radio Network in London, England.

1997
The CBC Radio network (CBC Radio) was renamed "CBC Radio One" on September 1.

1999
On October 12, CBK was given approval to add a rebroadcast transmitter in Regina, operating on 102.5 MHz with effective radiated power of 820 watts. The transmitter would improve the quality of CBK's signal to some 80,000 listeners in Regina.

2000
On June 12, CBKR-FM signed on the air at 102.5 MHz in Regina.

2001
As of 2001, CBK operated the following rebroadcast transmitters: CBKM-FM Meadow Lake and CBKR-FM Regina. CBK broadcasts approximately 42 hours of local programming each week from Regina. Additional transmitters in the province were now operated through CBKA-FM La Ronge.

2006
On March 16, CBK was given approval to add a “nested” FM transmitter in downtown Saskatoon to boost the Radio One signal in the core of the city. The rebroadcast transmitter for CBK 540 would operate on 94.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 4,100 watts. Anteanna height would be 68.2 metres.

The CBK 540 transmitter was located about 100 km southeast of Saskatoon, near Watrous. When built in 1939, it was designed to serve both major cities in the province – Regina and Saskatoon. The CBC submitted that urban growth, the construction of high-rise concrete and steel buildings, increased electrical noise from overhead wires, large and small appliances and portable radio transmitters have impeded the ability of its radio stations to deliver reliable high quality AM signals to listeners in Saskatoon, particularly in the downtown area.

2007
The Saskatoon nested FM transmitter (CBK-1 at 94.1 MHz) commenced operations.

2009
On May 12 the CRTC renewed the licence for CBK. The renewal included the following rebroadcast transmitters: CBK-1-FM Saskatoon, CBKM-FM Meadow Lake and CBKR-FM Regina.

                                               Written by Bill Dulmage - Updated May, 2010