Sarika Cullis-Suzuki and Anthony Morgan have been named the incoming hosts of CBC’s The Nature of Things, following David Suzuki’s announcement last month he’ll be retiring next spring. Announced during Wednesday’s CBC Live at Massey Hall industry event, the new hosting duo will take over TV’s longest-running science program during the 2023-24 season. Cullis-Suzuki, David Suzuki’s youngest daughter, is a marine biologist and environmentalist, while Morgan is a molecular scientist and science communicator. Both have guest-hosted past episodes of The Nature of Things. They’ll each host an episode during Suzuki’s final season, launching Jan. 6, before debuting as co-hosts for Season 63. Read more here.
Suzanne Guèvremont began a five-year term on Monday, Nov. 28 as the new Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the National Film Board (NFB). She succeeds Claude Joli-Coeur, who led NFB for nearly nine years. Guèvremont has been the Director of Montréal’s École des arts numériques, de l’animation et du design (NADUQAC) since 1999. She was also the founding executive director of SYNTHÈSE Pôle Image Québec, an initiative dedicated to advancing digital creative expertise and research, and serves as Chair of the Board for Collège Notre-Dame. Read more here.
Adi Braun has joined Jean Stilwell as co-host of Classical Mornings on The New Classical FM (96.3 FM in the GTA, 103.1 FM Eastern Ontario, 102.9 FM Southern Georgian Bay), heard weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. ET. The daughter of celebrated Canadian baritone Victor Braun, her professional background includes cabaret, opera and classical music. She also teaches at the Royal Conservatory of Music and is a German diction coach for the Canadian Opera Company.
Rod Kurtz, who retired from CBC Edmonton this past September, is joining Blackgold Broadcasting’s The One stations – CJLD-FM Leduc, CKSS-FM Stony Plain and CKPA-FM Ponoka – as an afternoon news anchor/reporter. Kurtz, who most recently was filling in as host of CBC Edmonton afternoon drive show Radio Active, will be the primary news voice on 89.7 FM Ponoka. His first day is Dec. 5.
Brody Hamilton is the new Executive Producer of The John Gormley Show on Rawlco Radio’s CKOM Saskatoon and CJME Regina. Hamilton, who’d been most recently working with Saskatoon creative agency lmno., previously spent eight years with SiriusXM Canada as a podcast and technical producer.
Al Roos is retiring from the Engineering Department at Corus Kingston on Dec. 12 after 39 years. Roos started working in broadcast in 1972 for McCurdy Ltd., building and installing stereo production consoles across North America, including NBC, ABC, CBS and CBC affiliates. In 1980, he did a successful installation at CKWS-FM and CFMK-FM where he was offered a job and never left. His last project at Corus Kingston was rebuilding the two FM radio stations to enable the transition to all Wheatstone digital audio over IP during the pandemic. Roos was recognized with the 2022 Canadian Radio Award for Best Engineer (Medium Market).
Amber Fryday has been named the new Atlantic director of the Canadian Association of Black Journalists (CABJ). Fryday, who has African Nova Scotian roots and is a video journalist with Global Halifax, takes over from University of King’s College Assistant Professor Brian Daly, who had held the role the last four years.
The Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC) has welcomed three new members to its Board of Directors. They include Melissa McAvoy, Chief Financial Officer at Pacific Tubulars, Shane O’Neill, Government Relations Consultant with Earnscliffe, and Sandra Hines, Finance Director at SeedChange.
WildBrain has expanded its content distribution team in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, appointing Jason Soh as Global Sales & Channels Director, APAC, and Max Tang as Senior Manager, Content Partnerships, China. Based in Singapore, Soh will spearhead distribution sales outside of Greater China, reporting to Caroline Tyre, VP Global Sales & Rights Strategy, while Tang, based in Shanghai, will be responsible for expanding WildBrain’s distribution business within Greater China, reporting to Jianbo Wei, Managing Director, China. Prior to WildBrain, Soh was with Warner Bros. Discovery where he held a pivotal role driving revenue for subscription video and pay-TV, while Tang was formerly with IPTV and OTT company BesTV and smart TV company Whaley.
Jean Benoît has joined Montreal distributor, Axia Films, as Director of Operations for Canada. Benoît was previously an executive with NBCUniversal for 22 years, up until 2021, ending his tenure as Vice President, Sales – Canada.
Josh Yamuder has been named the new Director of Partnerships, Programmatic Marketplace at Triton Digital. Yamuder is the former Programmatic Manager at Targetspot and, before that, Programmatic Specialist at Xaxis.
