Mike Sobel, weather specialist and co-host of Global News Morning Edmonton, has announced his retirement after 25 years with the station. His last broadcast will be on Dec. 23. Sobel’s 43-year career in broadcasting began at CFSL Radio in Weyburn, SK in 1979. He went on to stints with CKCK Regina and CFRN Radio in Edmonton before moving into television with hosting turns on ITV’s Disney Afternoons, Four O’ Clock Rock and Jeopardy!-style quiz show, High-Q in the mid-1980s. Sobel also spent a decade on-air with CISN Country 103.9 Edmonton. Global Edmonton will give Sobel a memorable send off during local programming, Dec. 19-23.
Murtz Jaffer has joined Global News as Associate Producer of The Morning Show. Most recently a freelance writer at the Toronto Star, Murtz was formerly a segment producer at Canada AM and a chase producer at CTV News Channel. He was also host and co-creator of Gemini Award-winning reality series Reality Obsessed, which aired on Global and Corus specialty channels.
Kate McKenna is headed to CBC Halifax for the next five months where she’ll serve as the national reporter for Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and New Brunswick. McKenna has most recently been reporting for the public broadcaster in Montreal. She’s also the author of No Choice, a firsthand account of Prince Edward Island’s refusal to bring abortion services to the Island.
Darrell Stranger has been announced as the new permanent host of APTN National News and APTN InFocus. Stranger has been a reporter with APTN for the last three years, after initially interning with the network in 2018 as a NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) student.
Glenn Semaniuk has returned to Stingray as part of management restructuring in the Maritimes. Semaniuk takes over as GM/GSM of the company’s Halifax and Kentville, NS operations. Semaniuk was previously an Account Manager with the Newcap team in Halifax from 2004-10, before joining Bell Media as the Retail Sales Manager for Nova Scotia radio, as well as CTV Atlantic. Kenton Dunphy is promoted to Director of Sales for New Brunswick, in addition to his role as GM/GSM of Stingray Moncton and Saint John. Jennifer Evans is promoted to Director of Operations for P.E.I. and New Brunswick. In her new role, Evans will continue to oversee Charlottetown operations as well as support New Brunswick managers in achieving their goals.
Cory Atkins has been named Sales Director, Stingray Advertising, as the team expands. Stingray Advertising operates Canada’s largest retail audio advertising network, delivering digital audio ads to close to 3,000 pharmacy, grocery, and discount store locations. Stingray says Atkins, who spent the last nine years as Senior Director, Media Sales at Cineplex Media, will play an integral role in growing ad revenue across the retail audio advertising network. Prior to joining Cineplex, Atkins was a correspondent and host with CTV Edmonton, A-Channel Ottawa and MuchMusic.
Michel W. Duguay, who had a 25-year run in afternoons at CKOI Montréal and was heard more recently on 94.3 Radio Énergie (CKMF-FM) Montréal, has dropped anchor at online station, CNV Radio Numérique. He’s now hosting Bonjour Samedi, Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Operating from studios at DUO Centre Laval, other station voices include former Quebec politician Rémy Trudel, former Montreal Canadiens coach Jean Perron, writer Daniel Daignault, radio personalities Diane Lafrance and Robert Arcand, and sports journalist Luc Gélinas.
Adina Bresge has left The Canadian Press (CP) to join U of T News as a staff reporter. Bresge had been with CP for the last seven years, most recently focused on Lifestyle & Entertainment reporting, based in Toronto. Prior to that, she was a reporter and editor with the Atlantic Bureau in Halifax.
Les Staff, former Director of News and Information at CTV Vancouver, has joined the Coquitlam-based financial planning firm owned by his wife Corry Staff as a Licenced Insurance Specialist. Staff was with CTV Vancouver from 2007 to early 2021 when he was caught up in restructuring at Bell Media. Prior to that, he served as News Director at CTV News Saskatoon.
Dave Sommer, Head of Politics & Government for Instagram, is among the Canadians impacted by mass layoffs at Meta. With Facebook since 2019 and based in Washington, D.C., Sommer was previously a Deputy Director of Communications with the Prime Minister’s Office. Prior to that, he had a journalism career that included stops as a producer at Sun News Network and CTV Toronto.
