Revolving Door

Originally published in the April 13, 2023 edition of The Weekly Briefing

Rebecca Hanson has been named the new Director-General of NABA, the North American Broadcasters Association, the non-profit that takes action on technical, operational and regulatory issues affecting broadcasters in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Hanson will work alongside NABA’s current Director-General Michael McEwen – who is set to retire this summer after more than 11 years in the position – before taking full responsibility July 1. An experienced broadcast and media executive, Hanson’s resume includes a six-year stint as Senior Vice-President, Business Development at XM Satellite Radio; serving as Vice-President, Strategic Initiatives at Sprint Nextel; and more than four years as Senior Advisor, Broadcast Spectrum at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Read more here.

Colleen Jones will retire at the end of April after 37 years with the public broadcaster. Jones, 63, who is also known to Canadians as a six-time national curling champion and three-time world champion, began her broadcasting career in radio sports with CHUM Halifax in 1982. She transitioned into television with CTV in 1984, before signing on with CBC Nova Scotia in 1986 as a sportscaster on First Edition with Jim Nunn and Susan Ormiston. Jones, who already had made history as the youngest skip to ever win the Canadian Women’s Curling Championship, joined Don Wittman and Don Duguid on CBC Sports curling broadcasts a few years later. She started with CBC Newsworld in 1993 as the early morning weather presenter and sports reporter. Since 2012, she’s been a reporter with CBC Nova Scotia. Read more here.

Courtney (Ketchen) Stanfield and Kevin Stanfield have departed CTV Calgary. The married couple, who worked on CTV Morning Live and evenings, respectively, cited the difficulty of their opposing schedules in a post to social media. Courtney had been a host and producer with Bell Media since 2015 and Kevin a weather anchor since 2016. He’s now joined Big Blue Sky Games as a Game Designer, while Courtney plans to spend more time with their young family, in addition to other projects.

Ryan Harding has left CTV Calgary after being part of the CTV Morning News team since late 2021. Before joining the Calgary bureau as a weather anchor, Harding was a video journalist with CTV Edmonton and CTV Winnipeg.

Kaella Doty (Carr) is leaving broadcast journalism after two decades, including 18 at CTV Lethbridge. Doty has been a reporter with the station since May 2005, arriving from a brief stint with the network in Prince Albert where she served as a sports reporter/anchor.

Donovan Maess is taking over the News at 6 and 11:30 p.m. weekend anchor role at CTV Regina. A 2021 University of Regina Journalism grad, Maess has been with the station since 2020, when he started as an intern.

Kim Woodbridge has departed Fresh Mornings with Kim, Mark, & Ian on 103.1 Fresh Radio (CFHK-FM) London after 10 years. Prior to Fresh Radio, Woodbridge was part of the morning shows on 97.5 EZ Rock (CIQM-FM) and BX93 (CJBX-FM) in the market.

Marc Thibault, General Manager of Rhythme 105.7 (CFGL-FM) Montreal, is expanding his role with Cogeco Media, also taking responsibility for CIME-FM Saint-Jérôme. He’ll be supported by Program Director Guyaume Cadieux and Mélanie Brière, who has been promoted to Director of Sales at CIME-FM Saint-Jérôme. 

Isabelle Boulerice has been promoted to Program Director of Rhythme 105.7 (CFGL-FM) Montreal. Boulerice, who has been with the station for the past six years, has served as APD for the past two. Paul Awad takes on the Rhythm APD role, in addition to his role as PD of The Beat 92.5 (CKBE-FM). 

Kennedy Player-Reid has made history as the first woman to serve as colour commentator for the Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Player-Reid, who serves as the team’s communications & social media coordinator, was heard on the April 6 broadcast on Cable 14, alongside play-by-play announcer Reed Duthie.

Siarra Rogers has joined Corus Radio Vancouver as Senior Creative Writer. Rogers returns to Corus after three years with Stingray Radio’s stations in Vancouver.

Michelle Cyca is the newest editor at The Narwhal, joining the publication to expand its reporting on Indigenous-led conservation. Cyca is a freelance columnist, writer, and editor, whose work has been published in The Tyee, Maclean’s and The Walrus. She also served as co-publisher of Vancouver arts and culture magazine, SAD Mag, for five years.

JAR Audio, the Vancouver-headquartered branded podcast studio, has made several internal promotions. Chris O’Keeffe, who has been a producer with the company since early 2022, is now Creative Director. Mandy Elkoreh has moved from Senior Project Lead to Director of Delivery, while Jessica Wills, also a former Project Lead, moves into the role of Manager, Podcast Delivery. 

Hillary Zwick Turner has been named to the new role of SVP, Scripted Content, at Thunderbird Entertainment Group. Reporting to Matthew Berkowitz, Thunderbird President and Chief Creative Officer, Turner will serve as the company’s representative within the creative community to hone in on new scripted content, YA and family live-action projects. She’ll also oversee scripted development and production for the company’s new L.A.-based scripted hub. Most recently, Turner served as EP on Netflix special Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, dropping April 19. Prior to that, she spent four years at Netflix where she was the lead executive on Cobra Kai, Julie and The Phantoms and The Letter for the King.