Originally published in the Dec. 14, 2023 edition of The Weekly Briefing
Heather Butts has been named weekend anchor of CTV National News. Currently Toronto Correspondent for CTV National News, Butts steps into the role previously held by veteran anchor Sandie Rinaldo, who is now helming the recently-introduced early evening edition of CTV National News. Butts started her reporting career with Global News’ CHEX-TV in Peterborough, moving on to successive roles at Global’s CKWS-TV Kingston, and Shaw TV in Whistler, before joining CTV in 2014. Read more here.
John Tory is rejoining Bell Media’s Newstalk 1010 (CFRB-AM) and CTV News. Tory, who resigned during his third term as mayor this past February after admitting to an affair with a political staffer, previously hosted The Live Drive on Newstalk 1010 from 2009-14. More recently, he filled in as a guest host this summer. In his new role as a Municipal Affairs Expert, he’ll contribute political analysis across multiple platforms, making weekly appearances on 1010’s Moore in the Morning, CTV News Channel daily political program Power Play with Vassy Kapelos, and CP24 Live at 5. Read more here.
Rick Lee, Corus Radio’s Greater Toronto Area Program Manager, has been upped to Senior Program Manager of London, Kitchener/Guelph and Hamilton, reporting to Regional Program Director Dave Blezard. Lee has been with Corus for four years, serving in the Program Manager role for 102.1 the Edge (CFNY-FM) and Q107 (CILQ-FM) Toronto, and Y108 (CJXY-FM) and Energy 95.3 (CING-FM) Hamilton. Prior to joining Corus, Lee was an on-air personality at X92.9 Calgary, JACK 96.9 (CJAX-FM), and SONiC 102.9 (CHDI-FM) Edmonton, among other stations.
Morgan Hoffman has joined Global’s The Morning Show as an entertainment reporter. Hoffman, who’ll also contribute to Global News, had previously been a reporter with Entertainment Tonight Canada since 2019, which was cancelled by Corus Entertainment in September.
Denise Kimmel will be joining the Global News Parliamentary Bureau as show producer for The West Block with Mercedes Stephenson, starting Jan. 15. Kimmel, who was most recently a producer on CTV’s W5, also previously managed CTV’s Toronto Bureau and Washington, D.C. Bureau. She’s also served as a producer at Discovery Channel.
Eilish Bonang has moved into a long form reporting position with Global Halifax as the station moves forward with a single-host format for Global News Morning. Bonang had been morning show co-anchor, alongside Paul Brothers, and a digital broadcast journalist with the station for the past two years. Prior to that, she was a video journalist for CTV in Moncton.
Roger Hope will be retiring after almost 44 years as an ENG camera operator with BCTV and Global BC. Hope, the husband of late Global anchorwoman Deb Hope, is currently the longest-serving employee at the station. His last day will be Dec. 22.
Alyson Samson is leaving CTV Atlantic in Fredericton to pursue a job outside of media. Samson had been a video journalist with CTV since 2020. Prior to that, she was a reporter and editor for CBC, based in Newfoundland.
Don Collins has retired from CHUM Toronto after 50 years as an account manager. After graduating from the Humber College Radio program, Collins was hired at the station by Jim Armstrong and Allan Waters in May 1973.
Marcia Douglas has been named the new Executive Director of the Bell Fund. Douglas, currently Vice-President, Growth & Inclusion at the Canada Media Fund, succeeds Nancy Chapelle, who is retiring from the role at the end of the year. Douglas previously worked with the Bell Fund as a Program Manager from 2010-15.
Chris Bell has left his role at eOne to join Netflix Canada’s content team. He’ll work with Canadian Content Directors Danielle Woodrow and Tara Woodbury to develop Netflix’s Canadian scripted slate. Bell has been with eOne for the last eight years, most recently as VP, Scripted Development, Television.
Colin Bohm has been named the new CEO of Toon Boom Animation. Most recently with Corus Entertainment, where his role as EVP of Content and Corporate Strategy was eliminated in October, Bohm’s appointment comes following Corus’ sale of the Montreal-based software developer to U.S. investment firm IMG. Bohm will take up his new role in January, overseeing operations and developing global strategy with a focus on expanding sales of Toon Boom’s subscription-based software.
Nicole Cheng has been promoted to the position of Vice-President, Finance and Facilities at the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). In the role, she’ll serve as a key member of the CMPA senior leadership team, responsible for leading and managing the finance and facility team and functions for the CMPA. The promotion follows the upcoming retirement of CMPA Chief Financial Officer Rob Searle. Cheng joined the CMPA as Controller in 2018.
Thomas Santram, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Cineplex, has been elected as the Chair of the Board of The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (the Canadian Academy). Santram steps into the role as former Chair John Young, CEO, Boat Rocker Media, has served the maximum term on the board and will be moving into an advisory role as ex-officio, Past Chair for a one-year term. Solange Attwood, former EVP, Blue Ant International, was elected to the role of Vice-Chair, previously held by Santram. Additionally, Magali Simard (Director, Industry and Community Relations, Cinespace Studios Toronto) has also been appointed to the Board of Directors.
