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REVOLVING DOOR:
The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group has shuffled the deck at its Calgary stations 101.5 Kool FM (CKCE-FM) and Wild 95.3 (CKWD-FM). Kool FM morning show hosts Brad Dryden and Michelle Yi are no longer with the station. Dryden had been in the position since Aug. 2015 after eight years on the C100 Halifax morning show. Yi previously hosted Kool FM mornings with Tarzan Dan after stints at CHUM-FM Toronto and Sonic 104.9 (CFUN-FM) Vancouver. Mike Shannon is also out as program director at Wild 95.3. Effective early December, Christy Farrell and Fraser Tuff move from Wild 95.3 mornings to 101.5 Kool FM mornings. Heather Prosak signs on as the new Wild 95.3 program director and morning show host. Heather leaves Bell Media Winnipeg where she’s morning co-host and PD at 99.9 Bob FM (CFWM-FM). Jonathan Best joins the team as morning show co-host, APD and music director. Best was most recently with Newcap Edmonton. Now! (CKNO-FM) Edmonton PD Mark Hunter adds programming duties for Kool FM.
Tommy Schnurmacher ends a 20-year run as host of the 9 a.m. to noon talk show on Montreal’s CJAD 800 AM this week. The host will move to the noon to 1 p.m. time slot starting Monday. His new show Gang of Four with Tommy Schnurmacher, will feature the panel of news personalities that kicked off his morning show daily. Leslie Roberts has been named new mid-day host. Roberts has been a start-up consultant and media coach for the past two years after 15 years at Global News Toronto where Roberts was chief anchor, executive editor and co-host of the network morning show. CJAD has also shuffled Barry Morgan from his noon to 3 p.m. show. Morgan had been with the station for decades, starting out as a sports reporter before turning to hosting. Ken Connors, who had been hosting weekend mornings, replaces Morgan. Moving to the 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. timeslot is Natasha Hall. Hall, a former 92.5 The Beat (CKBE-FM) Montreal news and traffic reporter, had been host of The Night Side program since October.
Steve Muscat has joined Cue Digital Media, Toronto as director, sports and entertainment group. Muscat’s last position was food, drink & QSR lead, client strategy for Bell Media. Other career stops include national sales director with Rogers and national sales director with CHUM Television.
Richard Nester, a longtime host with The Shopping Channel, will retire Dec. 16 after 21 years at TSC. The Niagara, ON native moved to Toronto 36 years ago, where he worked behind-the-scenes at TVO before making his on-screen debut at TSC in 1995. Nester counts working with names like the late Joan Rivers as well as George Foreman, Suzanne Somers and Richard Simmons among his career highlights. Sean Keane will take over Nester’s hours on TSC.
Danielle Cyr is now sales manager for Evanov Radio Group stations CHRF-AM 980 Montreal and Jewel 106.7 (CHSV-FM) St. Lazare/Hudson. Danielle has worked in Montreal radio for over two decades, starting her career as a contributor with the Mix 96 (CJFM-FM) and CHOM 97.7 morning shows. In 2009, she launched her own media company and transitioned to radio sales working with Montreal stations TSN 690 (CKGM-AM), K103.7 Kahnawake (CKRK-FM), 89.9 KIC Country (CKKI-FM) and Jewel 106.7.
Tracey McLeod has been named sales manager for Jewel 88.5 (CKDX-FM) Newmarket, ON. Tracey comes to the Evanov Radio Group with 20 years of media experience, including nearly a decade with the Toronto Star. Previously, McLeod spent 12 years in advertising sales with Rogers, Corus and Shaw.
Youth Media Alliance is announcing the appointment of two new members to its board of directors: Laurent Guérin, vice president, chief content and digital officer, Groupe Média TFO and Frank Falcone, president and executive creative director, Guru Studio. They take over from Michèle Fortin (formerly at Télé-Québec) and Jamie Piekarz (formerly at Corus Kids).
Bryan Segal has been named managing director of Canadian business for TV and video ad software provider Videology. Segal succeeds Ryan Ladisa, who will be leaving the company to pursue other interests. Most recently, Segal was CEO of Engagement Labs, but has spent the majority of his digital media career at comScore. Segal is an IAB Canada board member and frequent speaker on technology and media across the country.
Erin Finlay has been appointed chief legal officer of the Canadian Media Producers Association. Prior to her appointment, Finlay was at Access Copyright as general counsel and director of legal and government relations. She was also a former associate at Cassels Brock & Blackwell where she worked as an advocacy and entertainment lawyer.
Greg Douglas, also known as Dr. Sport, penned his final column in the Vancouver Sun this week after 17 years as a weekly contributor. He previously covered hockey, baseball and special events for the paper, in addition to being a regular broadcast commentator on local radio and television stations, including CKLG-FM, CKWX-AM 1130, CJAZ-FM, CKKS-FM and CJJR-FM/CKBD. In 1968, Douglas became the first public relations director for the Vancouver Canucks and was assistant to the GM from 1970 to ‘77. Douglas was inducted into the B.C Sports Hall of Fame in the media category in 2010.
Marc Michaels starts as the new host of X-Evenings on X92.9 FM (CFEX-FM) Calgary this Monday. Michaels has previously been a morning host on 98.5 Virgin Radio (CIBK-FM) Calgary, 91.7 The Bounce (CHBN-FM) Edmonton and Wired 96.3 (CFWD-FM) Saskatoon.
