Friends of Canadian Broadcasting executive director Ian Morrison is stepping down. Morrison had served as the group’s spokesperson since 1985 and will remain on its board. The independent, not-for-profit hopes to have a new ED/spokesperson in place by early 2018.
Jim Haskins is now Global News Edmonton’s news director and station manager, replacing Tim Spelliscy, who retired last month. Haskins joins the Edmonton team from Global News Halifax where he’s been news director and station manager the last five years. A replacement for the Halifax news director role will be announced later this fall.
Lisa Ford has announced her retirement from Global Saskatoon, after more than 30 years with the station. Ford was part of the original on-air team at STV when it launched in 1987. Starting out as a weather presenter, she has held multiple leadership roles over the years, the last six and a half as station manager and news director. Her last day will be Dec. 15.
Michael Davidson has accepted a full-time position as a video journalist with Global Durham. Michael has been shooting and editing for Global Toronto, part-time, for the past four and a half years, while also serving as a camera operator for events like the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games.
Scott Leybourne has joined JUMP! 106.9 (CKQB-FM) Ottawa as the new swing announcer. Leybourne was previously morning show producer at 102.1 the Edge (CFNY-FM) Toronto, following a stint as swing announcer.
Nadia Zaffar is now working with the Global News multi-market content (MMC) team as a part-time producer/editor, based in Toronto. Nadia has experience as a producer and anchor in Pakistan, previously working with Dawn News and BBC World News, in addition to an internship with PBS Frontline.
CBC News has launched a new Content Development unit focused on strategic projects and programs, reporting to Michael Gruzuk. Jennifer Moroz has been named executive producer of Content Development, working closely with senior advisor Dave Downey. Spencer Walsh moves into the new role of executive producer, Digital Development. Managing editor Paul Hambleton adds network assignment operations to his responsibility for the new Central Desk. Greg Reaume will continue as managing editor of CBC’s foreign and domestic bureaus and manage radio news hourlies, CBC News Network daytime programming, and daily news elements of digital operations. With Jennifer Harwood leading change at News Network and CBC Radio’s flagship shows, her managing editor duties are being adjusted. Steve Ladurantaye will become managing editor of the entertainment, business, health, science, tech and opinion units and manage the interactives team. Moving forward, The National executive producer Caroline Harvey will report directly to Jon Whitten, who also takes on managing editor duties with the team. Joanne McPherson will shift into a new role as managing editor of Audience Experience, focusing on audience data and outreach initiatives.
Danger (aka Darren Grieve) is the newest member of Whistler FM’s (CKEE-FM) on-air team, as host of the midday show. Grieve has been anchoring traffic on News 1130 (CKWX-AM) since 2015 and doing weekends at 96.9 Jack FM (CFAX-FM) Vancouver, after previous on-air stints at 99.3 The Fox (CFOX-FM) and Shore 104 (CHLG-FM).
Crash Davis is departing KiSS 103.1 (CHTT-FM) Victoria after 22 years. In an open letter to listeners on the station website, Davis (aka Jamie Weiss) announced that Sept. 29 would mark his final show and that he’s leaving for a role in government public affairs. Over the years, Crash worked for Oldies 900 (CJVI-AM) and AM900 (CKMO-AM), in addition to his time with Rogers Victoria.
Maisonneuve.org has hired Selena Ross as associate editor. Ross has previous experience at The Chronicle Herald, CBC Halifax and the Globe and Mail. Current associate editor Kim Fu is leaving to pursue other opportunities after production wraps on the quarterly’s winter issue.
Marni Shulman, former VP and head of content and programming at the now-defunct shomi, has been named senior VP and GM at WOW! Unlimited Media. Shulman will manage the launch of WOW!’s new multiplatform kids’ and youth brand and will also oversee the company’s new partnership with Bell Media.
Groupe V Media has named Brigitte Vincent, VP of content, effective Oct. 10. She’ll be leading the direction of content across platforms for V, MAX, MusiquePlus and noovo.ca. Vincent was most recently VP of programming and content at Corus Media.
Scott Garvie, senior VP of Shaftesbury Films, has been re-elected chair of the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) 2017-2019 board of directors. Tom Cox (SEVEN24 Films) and Ron E. Scott (Prairie Dog Film + Television) will represent Alberta, while Brian Hamilton (Omnifilm Entertainment), Erin Haskett (Lark Productions), Cal Shumiatcher (eOne Television Unscripted) and Steven Thibault (Bron Studios) were elected from BC. The board also includes Kim Todd (Original Pictures) from Manitoba, Paul Pope (Pope Productions) and Mary Sexton (Rink Rat Productions) from Newfoundland, Marc Almon (Holdfast Pictures) from Nova Scotia, Mark Bishop (marblemedia), Paul Bronfman (Comweb Corporation), Vince Commisso (9 Story Media Group), Lauren Corber (LoCo Motion Pictures), Jennifer Dodge (Spin Master Entertainment), Sari Friedland (Factory Films), Anne Loi (DHX Media), Christina Piovesan (First Generation Films) and Andrew Rosen (Aircraft Pictures) from Ontario; Jean Bureau (Incendo), Ina Fichman (Intuitive Pictures) and Jeremy Spry (Muse Entertainment) from Quebec and Bob Crowe (Angel Entertainment) representing Saskatchewan.
Duane Murray has been named VP of development by Toronto-based Rob Heydon Productions. The actor and writer, who started with the company earlier this year, will work on forthcoming television and film productions including The Wanting 2, The Babe, Bardo and The Devil Knows Your Name.
Chantal Ling has been promoted to VP of original series and coproductions at Ottawa-based animation firm Mercury Filmworks. Tara Pollock is named to the newly-created role of studio manager reporting to Jefferson Allen, who is promoted to VP of studio operations. Sandra Green and Nicole St Pierre are also promoted to senior VP of finance and senior VP of business and legal, respectively.
Joan Lambur, who led Breakthrough Entertainment’s family entertainment division, has left to form her own production company Lambur Productions, which will focus on global children’s and family programming. Sinking Ship Entertainment has a minority stake in the venture.
