Originally published in the Nov. 16, 2023 edition of The Weekly Briefing
Stéphanie Paquette has been appointed as the CRTC’s Regional Commissioner for Quebec for a five-year term, effective Nov. 23. Paquette has nearly 30 years of experience in the media industry. A law graduate from the Université de Montréal, she began her career as a lawyer in private practice before becoming legal counsel at CBC/Radio-Canada. After 11 years with the public broadcaster, she joined French-language digital site, Les Têtes à claques as Director of Business Affairs. For the past 13 years, she headed Videotron’s team responsible for the acquisition and multiplatform distribution of television channels and entertainment applications. Paquette has also been a member of the CTAM Canada Board of Directors for the past year.
Melanie Nagy has announced her departure from CTV National News after 11 years. Nagy, who most recently served as Vancouver Bureau Chief for the network, spent almost a decade with CBC as a reporter, prior to joining CTV in 2012.
Randy Reid has been appointed Operations and Business Development Manager and Paul “Mastermind” Parhar as Program Director at Toronto’s FLOW 98.7 (CKFG-FM). The move follows the exit of former General Manager Gary Gunter over the summer, who joined CINA Radio Group in September 2021, following its acquisition of the former Stingray station. Reid and Parhar join the iconic hip-hop and R&B brand under the guise of BIPOC-focused marketing and media content solutions agency, VX3. They’ll also continue to retain their roles with North Toronto community radio station VIBE 105 (CHRY-FM), run by the Canadian Centre for Civic Media and Arts Development, of which Reid is CEO. Read more here.
Gary Gamble hosts his last morning show on Lite 88.5 (CKDX-FM) Newmarket/Toronto on Friday, Nov. 17. Gamble will remain Director of Operations for Evanov Communications, but will no longer be waking up in the middle of the night to host the morning show, as he has done for more than 26 years. Gamble’s long-time co-host, Stacey Englehart, will be staying in mornings with the station promising more details to come.
Garth Materie has signed off as host of CBC Saskatchewan’s Blue Sky, prior to a Dec. 15 retirement date. Materie, 63, has hosted the noon-hour call-in show for 15 years. On-air in the province for 42 years, he started his radio career in 1982 in Yorkton, moving on to stations in Regina and Swift Current, before joining CBC Saskatoon in 1988.
Robyn Beazley has announced her departure from 98.9 myFM (CHCD-FM) and Oldies 99.7 (CKNC-FM) Simcoe, ON. Beazley has been working with MBC (My Broadcasting Corporation) since 2016, holding roles across promotions, news, and on-air. She has joined Simcoe and District Humane Society as Marketing, Fundraising and Promotions Manager.
Matt Vettese has been laid off from Corus Entertainment’s BIG 101 (CIQB-FM) Barrie. With Corus since 2019, Vettese had been hosting afternoon drive and serving as assistant music director.
Adam Burns has departed The Canadian Press (CP) to join Toronto-based SHARE (Shareholder Association for Research and Education) as Communications Manager. Burns leaves CP after eight and a half years, holding roles including National Desk Editor, Eastern Canada News Editor, and most recently Assistant Editor, Broadcast.
Personal news: After 27 yrs, I’m leaving TVO where I spent most of my career in journalism. Thanks to all my colleagues & esp. to all the people I’ve worked with/interviewed/produced, for sharing your stories & your amazing knowledge. To all my interns, you’ve made me proud (1/2) pic.twitter.com/zkgOJ2acK3
— Sandra Gionas (@sandragionas) November 13, 2023
Meredith Martin, Cara Stern, Dan Dimillo, and Sandra Gionas are among the TVO employees who have opted not to return to the Ontario public broadcaster following 11 weeks of job action that concluded earlier this month. As part of a buyout option offered to employees, Politics Today reports that 13 union members chose to leave TVO, including much of the union local executive. Both longtime producers on The Agenda – Martin, Canadian Media Guild (CMG) Branch President and Stern, CMG Branch Vice-President – had been with TVO, 22 and 10 years, respectively. Dimillo had been an education worker with the broadcaster since 2018, while Gionas had been a journalist and producer with TVO for 27 years.
Tim Querengesser is the new Managing Editor of Taproot Edmonton. Querengesser is a longtime freelance writer and formerly a Managing Editor at Metro Edmonton and Senior Editor at Alberta Venture. He was most recently Communications Lead at the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues.
Gwen O’Toole has joined The Podcast Exchange (TPX) as the company’s new Director of Sales. Prior to joining TPX, she held the position of Digital Strategy Lead and Digital Account Director at Quebecor Media for eight years, including helping grow the company’s QUB Radio platform.
Alyson Walker is stepping down as Chief Commercial Officer at Toronto-headquartered esports and entertainment company, OverActive Media. Walker joined OverActive in 2019 and was a member of the executive team that took the company public in 2021. Her background includes serving as VP, Brand Partnerships and Client Strategy at Bell Media, Vice President, Content at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), and Executive Director, Marketing Partnerships & Licensing with the Canadian Olympic Committee.
Hussain Currimbhoy is Hot Docs’ new Artistic Director, overseeing programming for Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Toronto’s Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema and Docs for Schools, its national educational program. Currimbhoy succeeds Shane Smith, who departed the organization in June. A producer, director and film curator, Currimbhoy has worked as a programmer at Sundance Film Festival, Sheffield DocFest, Melbourne International Film Festival, Nordisk Panorama Film Festival, Doc 10, and the Red Sea International Film Festival. Additionally, Hot Docs’ Associate Director of Festival Programming Heather Haynes has been promoted to the role of Director of Festival Programming.
