Originally published in the Aug. 10, 2023 edition of The Weekly Briefing
Ronnie Stanton has been promoted to Vice-President, Audio at Corus Entertainment, leading the Corus Audio division and overseeing its 39 FM and AM radio stations as well as the Curiouscast Podcast Network. Stanton’s appointment comes following Brad Phillips’ retirement from the company this month. A veteran of radio in Australia, Canada, and the U.S., Stanton is on his second run with Corus, initially joining the company in 2013 as a talent coach and Brand Director for CFOX Vancouver, before being promoted to VP of National Brands and Programming. He’d held the title of VP, FM Radio Programming since early last year. Read more here.
Joey Slattery has announced his departure from CTV Winnipeg. Slattery had been the station’s Sports Director since 2020. Prior to Winnipeg, he was an anchor and video journalist with CTV in Edmonton and Regina. Slattery has made his sideline reporting debut with the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) Winnipeg Sea Bears.
Kate McKenna is joining CBC’s Parliamentary Bureau full-time. For the last year, she’s been filling in as a national reporter, first in Halifax and more recently on Parliament Hill. McKenna started her career with the public broadcaster as a Joan Donaldson Scholar, going on to spend a decade as a reporter and video journalist in Montreal, along with stops in Iqaluit, Whitehorse and her home province of P.E.I.
Kate Walker has joined CityNews Vancouver as a video journalist. Walker arrives from the Saltwire Network in Halifax where she’s been a multimedia producer and host for the last three years. Prior to that, she was a video journalist with CTV Atlantic.
Olivia Jones has joined CityNews 1130 (CKWX-AM) Vancouver as morning co-anchor. Jones was previously with Bell Media for 17 years, most recently as midday host on Move 103.5 (CHQM-FM), up until getting caught up in a round of layoffs in March 2022.
Weekends with Scott Shantz has made its debut on 980 CKNW Vancouver. Shantz, who is best-known for his run in mornings on Z95.3 (CKZZ-FM), has previously filled-in as a host and producer on Corus Entertainment’s late night national talk show. Shantz steps into the role vacated by Stirling Faux, who is now hosting afternoons on Durham Radio’s WAVE 98.3 (CIWV-FM) Vancouver.
Toby Kerr has joined the UBC Thunderbirds as Sports Information Coordinator, overseeing stats, managing a student staff and writing articles for the website. Kerr announced a move away from the industry last fall with his departure from 980 CKNW Vancouver. He had also worked with Rogers Sports & Media’s CityNews 1130 (CKWX-AM) Vancouver and 680 News (CFTR-AM Toronto, prior to getting caught up in a round of layoffs.
Scotty Mars, afternoon drive host and assistant program director at Surge 105 (CKHY-FM) Halifax, has announced his departure from the station. Mars rejoined the station in 2021 after being part of the original launch team in 2010, in addition to another two-year run in mornings from 2016-18. Dylan Langille, an alum of Country 100.7 (CJHK-FM) Bridgewater and 89.3 K-Rock (CIJK) New Minas, is currently being heard in weekday afternoons on Surge.
Ryan Sullivan, who’d been co-hosting mornings on Surge 105 (CKHY-FM) Halifax for the last two years, has joined Rawlco Radio’s Rock 102 (CJDJ-FM) Saskatoon in afternoon drive. Prior to Surge 105, “Sully” worked as a National Digital Host with the JACK FM brand, based in Vancouver, and was notably one of the “Green Men” known for sitting beside the opposing team’s penalty box during Vancouver Canucks games in their green full-body spandex suits.
Lauren O’Neil is leaving BlogTO after nearly seven years. O’Neil joined the publication in 2017 as a staff writer and had been a senior editor for the last five years. Prior to that, she was a trends reporter and social media producer with CBC Toronto.
Sonia Thibault, Director of Acquisitions – Lifestyle & Documentaries at Quebecor Content, is leaving the company after a decade “to embark on a new adventure in the philanthropic world.” Thibault has been working in media for almost 25 years, holding previous roles at Muse Entertainment, NFB and TVA Group.
Charlene Gavel has been appointed President and CEO of SaskTel. Gavel takes on the role from Doug Burnett, who announced his retirement from the company after 30 years in February. Gavel has served as Chief Financial Officer for SaskTel for nine years and prior to that was the Chief Financial Officer at SaskTel International. She previously held CFO and VP, Finance positions with the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region and Information Services Corporation (ISC). She currently serves on the boards of SaskTel International, Public Employees Pension Plan (PEPP), Conexus Arts Centre, and the Hospitals of Regina Foundation.
Louise Berube, Director, Allocations & Services at NABS (National Advertising Benevolent Society) for the past 13 years, is no longer with the non-profit. “In order to ensure that the charity is best positioned to offer the critical support for which we are known, we are reimagining our programs and services offering,” NABS Board Chair Tom Shipman shared in a statement Tuesday. The charity, which has supported those in the media, marketing and communications industry for the past 40 years, says it will share more about its plans for the future shortly.
Jonathan Levin has joined PSSI Global Services as a project manager in the company’s Strategic Television division. Prior to joining Strategic Television, he launched Amazon Prime Video’s 24/7, ad-supported sports network, Sports Talk. His experience also includes managing sports content and programming for AT&T’s DirecTV, where he supervised the NFL Sunday Ticket broadcast operation and served as lead for NBA League Pass.
