Christa Dickenson will be moving on from her Executive Director and CEO role at Telefilm Canada in September. Dickenson has been with the Crown corporation since July 2018, arriving from Interactive Ontario where she served as President & CEO. Her three decades in media and telecommunications, include 15 years with Rogers, where she ended her tenure as Managing Director, International Client Relations & Events. She started her career behind-the-scenes with CTV and CPAC. Read more here.
Russell James has been announced as the new Program Director of 93.7 JR Country (CJJR-FM) and 102.7 The Peak (CKPK-FM) Vancouver, succeeding the exiting Dustin Collins. Russell comes to Vancouver from Kelowna where he is Senior Program Director with Pattison Media in Kelowna and Vernon. His first day in Vancouver is May 2. Collins will return to Corus Entertainment this summer as Program Director-Classic West, overseeing Rock 101 (CFMI-FM) Vancouver, Q107 (CFGQ-FM) Calgary, and 92.5 The Chuck (CKNG-FM) Edmonton. His last day with Pattison is April 29.
Luke Rodriguez is joining Virgin Radio (CFMG-FM) Edmonton as afternoon drive host and Assistant Program Director, starting May 2. Arriving from Virgin Radio (CKFM-FM) Toronto, where he’s most recently been a network announcer and member of the national Virgin music team, Rodriguez has been with Bell Media since 2014. He’s held various on-air roles, including mornings at Virgin Radio (CFCA-FM) Kitchener and swing at KOOL 105.3 (CFCA-FM) Kitchener and Virgin Radio (CIQM-FM) London, among other stations.
Jess Jackson is taking on the Assistant Program Director role at 100.3 The Bear (CFBR-FM) Edmonton. Jackson has been the station’s midday host since 2013, in addition to handling Music Director duties for the past several years. She’ll continue to be heard in middays.
Creeson Agecoutay is joining CTV Atlantic as the new Bureau Chief for CTV National News, based in Halifax. The First Nations University and University of Regina Journalism grad has been with CTV since 2008, starting out as a host and producer in Regina. For the last year and a half, he’s been a reporter with the Parliamentary bureau.
Paul Creelman has retired from CTV Atlantic after a 43-year career as a camera operator. Creelman first joined CTV in 1979, holding roles as a cameraman, editor and technical producer for news and current affairs. Among other career highlights, he’s covered three Olympic games, including the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, 2012 London Summer Games, and 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Maria St. Aubin has parted ways with Sportsnet 590 The Fan (CJCL-AM) Toronto after more than seven years. St. Aubin has joined Vancouver-based branded podcast studio, JAR Audio as Project Lead. St. Aubin started with The Fan as an intern in 2014, working her way up to editor, weekend sportscaster, and most recently Managing Editor, assisting with podcast uploading and social strategy.
Evy Kwong is joining VICE as Manager of Social, Americas. Kwong has been with the Toronto Star for the last seven years, most recently as Editor, Social and Audience. She previously worked for VICE Media’s Noisey as a staff writer.
Beth Janson has left her CEO role with the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television to join TIFF as Chief Operating Officer. The Academy’s Board of Directors has named current Vice President, Programming & Awards, Louis Calabro, as interim CEO, effective May 20. Janson had been CEO since July 2016. TIFF has also appointed Anita Lee, Executive Producer of the National Film Board’s Ontario Studio, as Chief Programming Officer, and promoted Laura Ryan to Chief of Staff.
Beth Iley has been hired by Amazon Studios as Senior Scripted Development Executive, Canada, working with the Canadian Originals team. Illey was formerly Director of Development for New Metric Media for the last three and a half years. She’s also worked in scripted programming for Temple Street Productions, and as a producer on Killjoys.
Nancy MacLean has joined Scott McGillivray’s McGillivray Entertainment Media as the prodco’s first Chief Operating Officer. The former President of Pinewood Toronto Studios and Vice-President, Bell Media Studios, up until early 2021, MacLean has been with MBS Equipment for the last eight months, serving as Vice President, Studios and Sustainable Production Services.
Stephanie Fast is now President of Frantic Films. Fast has been with the Winnipeg and Toronto-based prodco since 2011, working her way up from Post Production & Operations Manager. For the past six years, she’s been VP, Production & Post Production.
Magali Simard has joined Cinespace Studios as Director of Industry & Community Relations. Simard was previously Program Manager, Film Sector Development for the City of Toronto. Prior to that, she was a programmer with TIFF for 12 years.
David Grindle will serve as the next Executive Director of SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers). Grindle will formally join SMPTE in July after concluding a 12-year tenure as Executive Director of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology. In addition to his experience in non-profit leadership, Grindle is a Fulbright specialist with the U.S. State Department. He started his career as a Production Manager for the Atlanta Opera.
