Originally published in the June 18, 2026 edition of The Weekly Briefing

Patty Handysides, host of The Shift on AM800 (CKLW-AM) Windsor, is retiring after 45 years in broadcasting and 41 at CKLW. Handysides, who started her career in Oshawa while still attending Centennial College, went on to join CBC Windsor, before being recruited by ‘The Big 8.’ She’s held roles from news to DJ’ing, with her last afternoon show to air on June 26.

Dave Palmer, Program Director and host at Country 92.9 (CKCO-FM) Chatham has parted ways with Blackburn Media. He had been with the station, which transitioned from AM to FM in April, for 18 years.

Stephanie Hallihan has joined the Global News online team as a video journalist. Hallihan has been working with Global since 2022, most recently as Morning Affiliates Coordinator for the last four years.

Josiane N’tchoreret-Mbiamany is joining Radio-Canada’s bureau in London, ON as a Reporter/Rédactrice. The 2025 Western University Masters of Journalism grad has been a casual reporter on the English side with CBC London for the past six months.

Najah Dhuny has joined CBC/Radio-Canada as Communications Officer for Atlantic Canada and Quebec. Dhuny has held previous marketing and communications roles with the Halifax Chamber of Commerce and VON Canada.

Dave McCulloch has joined Acadia Broadcasting’s Thunder Bay team as General Sales Manager, while Eddie Forte has also been lured out of retirement to join the sales team. Forte was formerly Senior Manager of Media Sales for Dougall Media. As previously reported, Scott Pettigrew is also back in Thunder Bay as the Ontario Regional Manager overseeing Thunder Bay, as well as Dryden, Kenora and Fort Frances. Former Station Manager John Ongaro remains with Acadia in a new leadership role focused on company-wide programming initiatives.

Sarah Stephens has left Corus Entertainment to join TikTok Canada as Brand Partnerships Manager. Stephens had been with Corus since 2021 as a Toronto-based Account Manager, Client Marketing. She’s previously held brand partnership and marketing roles with Shoppers Drug Mart, Bell Media, and CBC TV, 

Chelsea Johnston has announced her departure from Corus Entertainment. Johnston has been with Corus for more than decade, holding roles from Supervising Producer, Social & Digital Content to Director, Client Accounts with Corus social agency so.da for the past two years.

Kyle O’Byrne has been promoted at the Canada Media Fund (CMF) to Associate Vice-President, Public Affairs & Regulatory. Rod Butler is also upped from VP to SVP, Policy & Program Design.

Kelly Fox is the new Executive Director of AMPIA (Alberta Media Production Industry Association). Based in Edmonton, Fox has previously held leadership roles with NFB, TELUS originals and her own company, Morning Lark Productions.

Carlyn Staudt, President of Global Channels & Streaming at Blue Ant Media, will be leaving at the end of the summer as the company combines its Global Channels and Streaming & Rights businesses under Blue Ant Rights & Streaming. Staudt has been with the company since 2017. Read more here.

Bruce Hills has joined Attraction as Executive Producer and Strategic Advisor. The former President of Just For Laughs, Hills will support Attraction’s continued expansion in English-language production and the development of new projects for international markets. With JFL for nearly four decades, his leadership helped drive the production and distribution of more than 1,500 comedy specials, including content deals with Netflix and Prime Video.

Alec Stevenson has been appointed Chief Financial Officer at TVO, reporting to CEO Pary Bell and serving as a member of TVO’s Executive Leadership Team. He arrives from Toronto Foundation, where he served as VP of Finance & Administration. He’s also held roles with Artscape, CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), and University Health Network.

Gail Haupert has joined the board of FilmOntario. Haupert, Director, Contracts & Production at ACTRA Toronto, will serve the remainder of Alistair Hepburn’s term, who left the board earlier this year to take up the National Executive Director role at Directors Guild of Canada (DGC).

Darren Battersby has been appointed to the board of directors of Network Media Group. Battersby was the Chief Financial Officer of the company for over 10 years, from 2014 until his retirement in 2025. Prior to that, he served as CFO for public companies including Rainmaker Entertainment, a division of WOW! Unlimited Media, and JZR Gold.