Brian Chisholm has retired from CBC Saint John after four decades in television. After graduating from Television Broadcasting at Fanshawe College in 1978, Chisholm joined what was then ATV in New Brunswick (now CTV Atlantic) as a cameraman. He remained with the network until 2003 when he signed up for a three-year stint behind the camera with Canadian Antiques Roadshow. Chisholm joined CBC as a videographer in 2003.
Mike Finnerty is taking a break from hosting CBC Radio’s Daybreak Montreal. After nine years, Finnerty is headed to the UK on a seven-month sabbatical.
Note to self: When filming Mike Finnerty, ensure a wide depth of field. https://t.co/K41KCe5sEr
— Steve Faguy (@fagstein) March 29, 2019
Susan Campbell, host of CBC Radio’s Quebec AM, has posted a letter to listeners updating them on what she’s revealed will be an extended hiatus from the show. Campbell suspended her morning show duties in December to go on medical leave for an undisclosed illness. While she had hoped to return to hosting in April, Campbell says it’s now been recommended she extend her leave and possibly won’t be back before the fall. “I know many of you have written to inquire about my absence, and many have expressed concern. I want to thank you all and reassure you that as much as I am not yet able to resume my duties hosting, I am being well taken care of and I’m feeling good. I am very much looking forward to putting this chapter behind me and returning to the job. I am shouting at the TV a lot, and will have a great store of Habs and soccer thoughts to share, when I do return,” wrote Campbell.
Michael Austin Harris is the new morning show host at 93.7 Faith FM (CJTW-FM) Kitchener. Mornings with Michael airs from 5:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Austin Harris, who hails from Guelph, ON, is a singer-songwriter with a background in worship music.
Radio-Canada has cut 18 positions in production and design in Quebec and another nine at Radio-Canada Acadie in Atlantic Canada, where a makeup artist, sports columnist and computer technician are among the casualties. According to the Communications Union of Radio-Canada (SCRC), 59 positions have been eliminated since December as the French-language arm of the public broadcaster looks to balance its budget.
Andrew Grose is no longer with 630 CHED Edmonton. Grose posted on his Facebook page Tuesday saying “It’s been a great experience working with all of the fabulous people at Corus and Global especially my partner J’lyn Nye.” Grose, who is also a veteran comedian and producer of the Edmonton Comedy Festival, had worked with CHED since 2010, most recently as afternoon co-host of the 630 CHED Afternoon News.
Boyd Leader is leaving his role as director of radio for the CFWE network, based in Edmonton, to take on group program director responsibilities for Bell Media – BC Interior. Based in Kelowna, Leader will start his new position Apr. 15. Leader had been with the Aboriginal Multimedia Society of Alberta for the last six years.
Krista Dalby, Sarah Moran and Julianne Snepsts are the new volunteer team behind ArtScene on 99.3 County FM (CJPE-FM) Picton, ON, the member-owned, not-for-profit community radio station serving Prince Edward County. Dalby, Moran and Snepsts take over from Vanessa Pandos, who established ArtScene when County FM began broadcasting in 2014, and who ran the program for the past four and a half years. Dalby and Snepsts will take turns hosting live in the studio on alternating Fridays, while Sarah Moran will be a reporter-at-large, recording feature interviews with artists in their studios and artistic events throughout the county.
Adnan Virk has a new job with sports streaming service DAZN hosting a nightly baseball show. The Toronto-born sportscaster, 40, was fired from ESPN in February, accused of leaking privileged network information to a sports writer. Virk had been with ESPN for nine years where he was studio host of Baseball Tonight, among other shows.
Catherine Cano is leaving her role as president and general manager of CPAC to become administrator of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF). Prior to joining CPAC in 2016, Cano held various roles with Radio-Canada, including two years as executive director of news programs.
Stephen Meurice, editor-in-chief of The Canadian Press, has announced that he is leaving the national news service for personal reasons, effective April 26. Meurice has been with CP since Aug. 2014. Prior to that he was with the National Post for 11 years, including almost four years as editor-in-chief.
Matthew Berkowitz has been appointed Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of Thunderbird Entertainment and Atomic Cartoons. Kristin Cummings and Aaron Behl will jointly serve as VP Originals at Atomic Cartoons, Thunderbird’s kids division. All three roles will be based in Los Angeles. As CCO, Berkowitz will oversee the development, production and acquisitions of intellectual properties (IP) and focus on the continued expansion and development of its IP library. Cummings and Behl will focus on leading both the kids and family portfolio at Atomic, as well as developing its adult animation slate. Most recently, Berkowitz served as VP Originals at Atomic Cartoons and executive producer on Atomic’s IP productions, a role he gained when Atomic opened its Los Angeles office in 2016. Before Atomic, Cummings was Director of Development at NBC Universal and DreamWorks Animation. Behl joined Atomic Cartoons in early 2018 as Director of Development.
Lucy Veale is Bizable Media’s new director of Business Affairs And Production. Most recently, Veale was the Business Affairs Analyst in the Entertainment Group at Dentons Canada LLC. Before joining Dentons, she served as Business Affairs Coordinator at Shaftesbury. Bizable Media is a Toronto-based business and production consultant on Canadian docs, series and digital productions including forthcoming CBC comedy series TallBoyz and recently renewed CBC drama Burden of Truth.
Shaftesbury has hired former UKTV executive Alexandra Finlay to help expand the Canadian prodco’s international partnerships. Finlay, in the newly-created role of senior director of Creative and Coproductions, will be based in London.
Project 10 has restructured its upper management. Andrew Barnsley becomes CEO overseeing global development opportunities for the company. Barnsley joined the company in 2009 and most recently executive produced Schitt’s Creek. Ben Murray moves into the position of president of Project 10 Canada, managing all aspects of the Toronto-based wing of the company’s development and production slate. Murray has been with Project 10 since 2015, and along with JANN, executive produced, with Barnsley, the award-winning documentary, Spirit Unforgettable about the final tour of the band, Spirit of the West. Andrew Moncrief will continue in his capacity as VP of Development and Production, Project 10 U.S.
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