Revolving Door

Melissa Ridgen is joining Global News in the newly-created role of Network Managing Editor, starting Oct. 24. Arriving from APTN where she’s been a host, producer and reporter since 2009, most recently for APTN National News. Prior to joining APTN, she spent more than 24 years on the beat covering crime, courts and politics for the Brandon Sun, Calgary Sun, and Kenora Daily Miner & News. A Red River Métis, Global says Ridgen will focus on amplifying Indigenous voices and driving investigative and enterprise reporting dedicated to issues concerning First Nations and Inuit peoples. She’ll also identify and develop stories for Global National, The New Reality and Globalnews.ca. Read more here.

Tinnie Chow is the new Senior Manager for News and Programs at CBC Vancouver, reporting to Shiral Tobin, Director of Journalism & Programming for CBC British Columbia. Chow arrives from BBTV where she’s been a Digital Strategist and Senior Producer for the last two years. She previously worked at CBC Vancouver as a host and associate producer at the outset of her career in the late ‘90s. She went on to roles with CNN in Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post, MTV World, and Meta, where she served as Strategic Platform Partnerships Manager (Broadcast), Middle East North Africa region.

CBC News Network has unveiled a new host lineup, effective Oct. 24. Dwight Drummond, host of CBC Toronto News at 6 p.m., will join the network as host of Canada Tonight for one year, filling in for Ginella Massa while she is on maternity leave. Aarti Pole takes over the 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET time slot as the host of CBC Newsroom, following the retirement of Suhana Meharchand. Senior reporter Hannah Thibedeau will host CBC Newsroom from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET. Weekend programming changes see Natasha Fatah move into middays. 

Melanie Ng has announced her departure from Citytv’s Breakfast Television. Ng has been a reporter and anchor with the station for the last 12 years. Prior to joining Citytv in 2010, Ng held roles with CHCH-TV Hamilton and the Canadian Traffic Network.

Marion Warnica is leaving CBC for an opportunity outside of journalism. Warnica has been with the public broadcaster since 2012 and the host of The World This Hour since 2016. Prior to joining CBC, she was a reporter and anchor with Pattison Media’s stations in Cranbrook and Lethbridge.

Ted Deller has retired from CBC Saskatchewan after a 32-year career with the public broadcaster. Deller got his start in broadcasting at CKX Brandon, MB in 1985, rising through the ranks to become news director, before heading to MTN (Manitoba Television Network) in Portage la Prairie as an anchor in 1988. A move to the anchor desk at CBC Saskatoon, alongside Cathy Little, followed in October 1990. After the cuts to CBC stations in December of that year, Deller moved over to CBC Radio. He spent time working on The Noon Edition and then as afternoon news editor/announcer. He had been the voice of morning news and part of The Morning Edition team since 2006. The station marked Deller’s retirement on Sept. 29th with a number of special segments, with noon-hour program Blue Sky welcoming him as a phone-in guest. 

Ron Zuke is retiring as Station and Sales Manager at Air 106.1 FM (CFIT-FM) and DiscoverAirdrie.com after 35 years in broadcasting, 33 of those with Golden West Broadcasting. Zuke got his start at CKLQ and CKX-TV and radio in Brandon, MB. He joined Golden West’s CKMW Winkler, joining Darryl Wheeler in the MJHL Winkler Flyers broadcast booth for a decade. Zuke concurrently anchored weekend sportscasts on MTN (Manitoba Television Network) in Portage La Prairie. He moved into sales with Golden West in 1997, relocating to CFRY in Portage in 2000 where he joined Ryan Simpson on Portage Terriers’ broadcasts for another 10 years, in addition to serving as Sales Manager. Since then, he’s made stops with the company in Drumheller, Cochrane and Airdrie.

Jim Smalley, Agricultural News Director at Harvard Media’s 620 CKRM Regina, is retiring after 40 years. Smalley’s broadcasting career began at CKDR Dryden, ON. After stops in Fort Frances and Weyburn, SK, he became the first farm news director at CKCK Radio and TV in Regina in 1975. He joined CKRM in 1982. Smalley’s last “Saskatchewan Agriculture Today” will air Friday, Oct. 28. From 2 – 4 p.m., 620 CKRM will host a live, two-hour salute  featuring high-profile guests and memories.

Ray Ferraro has announced he’s stepping back from his hockey analyst duties with TSN after 14 years with the network, but will continue to work with ESPN which he joined last season as a lead colour commentator. The former NHL’er will continue to co-host The Ray & Dregs Hockey Podcast, where he talks more about his decision to adopt a less busy travel schedule.

Kenzie Lalonde succeeds John Lu as TSN’s new Montreal bureau reporter, covering Alouettes and Canadiens games moving forward. Last year, Lalonde became the first woman to provide play-by-play coverage for a QMJHL game on television. She’s also covered the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship for TSN and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing for CBC. As previously reported, Lu is now covering the Winnipeg Jets in a return to his hometown.

Jim McCourtie is the new Director of Brands & Content for Harvard Media, responsible for Programming and Brand strategies for the Harvard radio stations and ongoing mentoring and development of on-air management and broadcast teams. He’ll also continue to head Programming for Harvard’s Alternative brands, X92.9 FM (CFEX-FM) Calgary and X100.7 FM (CKEX-FM) Red Deer. Prior to joining Harvard Media, McCourtie held programming roles with Corus and Bell Media.

Greg Beharrell’s syndicated show is now being heard across Rogers Sports & Media’s ROCK and SONiC stations evenings. Based in Los Angeles, the reach of Beharrell’s syndicated show now exceeds more than 50 stations.

Luke Ettinger has been hired as a reporter in CBC’s recently-established Grande Prairie bureau, one of 14 new journalists posted to smaller communities across the country. Ettinger arrives from Bell Media’s stations in Fort St. John, BC where he’d been a radio reporter and video journalist for the past six months. The 2022 University of Guelph-Humber Media Studies grad previously interned for the public broadcaster on Ontario Morning and CBC Radio One in Toronto.

Graeme Benjamin has announced his departure from Global Halifax after four and a half years. Most recently a digital broadcast journalist, Benjamin started as a reporter and producer on Global News Morning. Prior to Global, he held various roles with CTV Atlantic, including serving as Interactive Coordinator.

Sarah Lawrynuik has moved on from Canadaland after a year as senior producer. Prior to joining the podcast network last November, Lawrynuik held roles as a Climate Change Reporter with the Winnipeg Free Press and worked with CBC as a reporter, video journalist, and associate producer in Winnipeg, Calgary and Lethbridge.

Elyssa Macri is taking on the role of Director of Communications and Industry Relations at the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA). Macri will oversee the Communications and Industry Relations team and report to CMRRA and SX Works President Paul Shaver. Based in Toronto, she’ll lead strategic communications, marketing, events, and sponsorship opportunities and serve as a key liaison with Canadian industry organizations. Macri previously served as Director of Marketing and Communications at The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and the JUNO Awards.