Originally published in the Aug. 24, 2023 edition of The Weekly Briefing
Jason Pires has departed CTV Vancouver to cross the street to Global BC’s Global News Morning. Pires had been with CTV since 2001, first on Vancouver Island, before joining the Vancouver bureau as sports director and an anchor and reporter in 2008. He’d been the co-host of the local edition of CTV Morning Live since 2017, alongside Keri Adams, up until changes at Bell Media in June that saw him moved to the noon anchor desk. Read more here.
Jean-Simon Bui is joining the team of anchors on Bell Media’s Noovo, alongside Michel Bherer, Marie-Christine Bergeron and Lisa-Marie Blais, where he’ll helm the news for Saguenay, Mauricie and Estrie. Maxime Landry also joins the Noovo Info team as Senior Information Manager, starting Sept. 25. Landry was previously with TVA Group for 27 years, most recently as an Executive Producer.
David Corey is returning to Bell Media as a Radio Programming Management Consultant. Most recently Director of FM Programming for Cumulus Media, Corey previously served as VP of Radio Programming and PD of CHUM-FM Toronto from 2006-17.
Drew Suriano has been named Assistant Program Director of Evanov Communications’ flagship station Z103.5 (CIDC-FM) as it “integrates” with Proud 103.9 (CIRR-FM) Toronto. A homegrown talent, who joined the company 20 years ago as an intern, Suriano most recently held the title of Music and Programming Assistant. Danny Raponi (DJ DannyD) will now assume some of these responsibilities. In his new role, Suriano will work directly with PD Matt Wreggitt “to keep the station a listener favourite and to expand elements and features that inspire listener loyalty,” the company said in an announcement.
Meredith Shaw has departed CHUM 104.5 Toronto after almost nine years. Shaw initially joined the station in evenings, before moving into afternoons and acting as a fill-in host for Marilyn Denis on the morning show. Shaw is also the host of Double Your Dish with her partner, Chef Rodney Bowers, on CTV’s platforms, and has contributed to The Social and The Marilyn Denis Show. She is leaving Bell Media for a yet-to-be revealed opportunity.
Brad Gibb, Program Director at FM96 (CFPL-FM) London, 103.1 Fresh Radio (CFHK-FM) St. Thomas and Country 104 (CKDK-FM) Woodstock, is among those caught up in the recent restructuring in Corus Entertainment’s audio division. Gibb had been with the station group since 2011 after serving as PD at CKWS-FM Kingston. He had previously served as music director and APD at FM96 between 2001-08.
Jon “Gonzo” Mark, afternoon drive announcer at Corus Radio’s boom 99.7 (CJOT-FM) Ottawa, has parted ways with the company. Gonzo had been with the station the last eight and a half years. He previously did two separate on-air stints with 97.7 HTZ FM (CHTZ-FM) Niagara and spent seven years in swing at Q107 (CILQ-FM) Toronto.
Cam Sullivan, Assistant Program Director at Country 105 (CKRY-FM), is no longer with Corus Entertainment. Sullivan had been in the role the last nine months, following the company’s move in December to drop its Classic Rock format and abandon the Q107 brand where Sullivan was formerly midday host and APD.
Emily Czerwinski is joining The Zone @ 91.3 (CJZN-FM) Victoria in middays, starting Sept. 5. Czerwinski, who was formerly with Pattison Media’s The Peak (CKPK-FM) Vancouver, will be covering Kirsten James’ maternity leave.
Ken Connors, host of the weekend morning show on Montreal’s CJAD 800, has announced he’ll retire at the end of the year. Connors secured his first radio job in Kirkland Lake, ON in 1984, followed by stops in Guelph and Ottawa, before landing at CHOM 97.7 in 1989. After hosting turns on Mix 96 (CJFM-FM), 940 News (CINW-AM) and Q92 (CFQR-FM), he joined CJAD seven years ago when he took over weekends from Dave Fisher.
Don Vail is moving on from Bell Media’s Bounce 92.3 (CJOS-FM) Owen Sound to take on a new role with the Canadian Mental Health Association. Vail has served as the station’s program director, music director and afternoon host for the last five and a half years. Prior to that, he did 13-year stints with both Larche Communications and Bayshore Broadcasting.
Fred Wallace has entered semi-retirement, signing off from Bayshore Broadcasting’s CFOS Owen Sound after 40 years in broadcasting. Wallace got his start in radio in his hometown of Midland, ON at 1230 CKMP after graduating from Ryerson. He initially joined CFOS as a DJ in 1984 before taking over the sports director role four years later. Wallace also served as the voice of the Ontario Hockey League Owen Sound Platers, starting in 1989, which have since rebranded as Owen Sound Attack.
Brian Perkin has retired as General Manager of Lake 88.1 (CHLK-FM) Perth, ON, the station he and partner Norm Wright founded in 2007. Perkin and his wife Jennifer had been sole owners since 2014 until selling to My Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) in 2021. Perkin’s 42-year broadcasting career includes stops at CHOO Ajax, CJOY/CKLA Guelph, CFRA/CFMO, CFGO and CHEZ Ottawa, as well as a 14-year stint as Operations Manager/PD at CJET/CHEQ Smiths Falls. Perkin continues to host weekends and the Sunday Café at Lake 88.1.
Spencer Hall has signed off from 100.1 Moose FM (CKFU-FM) Fort St. John, BC and its web portal Energeticcity.ca after almost two years as a reporter with the station. Hall first joined Moose FM in 2021 right out of the BCIT Radio Arts and Entertainment program as a summer cruiser host. He’s accepted a civic reporter position at The Rocky Mountain Goat in Valemount.
Todd Lubin has been appointed President, Boat Rocker Studios, Unscripted. In his new role, Lubin will lead the company’s creative unscripted efforts, including series and documentaries, overseeing Boat Rocker’s Matador Content, Maven, and Proper Television production shingles. Lubin, formerly President and Co-Founder of Matador Content, takes over from Jay Peterson, who has decided to step down from the role. Peterson will remain with Boat Rocker as an executive producer for several months, to support Lubin’s transition and delivery of current projects.
Beth Janson has stepped down as Chief Operating Officer of TIFF less than a year and a half after joining the festival. Janson was previously the CEO of The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television for six years and has also held roles as the Executive Director of the Tribeca Film Institute and Director of Programming for the Newport International Film Festival.
Jess Murwin is joining Nunavut-based Isuma Distribution International as Distribution Coordinator. Based n Montreal, Murwin is a filmmaker, curator and educator, who has programming experience with the Atlantic International Film Festival and TIFF, among other festivals. Murwin will support distribution for new releases and catalogue titles, and undertake festival and touring outreach and development initiatives.
Richard Kraemer has left his Canadian Sales Manager position with Riedel Communications’ to join Calgary-based IT consulting firm, Evolution AV. Kraemer joined Riedel in March of 2022 after holding roles with Genesis Integration, Canon Canada and Hitachi.
