Bell Media cuts across its network have been decried by Unifor, the union representing on-air and broadcasting technicians at 17 CTV stations. The reach of last week’s layoffs is estimated to encompass 50 staff at 15 TV and radio stations. On-air personalities include Ottawa CTV 2 hosts Melissa Lamb and Lianne Laing, BNN host Michael Kane, and CFTO Toronto sportscasters Joe Tilley and Lance Brown. Other layoffs include CFAX 1070 Victoria talk host Pamela McCall, whose afternoon show has been replaced with Evan Solomon’s national radio show; CTV Montreal assignment editor Amalia Fernandez and researcher Peter Schiavi, who join executive producer Barry Willson; five people at HTZ-FM (CHTZ-FM) St. Catharines, including longtime host and music director Paulie Morris; and “Phat” Matt Franklin, PD and afternoon drive announcer at 89X (CIMX-FM) Windsor.
Amanda Lang is set to rejoin Business News Network (BNN) in January. She’ll also contribute to other Bell Media properties including CTV News and iHeartRadio. Lang was part of the team that launched BNN’s predecessor ROBTV in 1999, later moving over to CNN before returning to BNN/ROBTV as morning show anchor and host of nightly debate show Squeezeplay with Kevin O’Leary. In 2009, Lang became CBC’s senior business correspondent and was most recently anchoring for Bloomberg Television Canada.
Don Connolly is retiring from CBC Nova Scotia after 42 years with the public broadcaster. Connolly, who hails from Antigonish, NS and was raised in Bathurst, NB, was supposed to go into the family construction business, but ended up in radio as a newsreader for CKBC Bathurst, then CHNS Halifax and CFGO Ottawa, before landing at Information Morning in Halifax in April 1976. Connolly’s last day on-air will be Jan. 26.
Maria Farano has joined Big Coat Media as senior vice-president, Content. Farano had been with Corus Entertainment since 2011, as director and manager of Original Programming for Lifestyle and Factual Entertainment, overseeing development and production of original, unscripted programming for W Network, CMT, HGTV Canada and Slice Network.
NL Broadcasting in Kamloops, which includes Radio NL 610 AM (CHNL-AM), Country 103 (CJKC-FM) and 97.5 The River (CKRV-FM), has undertaken more restructuring. Six staffers have now been laid off in recent weeks including longtime sports director Rick “The Bear” Wile, senior copywriter Chris Doherty, on-air personality Matt Bellamy and two traffic department employees. NL Broadcasting was acquired earlier this year by Newcap Radio.
Don Stevens and Joanne Johnson’s last day on-air at XL103.1 (CFXL-FM) Calgary is fast-approaching. After 25 years together, their last morning show with Jamie “the Coach” Herbison will air on Dec. 8. Coach will stay on, joined by current XL103.1 midday host Buzz Bishop and former Wild 95.3 (CHPK-FM) Calgary, BOB-FM (CFWM-FM) Winnipeg personality Heather Prosak in a new format.
Jim Alnwick is the new senior VP of Worldwide Sales at transmitter facility control manufacturer Burk Technology. Alnwick has previously managed strategic sales teams at companies including Hewlett Packard, Agilent, Intraplex, Harris Broadcast and Ixia.
Global Montreal lead engineer Alain Marcil has retired. Marcil started his career 44 years ago at TVA and then worked outside broadcasting, before joining Global 11 years ago, overseeing the implementation of the station’s digital and virtual studios. With Global Montreal just 20 years old, Marcil is the station’s first retiree.
Raja Khanna is stepping down as CEO of TV and digital at Blue Ant Media after more than 10 years with the company. Khanna will exit by year’s end as Blue Ant looks to a more decentralized structure that will see more decision-making happen within its various business units. Khanna was formerly CEO of GlassBOX Television and helped orchestrate the merger of GlassBOX and Blue Ant Media.
Kamil Karamali will be joining Global News Toronto as a digital broadcast journalist next month. Karamali has been with CTV Calgary since March after working in TV, radio and digital for CBC in both Ottawa and Vancouver.
Alix Robinson has left MBS Radio Halifax as director of marketing to take up the role of senior marketing manager for recruiting agency Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette. Robinson had been with MBS since 2012.
Drew Ferreira and Shelly “Stevens” Ubeika are joining the boom 97.3 (CHBM-FM) Toronto on-air lineup part-time. Ferreira wraps up his current music director/midday announcer gig at Power 104 (CKLZ-FM) Kelowna in December. Ubeika, who was formerly with Metro Networks and Regent Broadcasting in Buffalo, New York has been on a 10-year break from broadcasting.
Chelsea Lacroix is moving from Jump! 106.9 (CKQB-FM) Ottawa to take over afternoon hosting duties at 104.5 Fresh Radio (CFLG-FM) Cornwall.
Katelyn Wilson has moved from Global Lethbridge to Global Regina. The Lethbridge College grad had just re-joined Global Lethbridge in March, where she did her practicum, after working with Sunny 94 (CJUV-FM) Lacombe and Lacombe Online.
Todd Hancock is teaching part-time in the BCIT Radio Arts and Entertainment program. Hancock hosted afternoons at CFOX-FM Vancouver for over 14 years, up until layoffs in June 2016.
Garrick Tiplady will be Facebook Canada’s new managing director, starting next month. Tiplady is the former CEO of Canadian video distribution company Vemba and previously held senior VP role at Rogers and Chatr Wireless. He’s also a co-founder of retail management platform Vsblty.
