 KCND was established by the Community Radio Corporation, the parent company of KNOX-TV and KNOX AM in Grand Forks, N.D., after being granted a construction permit by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in July 1958.The station's plans were publicly announced in early 1959, and KCND signed on November 7, 1960 on channel 12.The station's studios and master control system were located in Pembina, with Canadian sales and production facilities being located at 2031 Portage Avenue in St. James, a suburb of Winnipeg.