Originally published in the July 18, 2024 edition of The Weekly Briefing
Neil McEneaney has stepped down as CEO of Numeris. The former CBC finance executive had held the role since 2016. Sue Haas, the current President and COO of NLogic, will assume the CEO position on an interim basis while the company undertakes a search for a new leader. Read more here.
Scott Russell will retire at the end of the summer after 40 years with CBC. Russell’s final broadcast will take place Sept. 8, following the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. With 16 Olympic Games under his belt, he’ll take a final turn as host of CBC’s Olympic Games Paris 2024 afternoon show, Bell Paris Prime, beginning July 27. Russell started his career at CBC Charlottetown in 1985 as a reporter and moved on to sports a year later, followed by stops at CBC Montreal and then Toronto where he served as a network sports commentator and host of the weekly CBC Sports Presents. He was also a host and rink-side reporter for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada for 14 years. Read more here.
Heather Steele has been named as the new Regional News Director and Station Manager for Global Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Steele succeeds Brent Williamson, who left the role in April to take the helm of Global Edmonton. Steele joined Global Winnipeg in 2009, as a nightwatch reporter and began anchoring the late-night newscast a year later, eventually moving to Global News at 6. She began working with 680 CJOB as an Executive Producer in 2019 and most recently held the role of Manager of Talk and Talent. Read more here.
John Vos, Regional Program Director of QR Calgary (CHQR-AM) and Edmonton’s 630 CHED, has left Corus Radio. He had been with the company for almost two decades, starting as Operations Director for Q107 (CFGQ-FM) and Country 105 (CKRY-FM), and promoted to his current role in 2020.
Linda Olsen will retire from Global Calgary next month after almost three decades with the station. Her last day anchoring Global News at 5 and Global News Hour at 6 will be Monday, Aug. 19. A born and raised Calgarian, Olsen started her career with Global Saskatoon in 1988 after graduating from the SAIT Broadcast Journalism program She went on to work as a reporter and anchor for CTV Calgary before joining Global Calgary in 1995. Read more here.
Patricia Boal is CTV Ottawa’s new CTV News at Six anchor. Boal takes the helm following longtime anchor Graham Richardson’s decision to step away from the role. He’s since announced he’s joining Edelman PR. Boal previously anchored CTV News at Five, and also hosts weekday radio program Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal on 580 CFRA. Matt Skube steps into the anchor role for CTV News at Five, in addition to anchoring CTV News at 11:30.
Tony Grace is rejoining CTV Kitchener as anchor for CTV News at Six. Grace was formerly the station’s late night anchor before leaving last fall to take a correspondent role with CTV National News. He’s been with CTV News since 2001.
Daryl Morris has left CTV Kitchener. Morris first came to CTV Kitchener in January 2014 as a writer and later videographer, who also anchored weekend newscasts. Morris worked in radio news in London, Squamish, and Owen Sound before transitioning to TV as a writer for CTV’s Canada AM.
Stephanie Matteis has joined CTV in the newly-created role of Supervising Producer for CTV National News and CTV News Channel. Matteis arrives from CBC Toronto where she’s been a reporter for the past 19 years.
I finally get to announce that for the next couple months I am a reporter at @etalkCTV!!! This is my literal dream job and I am SO excited! pic.twitter.com/MOYOBB99VH
— Shannon Burns (@itsshannonburns) July 9, 2024
Shannon Burns is the newest host on CTV’s ETALK. Burns also doubles as the host of middays on the Virgin Radio network.
Rishma Govani, Corus Entertaiment’s Director of News and Radio Communications, has left the company after a decade. Buffy McGaw, the Director of News Marketing For Global News, also left the company at the end of June. Starting as a Promo Producer and Manager for Global News Toronto in 1999, McGaw returned for her second tour at Global News in June 2013 as Marketing Director.
Sophall Duch has been caught up in layoffs at Corus Entertainment. Duch had been a producer with Global News’ The West Block since last fall and was previously a chase producer for CTV’s Power Play.
Andrew Russell is also among those laid off at Global News. Russell has been an online and investigative reporter with the network for the past 11 years.
Happy to join @CHCHNews as a Video Journalist! Looking forward to new opportunities on the horizon..stay tuned! #television #news pic.twitter.com/DQVqpJx2S9
— Danielle de Graauw (@DanielleDGTV) June 26, 2024
CHCH has hired three new VJs: Julie Sharp is a recent graduate of the Radio and Television Broadcasting program at Niagara College. Danielle DeGraauw has experience as a host and reporter at Hamilton’s Cable 14 and was also a reporter at CTV News Regina. Andrew Damelin is the station’s new sports reporter with experience voicing highlight packs for TSN, play-by-play commentary for Toronto FC, and hosting the Raptors 905 podcast.
CHCH has also hired three new writers: Tessa Bennett has experience as a multimedia journalist at Global News in both line-up and web writer positions. Michael To has worked as a reporter/editor with CBC News Hamilton, while Marney Carmichael has worked with Euronews and CTV Vancouver, writing for television, digital and print.
Mary Wiens has retired from CBC Radio in Toronto after 38 years. The longtime producer of Metro Morning first joined the public broadcaster in 1984 as a copy clerk.
Eric Woolliscroft is retiring from CBC News after 35 years, following the Paris Olympics – his eighth Olympic games. Woolliscroft started his career as a videographer and editor at Craig Broadcasting in 1984, working with CKX-TV Brandon and MTN (Manitoba Television Network) in Portage La Prairie and Winnipeg. He joined CBC Newsworld in 1989 and has most recently been a national videographer, based in Halifax.
Catherine Garrett is leaving CityNews Vancouver to join CBC Edmonton as a video journalist, reporting from Grande Prairie. The former 980 CKNW reporter and anchor joined CityNews in November. Her last day will be Aug. 9.
Grant LaFleche has joined CBC’s The Fifth Estate as an associate producer. LaFleche has worked in print for the last three decades, most recently as an investigative reporter for the Hamilton Spectator. Prior to that, he spent 24 years with the St. Catharines Standard.
Sylvia Senna is leaving CFJC-TV Kamloops. Senna, who hails from Brazil, joined the station last July as a videojournalist and radio anchor after graduating from the Broadcast and Online Journalism program at BCIT in Vancouver.
Jim McCourtie has been re-hired by Harvard Media as Local Media Director for X92.9 (CFEX-FM) Calgary and X100.7 (CKEX-FM) Red Deer. Up until a round of layoffs in February, McCourtie held the title of Vice President, Local Media. Kris Mazurak, who initially joined the company as Director of Local Media & Experience Products, had succeeded McCourtie at the helm of the X stations, but now retains the title of VP of Sports.
Dani Elwell is stepping away from her role as Creative Strategist at JAZZ.FM91 (CJRT-FM) Toronto. Her last day is Aug. 15. Elwell will continue to host her weekly show “Voice Tracks” on the station. She’s been working with the not-for-profit off and on since 2012.
Jamyz Bee is leaving JAZZ.FM91 (CJRT-FM) Toronto after two decades on-air. Bee, the developer and host of Jazz In The City and Jazz Gone Wild, is leaving to focus on his work as an emerging filmmaker. Before joining JAZZ.FM91 back in 2002, his radio career started in the late 1990s hosting shows for Newstalk 1010 (CFRB-AM) and AM 640 (CFIQ-AM). His last show will air July 25.
Jasmin Laine is no longer with Evanov’s Energy 106 (CHWE-FM) Winnipeg, where she’d been part of Wheeler in the Morning since 2020, alongside Dave Wheeler and Tyler Carr. Laine, who was named the Broadcast Leader of Tomorrow at the Western Association of Broadcasters (WAB) conference in Banff last month, has announced she’s joined influencer marketing agency, Creatorade Media.
Andrew Uyeno, the afternoon drive announcer on Virgin Radio Calgary, is joining the Josie & Jamar Show on Toronto’s CHUM 104.5, starting in August. Weekend host Blair Gaboury will step into the 2 – 7 p.m. time slot on Virgin Calgary.
Lex Brandt has joined Ed Garcia on the afternoon show on Winnipeg’s Power 97 (CJKR-FM). Lex moves into the co-host time slot from weekends.
Neil Spence has departed Q104 (CFRQ-FM) Halifax where he’s worked weekends for the last eight years. Spence is taking an opportunity outside the industry with Martel’s Medal Mounting.
Tom Craig is joining Pattison Media’s The Peak (CJAV-FM) Port Alberni as an announcer and promotions coordinator. Craig, a recent graduate of Mohawk College, was most recently a technical producer on The Roy Green Show, heard on the Corus Radio talk network.
Pamela Roz is filling in on KiSS 102.3 (CKY-FM) Winnipeg as a swing announcer this summer. The former Hot 100.5 (CJFL-FM) morning show host and QX104 announcer has been out of radio for the past three years, running her own PR firm.
Forman (aka Andrew Gordon) has joined 104.7 Heart FM (CHIR-FM) Woodstock as Promotions Manager and Afternoon Host. He’s also being heard in afternoons on Max 93.1 (CHLQ-FM) Charlottetown. Gordon departed Melody & Forman in the Morning on Halifax’s Hot Country 103.5 (CKHZ-FM) earlier this year to move back to Ontario to be closer to family.
Denis Duchesne is stepping away from P.E.I. Radio-Canada morning show, Le Réveil to host and produce Votre samedi, heard across Atlantic Canada. After 17 years at its helm, his last hosting turn on Le Réveil will be July 19. He’ll begin hosting Saturday mornings from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., starting in September.
John Wiles is retiring from CKBW Bridgewater, NS after nearly four decades in broadcasting and 29 years with the station. Best known for hosting CKBW’s Drive Home show, he got into broadcasting while studying biology at University of King’s College, helping start the student paper as well as Dalhousie campus station CKDU in 1985. From there, he worked at stations in Stephenville, St. John’s, and Carbonear, NL before returning to Nova Scotia.
Terry Klippenstein has retired from Golden West Broadcasting after 43 years with the company. Klippenstein started with CFAM Altona in 1981 as a creative producer, working part-time with the station while still in high school. He’s also been the longtime host of the Radio Southern Manitoba network’s classical music programming.
Athena Georgaklis is among those set to depart Nelvana as Corus Entertainment confirms it’s made the decision to pause development at the kids content producer and distributor, resulting in a number of exits. Georgaklis has been with Nelvana since 2016 and served as Head of Development up until year last year when she moved into the role of VP, Nelvana Studios. Prior to Nelvana, Georgaklis with Corus’ Teletoon as Director of Content.
Dr. Michael Schmalz will succeed Alain Cousineau as Chair of the Canada Media Fund (CMF). Cousineau leaves the board of directors after a 13-year tenure as Chair. The CMF also welcomes the appointment of new director René Guimond by the Canadian Coalition for Cultural Expression (CCCE), representing Canada’s cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors.
Marie Nelson has left her position as President of Hot Docs after just one year. Nelson had most recently served as Senior Vice President at ABC News/Disney where she led brand and content strategy. During the transition period, Interim Executive Director Janice Dawe and Managing Director Heidi Tao Yang will steward the organization.
The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) has announced four new members to its Board of Directors. They include Toronto Star Queen’s Park Bureau Chief Robert Benzie; BNN Bloomberg anchor and reporter Amber Kanwar; Erin Millar, CEO & Co-Founder, Indiegraf and Terrie Tweddle, Chief Brand and Communications Officer, Rogers Communications. Meanwhile, the foundation’s directors appointed Maureen Shaughnessy Kitts, president and principal of Shaughnessy Kitts Communications, as its Executive Vice-Chair. Angela Pacienza, Executive Editor at The Globe and Mail and Jeff Elgie, CEO of Village Media, were named joint vice-chairs.
Andrew Takacs has been hired as Head of Sales for the U.S. and Canada at Quicklink, while Donny Oropeza has been named Pre-Sales Engineer and Customer Success Engineer. In his previous roles at NewTek and Vizrt, Takacs led development and execution of business strategies for top performing resellers in the broadcast and post-production industries. Oropeza also arrives from Vizrt/NewTek where he recently ended his 25-year tenure as Sales Engineer Manager for the Americas.
Matthew Gharegozlou has been appointed Sr. Vice President of Sales and Global Channels for the Americas at Telestream, a provider of workflow automation, media processing, and distribution solutions. Reporting to Bob Stankosh, EVP Global Sales, Gharegozlou will lead Telestream’s sales and channel strategy, driving growth and expanding market presence across the region. Prior to joining Telestream, he served as VP of Sales and Channels for the Americas at Avid.
