The station was a huge part of the evolution of the queer community in Toronto…
It’s the end of an era… Toronto-based Proud FM 103.9, a radio station serving the city’s 2SLGBTQI+ audience, has ended broadcasting. Parent company Evanov Communications officially integrated Proud 103.9 with its sister station CIDC-FM Z103.5 on September 1, 2023.
It’s not all bad news…Proud’s two on-air hosts, Jaret Sereda and Tyler Carr, will move over to the hits station. Sereda will host a daily feature in the mornings and afternoons on entertainment and community news, while Carr will go on to host the station’s weekend shows.
“I’m thrilled to be back with Z103.5,” said Sereda in a statement. “We’ll be bringing all the energy of Proud to an even larger audience, at one of the top stations in the Toronto market.”
“This is the best news of my life, ever!,” added Carr. “I’ve dreamed of being on Z103.5 from the day I started in radio. I called my mom as soon as I heard and she’s as excited as me.”
The media landscape has evolved significantly since Proud FM (officially known as CIRR-FM) first began airing back in 2007. When the station first launched in the city, it was the world’s first commercial radio station targeting a queer audience. Proud FM has been a huge part of of the growth of Toronto’s vibrant queer community, but the station has been suffering major losses for years and their parent company has continuously been forced to make cuts to save money.
“The past 16 years have seen new outlets and platforms emerge to serve the community and existing services pivot to target this audience,” Evanov Communications said in a statement. “At the same time, all broadcasters are now contending with the challenges of increased competition, a difficult economic climate, and the residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Toronto’s queer community thanks you for the memories, Proud FM.
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