James Lewis has been appointed Supervising Producer, CTV News Toronto. In the newly-created position, Lewis will play a principal role in leading newsroom operations and overseeing content on all platforms. Lewis has been with CTV News since 2017, most recently serving as Senior Producer. He previously worked as a producer at Global BC and as a reporter/anchor at CKNW News Talk 980 Vancouver.
Sébastien Perron is the incoming first director of ICI RDI, succeeding Paule Genest who will retire at the end of June. At Radio-Canada since the beginning of his career, Perron has held roles since 1998 from journalist in Sudbury to national reporter in Toronto and Saint-Jean, to parliamentary correspondent at the National Assembly in Quebec City. He served as editor-in-chief, then director at ICI Première from 2016-18, and since 2018 has been directing news and information programming for radio.
Denis Lévesque will host his last show on May 19, ending 16 years of daily presence on TVA and LCN. The 63-year-old has more than 3,000 episodes of the program in the can. While he’ll be taking a sabbatical in Europe this fall, he doesn’t plan to completely retire and will conduct a series of interviews for LCN’s upcoming 25th anniversary.
Phil Evans will be joining Durham Radio’s WAVE 98.3 (CIWV-FM) Vancouver (the former dial position of Roundhouse Radio) as Promotions Director. Evans has had a long career in radio, including a stint as Promotions Manager of 102.1 The Edge (CFNY-FM) Toronto, where he brought Edgefest to life. In 2002, he was appointed Director of Promotions and Marketing for Corus Radio in B.C., and in 2006 became the Division Marketing and Promotions Director for Astral (now Stingray) radio in B.C. Evans also served as Group Promotions and Marketing Director for Rogers Vancouver in 2009. In his new role, he’ll be responsible for creating and executing the overall promotional and marketing strategy for WAVE 98.3 which is set to launch early this summer.
Fiona Hopewell Jensen has left CBC Vancouver to join Global BC. The Executive Producer of News Content for the bureau, Hopewell Jensen returns to Global as Supervising Producer, a role she previously held from 1997 to 2019. Theresa Lalonde is filling Hopewell Jensen’s former role at CBC in the interim.
Abby Schneider has left her producer role with CBC Saskatchewan to join the City of Regina as a Public Engagement Strategist. She’d been with CBC for more than 14 years, most recently as a producer for CBC Radio program, Blue Sky, as well as handling Opinion and Engagement.
Raquel Fletcher has left Global News in Quebec City to join Bell Media’s Noovo. Fletcher had been Global’s National Assembly correspondent since 2016. Prior to Quebec City, Fletcher worked in the Global Regina bureau.
Virginia Wright has left CTV Calgary to pursue a career outside journalism. Wright had been with CTV since 2015, starting as a video journalist in Regina. She’s also done stints as a producer, web writer, and reporter in Toronto and Kitchener. She’d been a producer with CTV Calgary since 2019.
Tom Easy is departing Stingray Edmonton after 40 years in radio sales. Easy has been the constant at 96.3 FM (CKRA-FM) Edmonton, starting in sales at 96.3 K-Lite in 1982. The dial position has subsequently gone through numerous format changes over the years, including Mix 96, 96X, Big Earl, Capital FM and now 96.3 The Breeze.
Paul Brown is taking over as host of the morning show on 92.9 The Grand (CHTG-FM) Hamilton/Haldimand. Brown is an alum of mornings at 100.3 The Bear (CFBR-FM) Edmonton for 13 years, followed by a four-year run in mornings at JACK 96.9 (CJAX-FM) Vancouver.
Vanessa Doban is leaving CityNews 1130 (CKWX-AM). She’d been an anchor, reporter and web producer with the station since 2019. Prior to CityNews, Doban was on-air at Corus all-traffic station AM 730 (CHMJ-AM) Vancouver.
Pina Sama has joined KiSS 92.5 (CKIS-FM) Toronto as a weekend announcer. Sama was previously part of the morning show at Z103.5 (CIDC-FM), up until last November. She’s also been on-air at both 104.5 CHUM FM and 99.9 MIX FM (CKFM-FM).
Lindsay May has stepped away from Pure Country 92.7 (CHBD-FM) Regina. May has accepted a new role in communications. Her last day on-air is May 13. She’d been co-hosting mornings on the station since 2016.
Ashley (AJ) Pirhonen has joined 101.3 The River (CKKN-FM) Prince George as weekend host. Pirhonen arrives from Move 97.1 (CJMJ-FM) Penticton where she’d been heard in afternoon drive since late 2021.
Ann MacGregor is leaving CKEC New Glasgow after 20 years. MacGregor has held numerous positions over the years, including program director. She’d most recently been heard on the 94.1 The Breeze (CKEC-FM) morning show.
Patricia Lovett-Reid has signed on as the Chief Financial Commentator for Home Equity Bank. The former TD Bank SVP announced last month she was stepping away from her on-air duties at CTV after a decade as a financial commentator for the network. As part of the new gig, Lovett-Reid has a new financial blog.
Allen Lau, co-founder of Wattpad is stepping aside as CEO, transitioning into a new role as Executive Advisor for both Wattpad and WEBTOON. Wattpad President Jeanne Lam will assume day-to-day responsibility for the company’s operations, with both Lau and Lam reporting to Ken Kim, CEO, WEBTOON Americans. Lam has been in the role of President since last July after holding a number of key positions since 2015 as Director of Growth, before being elevated to General Manager in 2017, and then Chief Business Officer in 2020.
Alain Strati has been appointed Senior Vice-President, Industry, Policy and General Counsel, by the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). In the role, he’ll oversee legal, industry, legislative, regulatory and public policy files for the organization. Strati was most recently Assistant General Counsel, Regulatory Affairs, at Bell. Prior to that, he was at Rogers, where he held positions including Vice President, Business & Regulatory Affairs and Vice President, OMNI, Specialty TV & Development.
Megan Guy has joined Cinespace Studios’ Toronto team. Guy joins as Head of Client Services and Studio Operations and will be responsible for managing the day-to-day sales and operations for Cinespace Toronto, focusing on business development and client relations. She was most recently Vice President, International for the UK’s Pinewood Studios Group. Bill Zacharuk takes on the newly-expanded role of Head of Vendor Partnerships, North America. Zacharuk joined Cinespace in 2021 as General Manager of Operations for Toronto. Zacharuk spent over three decades at Panavision Canada, where he moved up through the organization, ultimately serving as President and COO.
