105.9 FM The Region

What 105.9 FM The Region does

105.9 FM The Region, legally Radio Markham York Inc. and broadcasting as CFMS-FM, is a privately held single-station radio enterprise headquartered at 129 Rowntree Dairy Rd Unit #3 in Woodbridge, Ontario. The station launched in December 2013 with Jim Lang as the inaugural broadcaster and serves the York Region municipalities of Markham, Richmond Hill, and Vaughan. Its core product is a 105.9 FM broadcast featuring 80s, 90s, and current music alongside local news, traffic, and weather, augmented by multiple HD radio channels (English 24-Hour, Radio Y/Farsi HD-2, Farsi HD-3, and HD-4 South Asian in development), online live streaming, and an on-demand podcast library spanning specialty music and multilingual shows in nine languages.

The underlying platform is a CRTC-licensed FM broadcast plus HD sub-channel architecture with web streaming and podcast distribution as additional delivery surfaces. Programming includes a structured daily schedule anchored by The Morning Show (Jim Lang, 5am), Midday music (10am-2pm), Shaliza Afternoon (2pm), and the English Music Stream (6pm-midnight), plus specialty programming such as The Feed news magazine, The Wellness Prescription with Dr. Claudia Machiella, Canadian Electronic Top 10, The Mix Sessions, and multilingual shows (Mazaj Arabic, Ohayo Japanese Show, Chinese Focus, Amen FM Tamil, Caribbean Sunshine). AI-generated transcripts for live shows and podcast archives were introduced in 2024 alongside an updated Accessibility Plan under the Accessible Canada Act.

The business model is quote-based radio advertising sold via a single sales line (416-292-2367) to SMB advertisers in the York Region market; no public pricing tiers, contracts, or revenue figures are disclosed. The company is privately held with no parent company, no equity funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no subsidiaries disclosed. The team consists of 10 full-time staff, 5 part-time staff, and 5 regular volunteers, including on-air talent Jim Lang, Shaliza Bacchus, Glynn Perkins, Suneel Joshi, Ann Rohmer, and Dr. Claudia Machiella, with Debra McLaughlin as Accessibility Lead. Community accessibility partnerships include CNIB, Canadian Association for the Deaf, Participation House, My MS Family, AIM, CHATS, and Spinal Cord Injury Canada.

Name

105.9 FM The Region

Legal name

Radio Markham York Inc.

Website

https://1059theregion.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

105.9 FM The Region (CFMS-FM, Radio Markham York Inc.) is a privately held single-station FM radio enterprise launched in 2013, serving Markham, Richmond Hill, and Vaughan with 80s/90s/current music, local news, traffic, and weather across English and nine languages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Multicultural/Language Broadcasters (Spanish/Asian/Other Local Markets) (MPABACAI)

Keywords

• Local radio broadcasting
• Community radio station
• Multilingual FM radio
• Radio advertising sales
• News traffic weather

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodbridge

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Radio Advertising: Traditional radio advertising where businesses can advertise on air. Contact number provided: 416-292-2367. Mentioned in homepage banners promoting business advertising.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

105.9 FM The Region is a community radio station that broadcasts at 105.9 FM across York Region (Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan) with a format of 80s, 90s, and contemporary music, local news, traffic, and weather. It operates multiple HD radio channels for English and multilingual programming (Farsi, South Asian) and distributes companion podcasts and live streaming online. The station sells on-air radio advertising to local businesses as its primary revenue driver.

Product overview

105.9 The Region is a multi-channel radio station serving York Region (Markham, Richmond Hill, and Vaughan) at 105.9 FM frequency, operated by Radio Markham York Inc. The station operates as a platform-plus-content model featuring one main FM station plus multiple HD radio channels (English 24-Hour, Radio Y, Farsi, and an upcoming South Asian channel). Core programming includes live shows throughout the day—The Morning Show (Jim Lang, 5am), Midday music show (10am-2pm), Shaliza Afternoon (2pm), and English Music Stream (6pm-midnight)—alongside specialty ethnic programming in Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, Tamil, and Farsi languages. The station distributes content through its FM broadcast, HD radio channels, podcasts, and live streaming. Additional services include local news coverage, weather updates, traffic reports, and listener contests. The station launched in December 2013 and broadcasts from studios at 129 Rowntree Dairy Rd in Woodbridge, Ontario.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 105.9 FM The Region Main Station Main FM radio station broadcasting at 105.9 MHz (CFMS-FM) across York Region, featuring 80s, 90s, and contemporary music with local news, traffic, and weather.
• English 24-Hour Channel Continuous English-language music stream available 24 hours a day on HD radio.
• HD-2 Radio Y Secondary HD radio channel providing additional programming content.
• HD-3 Farsi HD radio channel broadcasting Farsi-language programming for the Persian community in York Region.
• HD-4 South Asian Channel HD radio channel featuring South Asian programming, still in development.
• The Morning Show Weekday morning show hosted by Jim Lang featuring news, community events, and music, airing from 5:00am.
• Midday Midday music show featuring four hours of uninterrupted music with news at the top of the hour, weather and traffic updates, airing from 10:00am Monday through Friday.
• Shaliza Afternoon Afternoon show hosted by Shaliza Bacchus featuring trending topics, latest news, weather and traffic, airing from 2:00pm Monday through Friday.
• English Music Stream Evening music stream playing nonstop 80s, 90s, and NOW music mix from 6pm to midnight, with more music and less talk.
• The Feed York Region's radio news magazine show featuring stories, issues, and events from across the region, hosted by Ann Rohmer, airing Saturdays at 9:00am and Sundays at 5:00pm.
• Mazaj Show Weekly Arabic language podcast hosted by Bassam Awwad covering topics for Arabic-speaking listeners in the region.
• Ohayo Japanese Show Japanese language show featuring the latest J-pop songs and York Region's weekly events and news, hosted by Emi Takahata, airing Saturdays at 6:30am.
• Chinese Focus Chinese language show providing news updates and music for Chinese-speaking audiences in York Region, hosted by Grant Guo.
• The Wellness Prescription Health and wellness show hosted by Dr. Claudia Machiella, a chiropractor, airing on Saturdays.
• Canadian Electronic Top 10 Weekly countdown show featuring the latest and best Canadian electronic music with regular features including 'The One to Watch', 'Freshly Pressed' and 'Our Classic Cut'.
• The Mix Sessions Weekly deep house music show, airing Saturdays at 11:00pm.
• TMS Underground Hard-to-find cutting-edge tech house grooves from dance floors around the globe, airing Sundays at midnight.
• Saturday Music Saturday music show featuring an always exciting music mix highlighting established and emerging artists, playing 80s, 90s, and today's hottest tracks from 8am to 6pm.
• Sunday Music Sunday music programming featuring the same format as Saturday Music.
• Caribbean Sunshine Half-hour show featuring Reggae and Island blues music.
• Amen FM Tamil Tamil language podcast discussing daily life situations and overcoming difficulties through Bible verses alongside contemporary gospel music.
• Shaliza Sundays Sunday show hosted by Shaliza Bacchus featuring an exciting music mix of 80s, 90s, and today's hottest tracks with insights into popular culture, airing from 8am to 6pm.
• Podcasts On-demand podcast versions of radio shows available on the website, including archived episodes of programs like The Mix Sessions and Canadian Electronic Top 10.
• Local News Coverage Local news coverage for York Region including community stories, sports updates, and regional events, available on the station website.
• Real-Time Weather Updates Real-time weather updates for York Region providing current conditions and forecasts, on-air and via the website.
• Traffic and Transit Updates Transit updates and traffic information for York Region commuters, broadcast on-air and posted on the website.
• Contests and Birthday Club Listener contests offering prizes including concert tickets, dining experiences, and merchandise, plus a Birthday Club loyalty program offering chances to win prizes throughout the year.
• On-Air Radio Advertising Radio advertising packages sold to local York Region businesses for on-air spot placement, priced on a quote-based, multi-year contract basis (contact 416-292-2367).

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind)minorOthersAccessibility partner providing consultation on adaptive technologies and services for visually impaired community members. Works with Radio Markham York Inc. to improve accessibility of facilities and programming.
• Canadian Association for the DeafminorOthersAccessibility partner providing guidance on serving deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. Consulted during accessibility plan development.
• Participation HouseminorOthersCharity providing support to people with disabilities. Partner in accessibility planning and feedback on facility access.
• My MS (Multiple Sclerosis) FamilyminorOthersOrganization serving MS patients. Provides input on accessibility needs and adaptive technologies for the station.
• AIM (Autism in Motion)minorOthersAutism support organization consulted for accessibility planning and awareness of needs for neurodiverse individuals.
• CHATS (Community Home Assisted to Seniors)minorOthersSenior support organization providing feedback on accessibility for elderly community members and their access to station services.
• Spinal Cord Injury CanadaminorOthersOrganization representing people with spinal cord injuries. Consulted on physical accessibility of facilities and services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CHFI-FM (98.1 CHFI): Rogers Sports & Media's Toronto adult contemporary music station playing soft rock and pop hits. Directly comparable to 105.9's 80s/90s/now music format and Toronto-area audience reach, but operates at significantly larger scale with Rogers' national infrastructure and substantially deeper programming budget.
• CHUM FM (104.5):

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/1059theregion
• Instagraminstagram.com/the905region
• Facebookfacebook.com/1059TheRegion
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/105-9-fm-the-region

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 105.9 FM The Region