Revolving Door

Originally published in the Nov. 2, 2023 edition of The Weekly Briefing

Richard Bloom has joined The Canadian Press (CP) as its new Director of Audio, based out of the national newsroom in Toronto. He replaces Rose Kingdon, who is retiring in December after 38 years with CP. Bloom was most recently News Director at BNN Bloomberg and before that spent 13 years at Rogers Sports & Media in various editorial and digital product roles, including Director of Digital News for CityNews and its news radio stations. Kingdon joined what was then Broadcast News in 1985 and has been with CP since. In 2012, she became CP’s Broadcast News Director. She was awarded the RTDNA Lifetime Achievement Award this year.

Jeffrey L. Orridge has been re-appointed as CEO of TVO for another two years, effective Nov. 5. Orridge joined TVO in November 2020 at the height of the pandemic. Prior to that, he served as Commissioner of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and Executive Director of CBC Sports, among other executive roles.

Peter Mansbridge has joined public affairs and advertising agency, spark* as Senior Counsel. The retired CBC News Chief Correspondent will also continue hosting political podcast The Bridge, which is heard on SiriusXM, and contributing to NationalNewswatch.com.

John Sauder has announced his retirement from CBC Winnipeg as he approaches 39 years in broadcasting. Sauder first took to the airwaves in Dec. 1984 as a pilot and traffic reporter for KY58 and 92 CITI FM Winnipeg. “Captain John” spent 10 years as a traffic reporter before making the jump into weather, filling in for CTV’s Sylvia Kuzyk, beginning in 1994. He joined CTV full-time in 2000, going back to school to become a meteorologist in 2004 while continuing to work for CTV. He joined CBC Manitoba in 2007.

Tracy Tong is joining Alan Carter on Global News Toronto’s evening newscast, in addition to anchoring Global News at 11 p.m. Tong will join the anchor desk, Monday to Friday, at 5:30 and 6 p.m. Tong is also the host of Global News’ new series, Crime Beat: Most Wanted, which airs Saturday evenings. Shallima Maharaj moves into the 11 p.m. anchor position on Fridays, while Mark Carcasole will continue to anchor Global News Weekend at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Zahraa Al-Akhrass says she’s no longer employed by Global News after violating the network’s social media policy in expressing her support for the people of Gaza. With Global since 2020, she stated in a post to Instagram that the network had failed her “as a Palestinian, racialized journalist.” The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) told Broadcast Dialogue that Al-Akhrass is not the only journalist they have been in contact with encountering similar newsroom conflict. Read more here.

Kamil Karamali has joined CTV News as its national correspondent in Toronto. Karamali had been with Global News since 2017, most recently in Vancouver as a reporter/anchor. He previously spent 10 months with CTV Calgary as a reporter/anchor in 2017.

Cami Kepke has announced she’s leaving television and Global News. Kepke has been a reporter and anchor with the network since 2018, initially in Regina, before joining Global Calgary in 2019. Prior to that, she was a videographer with CTV Atlantic.

Joelle Tomlinson, former morning co-anchor at CTV Calgary, is the new Community Reporter at Global Calgary. Tomlinson, who will be filling a maternity leave, was part of layoffs at Bell Media in June. Her first day at Global is Nov. 6.

Austin Lee has joined CTV Ottawa as a weekend anchor. Lee arrives from CTV Calgary where he’s been the CTV Morning Live reporter for the past two years. Prior to that, he was a videojournalist with CTV Lethbridge.

Jamie Campbell is on leave from Sportsnet as he undergoes treatment for a “pre-skin cancer” condition. Brad Fay is temporarily stepping in for Campbell on Sportsnet World Series broadcasts.

Emily Tayler, Manessa Dhanabalan and Jason Gaidola will rotate on the 11 p.m. anchor desk at CHCH-TV Hamilton as part of a new evening VJ rotation. Anchor Taz Boga will move her focus to the flagship 6 p.m. newscast.

Maria Sarrouh has joined CHCH News as a part-time videojournalist. Sarrough arrives from TVO’s The Agenda where she’s a producer.

Catherine Garrett is leaving her Digital Broadcast Journalist position at 980 CKNW Vancouver and Global News to join CityNews Vancouver as a reporter/anchor. Her first day at CityNews will be Nov. 12.

Stephanie Swensrude has joined Taproot Edmonton as a curator and reporter. Swensrude has been with Corus Entertainment in Edmonton for the past year where she served as the content coordinator for 630 CHED. Prior to that, she was a multimedia journalist with Pattison Media in Kamloops.

Heather Backman has been released from afternoons on Star 95.9 (CHFM-FM) Calgary. Backman had been with the station since February of last year and with Rogers Sports & Media since 2019, initially as the morning show host on JACK FM (CHTT-FM) Victoria.

Jess Banks is joining the morning show on 98.3 Star FM Chilliwack (CKSR-FM), alongside Shawn Crites. Banks has been with Rogers Sports & Media’s Country 107.1 (CKQC-FM) Abbotsford for the last eight years, most recently on the morning show, where she’ll still be heard weekend afternoons. Crites had been helming morning drive on Mix 103.7 (CFVR-FM) Fort McMurray.

Charlie De Santia has returned to the morning show on Kool FM (CKMB-FM) Barrie, alongside Dale Smith. De Santia has been documenting her breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent double mastectomy and reconstruction over the past few months. 

Rob Christie is coming out of retirement to host the morning show on Fort Saskatchewan, AB’s Mix 107.9 (CKFT-FM), which Kenner Media acquired from Golden West Broadcasting earlier this year. Prior to retiring in 2018, Christie spent a decade at Capital 96.3 (CKRA-FM) Edmonton. He’s also held roles at CHED Edmonton, Mix 99 Toronto, and KISS FM Vancouver, among other stops.