Revolving Door

Lisa LaFlamme has revealed that Bell Media terminated her contract at the end of June after 35 years with CTV, the last 11 as Chief News Anchor and Senior Editor. In its own release, Bell announced LaFlamme’s departure Monday afternoon, saying that “Recognizing changing viewer habits, CTV recently advised LaFlamme that it had made the business decision to move its acclaimed news show, CTV National News, and the role of its Chief News Anchor in a different direction.” LaFlamme, 58, took to social media with her own version of events, saying she’d been “blindsided” by the company and asked to keep her release quiet. She began her career at CTV Kitchener affiliate, CKCO, as a copywriter and script assistant, going on to serve as a foreign correspondent, and co-host Canada AM in the early 2000s, among other roles. LaFlamme’s unceremonious departure has dominated headlines and spurred numerous editorials, including insights from former CTV colleague Kevin Newman, Toronto Sun columnist Brian Lilley, and our own editor Connie Thiessen. 

Omar Sachedina has been named incoming Chief News Anchor and Senior Editor of CTV National News, effective Monday, Sept. 5. Sachedina, who holds a Master of Science degree from Columbia Journalism School, is currently the network’s National Affairs Correspondent and has been with CTV since 2009. Among other roles, he’s served as Parliamentary Correspondent, contributed to W5, and served as a fill-in host for both CTV National News and CTV Power Play. Sachedina’s began his career as an intern at Global in Vancouver and Montreal. He’s also worked for CTV Northern Ontario, Citytv, and CP24.

Alicia Barin has been appointed the CRTC’s interim Vice-Chair of Broadcasting for the next six months. The Quebec commissioner temporarily succeeds Caroline J. Simard, who in June was named the new Commissioner of Canada Elections. Simard’s term was set to end in September.

Darren Throop, President and CEO of Entertainment One (eOne), will step down at the end of the year when his contract runs out. Throop began his career in Halifax when he opened Urban Sound Exchange, building an independent chain of music stores, which led to the purchase of ROW Entertainment which eventually become eOne. The company went public in 2007. His exit follows Hasbro’s acquisition of the company in 2019.

Catherine Cullen is the incoming host of CBC Radio’s The House, succeeding Chris Hall who retired as National Affairs Editor at the end of June. Cullen has been a senior reporter in the Parliamentary Bureau since 2014 and with the public broadcaster since 2005, starting as a researcher and eventually TV reporter at CBC Montreal.

Julie Nolin has left CTV Vancouver for Global BC. Nolin had been a multi-platform journalist and anchor with CTV Vancouver since 2013. She started her career as an intern with the network before moving on to print and eventually A-Channel in Calgary and Edmonton, Citytv Vancouver and CHEK News Victoria, among other stops. Nolin previously worked as a technical producer at Global BC from 2009-12.

Robin LaRose has returned to the time slot he first held when he joined Vancouver’s Rock 101 (CFMI-FM) in 1992. Following 25 years in middays, the veteran personality moves into afternoon drive, which Dean Hill vacated with his retirement earlier in the summer after 26 years. LaRose’s show also airs in the 6 – 10 p.m. time slot on Q107 (CFGQ-FM) Calgary. Read more here.

Sara Orlesky has joined the Winnipeg Jets content team as a host and producer. Orlesky was previously with TSN for 14 years, including 11 seasons as host of the Jets on TSN broadcasts and the network’s roving Winnipeg reporter. She’d also served as the sideline reporter for the CFL on TSN since 2008. As part of a partnership with TSN, Orlesky will make regular appearances on Jets on TSN broadcasts and co-produce and host a new post-game show delivered on all Jets media platforms, in addition to pre-game hits.

Will Nault has stepped away from Sportsnet 960 (CFAC-AM) Calgary after 10 years, where he’s most recently been a co-host on The Big Show in the Morning. Nault is moving on to a new opportunity outside media. He’s the fourth host to leave the station this year following the departures of Boomer in the Morning co-hosts Rhett Warrener in mid-March, and Dean “Boomer” Molberg in June. Ryan Pinder, co-host of Pinder & Steinberg and Flames Talk, departed in mid-July.

Britt Prendergast has joined TSN 1260 (CFRN-AM) and Virgin Radio (CFMG-FM) Edmonton as a producer and on-air personality. She arrives from a marketing position at the Edmonton Stingers basketball club. Prendergast was last in radio in 2020 when she left 660 News (CFFR-AM) Calgary to join Western Hockey League franchise the Calgary Hitmen as associate digital producer. Prior to that, she was on-air at EZ Rock (CFTK-AM) and Pure Country (CJFW-FM) Terrace, BC.

Stevie De La Rose has joined STAR 98.3 (CKSR-FM) Chilliwack in afternoon drive. She arrives from KIX FM (CKKX-FM) Peace River, AB. De La Rose has also done stints at The Rush 96.1 (CKRW-FM) Whitehorse, New Country 98.1 (CFCW-FM) Edmonton, and Vista Radio in Quesnel, BC.

Laura Hampshire is taking a break from broadcasting after more than 25 years to spend more time caring for her mother, who was diagnosed with dementia late last year. Hampshire most recently has been serving as News Director for Bayshore Broadcasting East, doing morning news on 89.1 Max FM (CISO-FM) Orillia, 97.7 Max FM (CHGB-FM) Wasaga Beach, and Country 102 (CJMU-FM) Bracebridge. Hampshire has also spent time at 900 CHML Hamilton, 107.5 KOOL FM (CKMB-FM) Barrie, and 680 News (CFTR-AM) Toronto, among other stations.

Paul Brar has been suspended from Sher E Punjab AM 600 (CKSP-AM) Richmond, BC after comments interpreted by some listeners as minimizing the role of domestic abuse in the suicide death of a South Asian woman in New York. The station has launched an internal review into the matter.

Great Pacific Media (GPM), the unscripted content arm of Thunderbird Entertainment Group, has moved up Lindsay Macadam to Executive Vice President of GPM from the role of Senior Vice President of Content & Business Development. Reporting to GPM President David Way, Macadam will lead business development and third-party partnerships, as well as oversee key new and current series. Macadam has more than 15 years’ experience in film and TV production, including serving as a leading executive producer on drama series Motive (CTV, NBCUniversal International). Moving up to Vice President, Creative, Todd Serotiuk previously served as Executive Producer and showrunner for six seasons on Heavy Rescue: 401 (Discovery Canada, The Weather Channel). Reporting to Macadam, he’ll now be responsible for overseeing creative on new key series, help foster professional development of team members, and consult on the creative direction and execution of projects in development. Additionally, Lori Massini has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs from Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs at Thunderbird Entertainment, overseeing a team that supports Atomic Cartoons and Thunderbird Distribution and the business affairs team at GPM.

Erin Burke, Associate Director, Programs & Content at the Canadian Film Centre (CFC), has left the organization after 20 years. Burke’s career at the CFC began in 2001 as an Administrative Assistant for CFC Features (previously called The Feature Film Project). She rose through the ranks to Creative Executive, Features Comedy Lab and Executive in Charge of Production & Post, among other roles.