Originally published in the Aug. 27, 2026 edition of Broadcast Dialogue’s Weekly Briefing
Jason Carlos has been named the new Executive Director of Departure Festival + Conference. Carlos had served as the event’s Senior Director of Brand, Marketing & Communications since 2024 when LOFT Entertainment and Oak View Group (OVG) acquired Canadian Music Week (CMW) and undertook the event’s rebrand. In his new role, he’ll oversee strategic and operational leadership of the festival, reporting to Jackie Dean, who was recently appointed President & CEO of LOFT Entertainment. Carlos’ appointment comes following Kevin Barton’s recent resignation from the ED role. Read more here.
Ron Ahluwalia has joined TVO as Vice President, Strategy, helping shape the Ontario public broadcaster’s organizational strategy, planning and governance. Ahluwalia’s background includes serving as Director of Policy to the Minister of Canadian Heritage in 2022-23, where he handled files related to broadcasting, online safety, and the CBC; in addition to senior advisory roles in the Ontario government and other regulatory bodies. Read more here.
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Claudia Marques has reunited with Cat Spencer in the afternoon drive time slot, on Montreal’s 92.5 The Beat (CKBE-FM). Marques leaves the morning show after five years as Catherine D (Catherine Duranceau) returns to The Beat Breakfast Club alongside co-hosts Natasha Gargiulo and Lee Haberkorn, following parental leave.
Allison Waytowich is joining CHCH-TV Hamilton as a reporter for Morning Live. A Humber College Post-graduate Journalism Certificate grad, Waytowich had been interning in the newsroom for the last three months.
Dana Roberts has announced his departure from CTV News. Roberts has been with the network since 2019, initially as a videographer, anchor and producer with CTV Barrie. Since 2025, he’d been a show producer for CTV News Channel.
Kelsey Brown has moved on from Global Edmonton after more than 13 years as Senior Sales Promotions Coordinator. Prior to Global, she held similar roles at Shaw Media and CTV.
Cameron Hughes is joining Calgary Sports & Entertainment full-time as Game Day Coordinator for American Hockey League (AHL) franchise, the Calgary Wranglers. A former board operator and producer with Rogers Sports & Media, prior to this summer’s station closures, Hughes has been working as an in-game DJ and music coordinator for the Wranglers and Calgary Stampeders for the past three years.
Sarah Wolfe is now being heard weekends on Pattison Media’s The Wave 102.3 (CKWV-FM) Nanaimo from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sundays. Wolfe joined the station earlier this summer and also takes on Production Assistant duties. The SAIT Radio program graduate previously completed an internship with Pattison’s stations in Calgary, where she’s also worked as a street team member.
John Curry has joined Cineplex Media as an Account Director. Curry arrives from Bell Media, where he’s been a Multi-Platform Account Executive in the GTA since 2023. Prior to that, he held several business development and account roles with The Globe & Mail.
Zach Marcovici has been promoted to Director of Drama Development at CBC, upped from Executive in Charge of Development, Drama, a position he’d held since November 2024. He succeeds Lea Marin, who left the public broadcaster in May to join Netflix Canada as Manager of Content.
Taron Cochrane is now officially the Producer of Communications, Marketing & Brand for CBC in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Cochrane has been working with CBC Saskatchewan for the past eight years on various marketing and communications initiatives.
Quebecor-owned MELS Studios and Postproduction is moving forward with a new organizational structure aimed at enhancing the studio’s appeal to both domestic and international productions. Aurée Lepage, Director of International Business Development, who is based in L.A., becomes the primary point of contact for the U.S. market. Sophie Houle has been appointed Director, Client Experience and Communications, focused on enhancing the client experience and strengthening partner relationships, in addition to continuing to lead brand visibility and communications strategy. Read more here.
Alethea Bakogeorge has departed the Disability Screen Office (DSO) to move on to a new role as Manager, Major Gifts at the Rick Hansen Foundation. As the DSO’s inaugural Director of Programs and Development, Bakogeorge helped build DSO’s Programs department, Canada’s Screen Industry Survey on Disability and Industry Resource Hub. She also co-authored best practices guide, Reframing Access.
