Corus Entertainment says a third-party investigation into former Q107 (CILQ-FM) Toronto morning show Derringer in the Morning has concluded, but it will not publicly share its findings or recommendations.
A statement from Q107 pic.twitter.com/pD4TNvoLaJ
— Q107 Toronto (@Q107Toronto) November 29, 2022
“While personnel matters remain private and confidential, we understand and accept the findings and recommendations,” Q107 stated in a post to social media on Tuesday. “Where not already in place, we intend to implement the investigator’s recommendations.”
The investigation into the show’s working environment, conducted by Turnpenney Milne LLP, was sparked by the filing of a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission by former Derringer in the Morning co-host Jennifer Valentyne alleging gender discrimination.
Valentyne, who joined Q107 in February 2017 and worked with the Derringer show for two years prior to being announced as the new co-host of Global News Morning Toronto in early 2019, detailed a toxic work culture during her time with the show that included enduring vape smoking by her co-hosts in an unventilated space and a general lack of respect.
Derringer in the Morning was subsequently placed on hiatus in late May pending the outcome of the external review.
Following Valentyne coming forward, other former Q107 staffers including Jacqui Delaney, Andrea Rooz, and Raina Douris took to social media to relate their own experiences, however it’s unclear who and how many current and former staff took part in the process. Both Valentyne and Delaney told the Toronto Sun in June that they would not be participating due to the investigation’s confidentiality requirement and parameters, which purportedly was limited to current working conditions at the station.
Delaney told the Sun that her response to Turnpenney Milne was that she could not “be party to what can only be described as a public relations exercise.”
Corus told Broadcast Dialogue in an emailed statement that individual complainants have been briefed on the investigation’s findings specific to their concerns.
“The investigation was open to both current and former employees and we sincerely thank all participants for speaking up,” wrote a spokesperson for Q107. “The independent investigator provided a report to each individual complainant regarding their specific concerns. Corus was provided with a report that included findings and recommendations which were shared promptly and as openly as possible with members of our team. Where not already in place, we intend to implement the investigator’s recommendations.”
It was announced in August that John Derringer and Q107 had officially parted ways. He had been heard in mornings on the station since 2001 and in the Toronto market for nearly 30 years.
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