Andy Frost has signed off from Q107 (CILQ-FM) Toronto for the last time. Psychedelic Sunday, the classic rock program he started in 1985, ended this past weekend after 33 years. Frost, 62, grew up in Winnipeg starting his broadcasting career as a volunteer DJ at University of Manitoba college station CJUM-FM. He joined CITI-FM in 1979, in addition to working as a Winnipeg Jets colour commentator for sister station 58 CKY-AM. Frost has also hosted various AM 640 (CFMJ-AM) Toronto talk shows over the years including Frost on Ice and Leaf Talk.
Luce Julien is rejoining Radio-Canada as the first woman to hold the title of executive director of news and current affairs, succeeding the retiring Michel Cormier. Julien has been editor-in-chief of Le Devoir since 2016, but spent the previous 23 years working for Radio-Canada, where she headed up radio news, ICI RDI, as well as digital and multiplatform coverage. She’ll take up her new position in July.
Esther Bégin has been named the Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) network’s French anchor. Starting this fall, Begin will host a daily program during sitting weeks of the House of Commons as well as feature interviews with Canadian political personalities. Begin was an anchor at LCN and TVA from 1997-2007 and has worked as a correspondent for RDI and ICI Radio-Canada. From 2009 to 2012, she lived in New York where she was the American correspondent for several Quebec media outlets including La Presse, Radio-Canada, 98.5 FM, Chatelaine, Ricardo and Yahoo.
Brian Hill has delivered his last forecast for 680 News (CFTR-AM). Hill, 65, retired on Victoria Day. He started as a meteorologist with City TV Toronto and takes credit for the first live microwave broadcast in Canadian history, along with the late Mark Daily and City TV reporter Dan Rath. Hill headed south to work for various ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX TV affiliates in the U.S. and helped Senator John Heinz work on funding for the first network of Doppler weather radar systems across the U.S. He returned to Toronto and 680 News, shortly after the all-news format launch, and debuted the “680 News Weather Guarantee” which is still in use today.
Travis Dhanraj is joining Global News as the new Queen’s Park Bureau Chief. Dhanraj spent the last five years as a reporter and anchor with CP24, and previously worked for CBC Toronto. Dhanraj will work cross-platform, providing video content to Global Toronto, CHEX Peterborough, and CKWS Kingston. He’ll also have a strong presence on Globalnews.ca and contribute to Corus talk radio stations in the province.
Colin D’Mello is moving from the CTV Toronto weekend anchor desk to head up its Queen’s Park bureau. D’Mello has been with CTV since 2011.
News 1130 (CKWX-AM) Vancouver has parted ways with morning anchor Reaon Ford and sports director Ann Schmaltz. Ford had been with the station since 2002, Schmaltz since 2007. Schmaltz was also a contributor to the recently-launched Sportsnet 650 (CISL-AM) as a rinkside Canucks reporter.
Andrea Bellemare is leaving CBC Montreal to join the CBC Radio digital team in Toronto as a social media producer. Bellemare has been with CBC since 2009 as a producer for CBC News Network, CBC Community Team, online host in Kitchener-Waterloo and most recently as a reporter and multimedia producer in Montreal.
Sarah Ritchie, CTV Atlantic’s Nova Scotia legislative reporter, has left to join Global Halifax as an anchor. She’d been with CTV Atlantic since 2014.
Raphael Bouvier Auclair is leaving ICI Radio-Canada Ottawa to join Radio-Canada’s Washington bureau as a correspondent. He replaces Yanik Dumont Baron, who is taking up a post in Paris.
Tamara Altéresco is leaving Radio-Canada Montreal to succeed Raymond St-Pierre as the network correspondent in Moscow.
Peter Olsen, who has been with Radio NL (CHNL-AM) Kamloops for 37 years, has hosted his last morning show for the station. Known as the Morning Mayor, Olsen is a 1974 graduate of BCIT’s Broadcast program.
Robin Stickley, host of Global BC’s Early News at 5 p.m. & Noon News Hour, is taking a break from her career. The former Global National Washington correspondent is devoting more time to her family.
Robyn Thomson has accepted the afternoon drive position at 102.9 CHTM-FM Thompson MB. Thompson is a 2017 graduate of Seneca College.
Carl Rosart is Corus Entertainment’s new Local Sales Manager, Toronto, responsible for Global Toronto (CIII-DT), Q107 (CILQ-FM), 102.1 the Edge (CFNY-FM) and Global News Radio 640 Toronto (CFMJ-AM). Rosart has previously been an account manager with Yes TV, Rogers and most recently Bell Media.
Dila Velazquez will be joining Corus Entertainment’s new podcast team as manager of Content /Audience Development. Velazquez was most recently producer/director of New Media for Entertainment One/Antica Productions. Reporting to Chris “Dunner” Duncombe, director of Streaming and Podcasting, she’ll start her new role on June 18.
