Originally published in the April 11, 2024 edition of The Weekly Briefing
Karen Macdonald, the longtime Station Manager and News Director at Global Montreal, is set to retire at the end of April. Macdonald, a 1985 graduate of Concordia University, started her career with the Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph. She remained with the paper for 25 years, the last 14 as its publisher. She concurrently joined Canwest in 1997 and has held roles from reporting and anchoring to running master control and operations, in addition to her current role as news director and station manager. Read more here.
Lisa Williams has announced her retirement after 38 years on AM 800 CKLW Windsor. Williams, the longtime voice of The Morning Drive, alongside Mike Kakuk, will co-host her final broadcast on Friday, May 31. Bell Media says Williams is looking forward to more time with family, traveling, and continuing her involvement in local causes and community events.
Robert Brimacombe has parted ways with Corus Entertainment after eight and a half years as Manager of Sales for the B.C. Market, working as part of the Corus Radio Vancouver and Global BC management teams. Prior to Corus, he was the General Sales Manager at Rogers Sports & Media for seven years, preceded by six years with Corus as Manager of Local Sales. Brimacombe will continue in his role as President of the B.C. Association of Broadcasters (BCAB).
Nancy Wood is retiring from CBC after 40 years in journalism and more than 30 with the public broadcaster in Quebec. Wood started her career with the Montreal Gazette in 1984 where she covered the National Assembly, before joining the Toronto Star as its Queen’s Park reporter. She then worked for Maclean’s Magazine as its senior writer in the Parliamentary Bureau. Wood joined CBC in 2005, covering Quebec for The National. She produced investigative journalism in both French and English, in addition to hosting Radio Noon for eight years. More recently, she had anchored the late night newscast for CBC Montreal and served as a digital editor.
Daryl McIntyre is leaving 630 CHED Edmonton, capping a 41-year broadcasting career. The co-host of This Morning with Stacey Brotzel and Daryl McIntyre since 2021, McIntyre was previously with CTV Edmonton for 33 years, much of that time as the co-anchor of CTV News at Six. His last day on CHED will be May 31.
David Boles has moved on from 630 CHED and Global News Edmonton to join The Canadian Press (CP) as a reporter. Boles had been an anchor and reporter with Corus Edmonton since 2019. Prior to that, he held roles with Harvard Media’s 620 CKRM Regina, 2Day FM (CIQC-FM) Campbell River and 95.7 Coast FM (CFPW-FM) Powell River.
Eden Debebe has parted ways with CP24 Toronto. Debebe had been a reporter and anchor with the station for the past two years. Previously, she worked as a digital content producer for OMNI TV and was a reporter and anchor at 680 News (CFTR-AM).
Sarah Scott, who was released by Stingray last month, has joined Blackboot Records in Artist Management & Media Relations. Scott had been hosting mornings on New Country 95.9 (CKSA-FM) Lloydminster.
Rob Learmonth has departed Harvard Media after 14 years in sales with the company in Calgary, most recently as Retail Sales Manager, Broadcast & Digital. Learmonth is joining Pattison Media as a Senior Media Executive and will remain based in Calgary.
Tom Plasteras and Jamie Harrison have launched Verito Communications & Media Strategies, offering media planning and buying, crisis management and public relations services. Plasteras was the Senior Director, Brand and Programming at 980 CKNW Vancouver for two decades and more recently spent seven years as Chief Communications Officer for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Harrison was a Senior Account Manager with Corus Vancouver for more than a decade, in addition to stints in sales with Rogers Sports & Media and Metro.
Monica Flores has been named Vice-President of Governmental Affairs and Communications at Telefilm Canada. She’ll be based out of the Montreal office. Most recently, Flores led her own consulting firm, where she advised clients in communications, branding, public affairs and stakeholder relations. Her background includes corporate affairs and communications roles with Novartis, Bristol-Meyers Squibb and BCE Emergis.
Tom Hastings, Head of Original Programming at Paramount+ Canada, is among those impacted by cuts at the streaming service. Hastings had been with Paramount since Sept. 2022 after serving as VP, Scripted at Muse Entertainment; Director, Original Programming at Bell Media; and Head of Drama, TV Arts & Entertainment at CBC, among other roles.
Sheila Kirby has been named President Elect of Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW), the non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of female leadership in radio broadcasting. Her term will begin Jan. 1, 2025. Kirby most recently served as Senior Vice President, Sales Acceleration for Audacy. Prior to that, she held key executive positions, including SVP of Talent Development at Tribune Sales Solutions and President of Strategic Sales Development at Interep. She’ll succeed Ruth Presslaff, who has served as MIW Board President since 2020 and will serve as Past President.
