Originally published in the March 30 issue of The Weekly Briefing
Thank you for everything, John Garrett 💙💚@SNJohnGarrett | @Canucks pic.twitter.com/cxyZHrNqqd
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 24, 2023
John Garrett, who has been a Vancouver Canucks colour commentator on Sportsnet Pacific since 2002, is stepping away from that role at the end of this season, but will continue to be involved with the network. The former NHL’er will call his last Canucks’ game April 13. Garrett, 71, previously worked for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, including as the lead colour commentator on Edmonton Oilers’ television broadcasts, before leaving to join Sportsnet in 1998.
“I knew from jump that all good things must come to an end, but that doesn’t make this any less bittersweet.”@tim_micallef with an announcement on the future of Tim & Friends. pic.twitter.com/7Jbcjdd5ob
— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) March 27, 2023
Tim Micallef has revealed that Tim & Friends is coming to an end on Sportsnet as he moves on to a new project on Sportsnet Central. The final Tim & Friends show will air on April 11, prior to the Toronto Blue Jays’ home opener. Micallef’s new show will debut April 17 in conjunction with the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Austin Delaney is retiring from CTV Toronto after 34 years. Prior to joining the station in 1989, Delaney reported for a number of radio stations, including CFTR, CKEY, and CHFI. He was also the Queen’s Park reporter for CFNY-FM for two years and a national newscaster for the Newsradio Network.
Fiona Forbes is joining Global TV’s The Morning Show as B.C. Producer and Contributor. Forbes, best known for co-hosting Shaw TV Vancouver’s long-running interview show Urban Rush, previously filled in as a community reporter with Global BC in 2019-20.
Annick Bertrand has been promoted to Director of National Sales, Radio & Digital, at Cogeco Media. Bertrand, who joined Cogeco last November from Quebecor Media, previously held the role of Director of Digital Sales. Alicia Boulet takes up the Director, Digital Sales position, arriving from Quebecor where she served as Director of Digital Accounts for the last three and a half years.
Vinka Dubroja and Angel Morin are no longer with Stingray Radio as the company makes structural changes within its Alberta management team. Dubroja had been the GM in Calgary for more than 14 years, while Morin had served as Business Manager for Stingray’s Calgary stations since 2017. Craig Letawsky takes over the newly-created role of Director of Operations – Alberta. Letawsky, who formerly held the title of General Manager and General Sales Manager – Alberta South, Northeast and Northwest Hubs, will remain based in Red Deer and oversee all aspects of Stingray Radio’s business in Alberta. Susan Reade takes on the new role of Director of Sales – Edmonton and Calgary, overseeing revenue strategies for both markets. She’ll remain based in Edmonton where she’s served as GM/GSM of the Edmonton stations since 2018. Edmonton-based Business Manager Tamara Konrad is expanding her role to include both Edmonton and Calgary, while Samantha Yaremchuk expands her Business Manager territory in Red Deer to also encompass Alberta South and Alberta Northwest. Read more here.
Kelsey Lehman, KiSS National Music Director and Music Director at KiSS 92.5 (CKIS-FM) Toronto, is moving on from Rogers Sports & Media to join Bell Media Ottawa as Program Director. Lehman has been working with the KiSS brand for the last eight years, in Vancouver and Edmonton, as well as Toronto. Prior to joining Rogers, she was on-air and served as Music Director at 104.9 Virgin Radio (CFMG-FM) Edmonton.
Jeremy White has added 105.5 JYY (WJYY-FM) New Hampshire to the stations airing The Jeremy White Show, which is now heard weekdays from 3 – 8 p.m. as of Monday. White is also heard evenings on Energy 95.3 (CING-FM) Toronto.
Keith Soper has joined Coast 101.1 FM (CKSJ-FM) St. John’s, NL with new weekend show “Epic ’80s on The Coast.” It will air Saturday nights from 8 p.m. – midnight and repeat Sunday afternoons from noon – 4 p.m. Soper, who stepped away from radio full-time more than a decade ago, also continues his senior management role at Keller Williams Realty. Prior to pursuing real estate, he held on-air and programming roles at OZ FM (CHOZ-FM) St. John’s, among other stations.
Camilla Tibbs has been appointed Executive Director of the Pacific Screenwriting Program (PSP). Tibbs’ career spans more than 25 years in cultural management in Metro Vancouver and the UK, including executive roles at the Vancouver Writers Fest and Touchstone Theatre. Most recently, she was Executive Director of Gateway Theatre and has also worked in marketing roles at Vancouver’s Arts Club Theatre Company and London Symphony Orchestra. She’s currently board chair of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival. Tibbs will be supported by Kate Anderson, Programming Manager for the Scripted Series Lab, PSP’s flagship program.
Mike Killeen and Lynda Steele have officially launched Killeen & Steele Communications, a Metro Vancouver-based media training, performance and communications coaching business. The former CTV Vancouver colleagues both stepped away from media full-time in 2021 – Killeen from his anchoring role on CBC Vancouver’s News at 6 and Steele from her highly-rated 980 CKNW Vancouver talk show. Steele currently co-hosts “The Steele and Vance Show” on Victoria’s CHEK TV.