Revolving Door

Originally published in the March 16 issue of The Weekly Briefing

Julie Roy has been appointed Executive Director of Telefilm Canada for a five-year term, effective April 3. Roy has nearly 30 years of experience in the Canadian film industry, including holding several senior leadership positions during a 20-year run with the National Film Board (NFB), most recently serving as Director General and Head of Programming. In her most recent role, she oversaw production studios across the country, as well as NFB’s distribution, marketing and merchandising units. Prior to her appointment last September, Roy led the NFB’s Creative and Innovation division, and held the role of Executive Producer of the NFB’s French Animation Studio. She succeeds Christa Dickenson in the Executive Director role, who moved on from the crown agency last September to join Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) as President and Chief Executive Officer. Read more here.

Sue Haas will take up the role of President & COO at NLogic next month. Haas arrives at NLogic with over 20 years of experience in media, most recently at Blue Ant Media as Senior Vice President, Digital, Global Media. Her appointment is effective April 17. She succeeds David Phillips, who departed NLogic after 16 years late last year, to join Environics Analytics as Chief Product Officer. Read more here.

Ismaila Alfa, the host of CBC Toronto’s Metro Morning since 2020, has been named the new host of CBC Radio One’s Fresh Air. Alfa will take the helm of the Ontario weekend morning show, beginning March 25. He succeeds Jason D’Souza, who took up hosting duties on CBC Victoria drive home show, All Points West, in January. Born in Nigeria and raised in Winnipeg, Alfa was a hip hop musician prior to joining CBC Radio in 2008, where he started as a traffic reporter on the CBC Winnipeg morning show. He’d been the host of CBC Winnipeg afternoon drive show, Up to Speed, since 2013, before joining Metro Morning. Read more here.

Michel Désautels has announced he’ll retire from ICI Radio-Canada Premiere in June at the end of the 10th season of Désautels le dimanche. Désautels began his broadcasting career at Radio-Canada in Toronto in 1972. He began hosting in Montreal in 1977, featured as one of the hosts of the weekly Le Point magazine, alongside Jean-François Lépine, Daniel Pinard and Gil Courtemanche. He’s hosted Désautels le dimanche since the fall of 2013.

Paul Brown will replace Kelly Latremouille in afternoons on Durham Radio’s WAVE 98.3 (CIWV-FM) Vancouver, starting March 30. Brown is currently hosting the morning show on Durham’s 92.9 The Grand (CHTG-FM) Caledonia/Hamilton. Prior to that, he was part of the JACK FM (CJAX-FM) morning show in Vancouver for four years, following a 16-year run in mornings at Edmonton’s The Bear (CFBR-FM). Latremouille has decided to stay on in a part-time capacity rather than fully embrace retirement.

Pam Kirby has moved into afternoon drive on Harvard Media’s 95.7 CRUZ FM (CKEA-FM) Edmonton. Kirby, who had been the voice of evenings on the station for the past year, succeeds Shirley McQueen, who has retired after 12 years with the station. Evan Baran takes over the evening position.

Kevin Nimmock is joining CBC News as Prairie Assignment Senior Producer, assigning the national reporting teams in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Nimmock was most recently assignment editor at CTV Calgary, up until last November. Prior to that, he produced the morning show at CTV Winnipeg.

Manny Bahia, co-founder of the Daily Hive and its predecessor Vancity Buzz, is moving on from ZoomerMedia just six months after assuming the role of SVP, Digital Revenue. ZoomerMedia acquired Daily Hive last September. Bahia says he’ll remain a shareholder and advisor to the company.

Jeanette Irekvist has assumed additional responsibilities at Ericsson Canada as she takes up the role of President. Irekvist also remains Vice President and Head of Customer Unit, Canada and a member of Ericsson’s North America executive team. She takes over the role from Graham Osborne, who had held the President’s title since 2015, in addition to serving as EVP of Verizon. Irekvist joined Ericsson in 1999 and has served in multiple roles in both North America and Ericsson headquarters in Sweden. 

Chris Farrer has joined Shaftesbury as VP, Creative and Co-productions. Based in London and reporting to President Christina Jennings, Farrer is tasked with expanding Shaftesbury’s international production business. For the last six years, Farrer served as Head of Development at Catalyst Global Media. He replaces Alexandra Finlay, who has joined A+E Networks as VP of International Scripted Co-productions.

Norm Wilner has been named Acting Lead Programmer, Canada and Industry Selects, at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), effective immediately. Wilner joined TIFF last year as Digital Releasing Programmer. He’ll continue to co-host Secret Movie Club. Prior to TIFF, Wilner had served as the Senior Film Critic at NOW Toronto since 2008.