Michele Austin has joined Bell as Vice President, Public Affairs. Austin, Twitter’s former Director of Public Policy for Canada and the U.S., was among those caught up in layoffs at the app in November. Austin, whose background includes time with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Summa Strategies, had been with Twitter since 2018.
Duncan McCue is joining Carleton University’s journalism school full-time. He’ll formally take up a new tenure track position in July as an Associate Professor, specializing in Indigenous Journalism and (Story)telling, while also working on the creation of a new journalism skills certificate in Indigenous communities. McCue, who has been with CBC for 25 years, is currently the host of Helluva Story on CBC Radio and behind forthcoming residential schools podcast, Kuper Island. He’ll maintain a formal association with the CBC and continue to produce documentaries, guest host radio programs, and do Indigenous-related training.
Ross Lord has retired from Global News. Most recently Global National‘s Atlantic correspondent, based in Halifax, Lord had been a reporter since 1984 and with MITV/Global Halifax since 1990. By 1995, he had ascended to the position of Assignment Editor for Global Maritimes. He joined Global National in 1998, covering stories from Canada’s mission in Afghanistan to the Moncton RCMP murders in 2014.
Tim Cook is the new Managing Editor at The Canadian Press (CP). Cook has been with CP since 2001 when he started with the wire service as a reporter with its Edmonton bureau. He went on to hold the roles of Deputy Bureau Chief, Western Canada and Prairies Bureau Chief. For the last year, he had been serving as Assistant Managing Editor.
Tim James is leaving CityNews 1130 (CKWX-AM) Vancouver after a decade with Rogers Sports & Media. James started with CityNews 660 (CFFR-AM) in 2012, before joining 1130 in 2014. The news anchor says he’s leaving to explore his options, but will continue broadcasting for USPORTS, serving as the voice of the Trinity Western Spartans volleyball and soccer teams.
Crystal Laderas has left CityNews Vancouver after eight years with Rogers Sports & Media. Laderas, who is stepping away from journalism, first joined CityNews 660 (CFFR-AM) Calgary in 2015 as a reporter and producer. After transitioning to television in 2018, she joined CityNews Vancouver in 2021 as a video journalist, producer and host.
Keila DePape is now a Digital Reporter at CTV Montreal. DePape was most recently with CTV News Winnipeg where she’d worked since 2018, ending her tenure there as Supervising News Producer.
Issac Piotrowski, host of Isaac In The Morning on Hits 100 (CKNB-FM) Campbellton, NB, has announced his departure from the MBS station. With Hits 100 since March of 2021, Piotrowski previously worked in promotions with Rogers Sports & Media’s radio stations in Tillsonburg and London, ON.
Shannon Waters is the new Editor-in-Chief of Politics Today, a collection of daily newsletters that includes Queen’s Park Today, British Columbia Today, Alberta Today, and Parliament Today, helmed by publisher Allison Smith. Waters, who was formerly a reporter for BC Today, was among those caught up in recent layoffs at Overstory Media Group’s Capital Daily. Waters succeeds Sammy Hudes, who had held the Editor-in-Chief role for the last two years and now joins The Canadian Press as a Business Reporter/Editor.
E.J. (Bud) Keys is the new President & CEO of Manitoba internet, television, and home phone provider Westman Communications Group. Keys has 35 years of industry experience, including leadership positions at Allstream and Northwestel. He is currently Vice President of the Coalition of Manitoba Internet Service Providers, a member of the Business Council of Manitoba, and a board member of the Manitoba Cooperative Association.
Allison Lenehan is transitioning out of the President & CEO role at rural broadband provider, Xplore Inc., to become a Senior Advisor to the Xplore board, focused on strategic initiatives. Lenehan has served as Xplore’s CEO for the last decade and with the company for nearly 30 years. Francis Shammo, Chairman of the Xplore board and former Chief Financial Officer at Verizon, has been named Interim President & CEO.
Steve Ziff and John Torris have joined Vancouver-headquartered augmented reality solutions provider, ImagineAR, as Advisors to the CEO to help launch immersive AR partnerships in the North American sports, entertainment and retail spaces. Ziff, is a former marketing and sales executive for multiple NFL, MLB and NHL clubs, while Torris is the current Head of Sales & Vertical Partnerships at Bold Commerce and a former NFL and NBA executive.
