Peter Mansbridge anchors his last newscast July 1 after 29 years behind the desk at CBC’s The National. Mansbridge was famously working as a ticket agent at the Churchill, MB airport in 1968, when the 19-year-old’s intercom announcing caught the attention of CBC station manager, Gaston Charpentier, who offered him a late-night DJ gig at CHFC-AM Churchill. In 1971, Mansbridge moved to CBW-AM Winnipeg and in the next year, CBWT-TV as a reporter. In 1975, Mansbridge became The National’s Saskatchewan reporter and in ‘76 was made a parliamentary correspondent. After a decade of political reporting and substitute anchoring for Knowlton Nash, Mansbridge debuted as anchor of The National on May 1, 1988. Nash stepped aside to make way for Mansbridge, who turned down an offer from CBS to stay in Canada. In 1999, he launched Mansbridge One on One, featuring interviews with newsmakers. He steps down as the longest-serving, current network newscast anchor in North America.
Bell Media is shuttering its Fibe TV1 community television operations in Toronto and Montreal, and reducing staff by 50 per cent in Halifax, Ottawa and Quebec City, where TV1 will still be produced. Layoffs will affect approximately 25-30 employees. Similar to moves made by Shaw and Rogers following CRTC changes to the local television funding formula, Bell will redirect those funds into news.
CRTC vice-chair, Telecommunications, Peter Menzies is leaving the commission as of July 15. Menzies, whose term wasn’t set to expire until June 2018, is leaving to pursue another opportunity that he has yet to disclose. Menzies was appointed a part-time CRTC commissioner in 2007 and later full-time commissioner for Alberta/NWT. He had been vice-chair of Telecom since 2013.
CKNW-AM 980 Vancouver is refreshing its weekend lineup, starting July 8. The Roy Green Show will air Saturdays from noon – 2 p.m. PT and Sundays from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. PT. Award-winning investigative journalist and former Global BC reporter John Daly makes his return to broadcasting with talk show Back on the Beat, airing Saturdays in the 11 a.m. time slot. Also airing Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. – noon, Global News reporter Laurel Gregory hosts weekly parenting show Family Matters. Tech expert Mike Agerbo expands his presence with The App Show, rating the latest apps and unlocking tech/software secrets. A companion show to Get Connected, the program will air Sundays at 10 a.m..
Sarah Cummings has been appointed program director at 104.5 CHUM FM Toronto. Cummings takes on the role in addition to her duties as regional programming director for Bell Media Radio for Ontario and Atlantic Canada.
Neil Cunningham has retired as general manager of Newcap Edmonton (K97, Capital FM, CFCW). Cunningham joined Newcap in 2014 after stints as director of sales for Corus Radio Alberta and VP/operations manager of Spence Diamonds. His successor has yet to be named.
Steve MacArthur, news director at Acadia Broadcasting in Saint John, NB, is leaving radio to pursue digital marketing. Prior to his move to Saint John in 2015, MacArthur was news director at CKBW-FM and Country 100.7 (CJHK-FM) Bridgewater, NS.
Diane Moore is the newest member of the GIANT FM (CIXL-FM) Welland, ON morning team, joining Brian Salmon. Moore was previously morning show co-host at 103.5 FM KHJ (CKHJ-AM) Fredericton, and anchored morning news on both KHJ and Capital FM 106.9 (CIBX-FM).
Megan Milne has joined Rob Leclerc on the Country 89 (CKYY-FM) Welland, ON morning show. Milne was previously on-air at 103.9 Juice FM (CJUI-FM) Kelowna and Star 98 (CKSR-FM) Chilliwack.
Mark Russett has been appointed GM/GSM of Newcap Ottawa stations Hot 89.9 (CIHT-FM) and LiVE 88.5 (CILV-FM). Scott Broderick, who was previously in a dual role as both Ottawa GM and National Revenue Manager for Newcap Radio, is now focused solely on the national position.
Lee Haberkorn has returned to Virgin Radio Montreal (CJFM-FM) after a short stint at Virgin Radio Kitchener (CFCA-FM). Haberkorn joins Freeway & Natasha In The Morning as a producer, on-air and social media contributor. He leaves Lee, Luke & Rae In The Morning at Virgin Radio 105.3, where he landed last October.
Frédérick Ranger has been appointed vice-president of Product Marketing for Stingray. Ranger will lead the creative services, product marketing, web marketing, and social media teams. Ranger previously worked with Tourisme Montréal, Mediative, and Yellow Pages; and executed campaigns for CBC/Radio-Canada, L’Équipe Spectra (Jazz Fest), Astral, and TELUS.
Tyler Dettling is leaving his evening announcer gig at KiSS 91.7 (CHBN-FM) Edmonton to take over afternoon drive and APD duties at Power 97 (CJKR-FM) Winnipeg. Dettling has been with Rogers Edmonton since 2015.
Also leaving KiSS 91.7 is Ty Jordan, who is headed to Power 97 Winnipeg to host Power Drive, starting July 10. Jordan, who has been with KiSS the past two years, made previous stops at Q105.7 (CIBQ-FM) Brooks and Z99 (CIZZ-FM) Red Deer.
Jeff Paterson has accepted a full-time position with TSN 1040 (CKST-AM) Vancouver, covering the Vancouver Canucks at home and on the road, as well as filing for tsn.ca. The newly-created position comes in the wake of Bell Media’s loss of the Canucks broadcast rights to Rogers earlier this year. Paterson says he’lI no longer be writing his weekly hockey column for The Province, but hopes to continue The Patcast, a weekly Canucks podcast with Province hockey writer Jason Botchford. Paterson has held a number of positions with TSN 1040 since 2006, as Canucks reporter (2011-2015), and as fill-in host on Canucks broadcasts and talk shows. Paterson was caught up in nationwide restructuring at Bell In Nov. 2015, but returned as a freelancer last July.
Toby Johnston is taking over afternoon drive at The Bear (CFBR-FM) Edmonton. Johnston returns to his home province of Alberta after holding down afternoons at Virgin Radio Winnipeg (CKMM-FM), since 2013.
Blue Ant Media has appointed Sam Sniderman to the newly created position of Global Head, Commercial Affairs, Production. Coinciding with the company’s acquisition of Racat Group, Sniderman will have responsibility for the financial and commercial performance of international production businesses Antenna Pictures, NHNZ and Northern Pictures, and have oversight of Beach House Pictures. Sniderman is formerly the Global Chief Operating Officer and MD, Film and Entertainment at Pulse Films (a Vice Media company).
Philippe Cloutier is Videotron’s new Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Cloutier has served as VP, North American Operations for Reader’s Digest and president of Quad/Graphics (formerly Quebecor World).
Dan MacKenzie is making a return to broadcasting after a nine-year hiatus. The former news director at Big West Country (CIBW-FM) Drayton Valley, AB is headed to a news and hosting gig at Moose FM (CKLB-FM) Yellowknife. The Winnipeg native has been in social work the last several years with Alberta Health Services.
Newcap Halifax, Q104 (CFRQ-FM) and Mix 96.5 (CKUL-FM), has cut one of its creative writers, Alexander Stevens. The restructuring leaves the rest of the creative department intact.
Austin Ling is joining the morning show and newsroom at 107.9 Coast FM (CKPP-FM) Prescott, ON. Ling was previously at Peace FM (CHET-FM) Chetwynd and Dawson Creek, BC.
Matt Latour joins 106.5 MooseFM (CHBY-FM) Barry’s Bay, ON, starting July 21. The Niagara College grad has been working as a play-by-play announcer for the Niagara River Lions. Gregory Rosser, who has been a morning show host and reporter with MooseFM since last July, will be staying with Vista Radio, in a yet-to-be announced capacity.
