Rick Webber has announced his retirement from Global Okanagan, effective July 31. Webber has been a news anchor in the Okanagan for almost 30 years. His 43-year broadcast career started in 1976, while still in Grade 12, as a part-time DJ on CJRW Summerside, PEI, where he hosted shows after school and on weekends. In 1978, he made the move to CHQB Powell River, BC, arriving in the Okanagan in 1990.
Katie Nicholson is leaving the CBC Manitoba-based ”iTeam.” After 11 years with CBC Winnipeg, Nicholson will be joining flagship news program The National as a reporter focused on investigative and original journalism.
Kaleigh Rogers is rejoining CBC Toronto as the lead tech reporter covering online disinformation leading up to the 2019 election. Rogers was a staff writer for VICE offshoot Motherboard for the last four years, based in Brooklyn, up until this past February. She previously worked as a multimedia reporter with the public broadcaster during a short stint in 2012-13.
Will Nash has joined Rogers’ CHYM 96.7 Kitchener. Nash previously did swing at 99.9 Virgin Radio (CKFM-FM) Toronto up until this past November. He’s also been an instructor in the Radio Broadcasting & Communications program at Mohawk College.
Aly Thomson is joining her former Canadian Press colleague Alex Cooke at CBC Nova Scotia. Thomson and Cooke were both caught up in downsizing in CP’s Atlantic bureau earlier this spring.
Spencer Griffin is the new head of TV Development for Just For Laughs. Griffin will oversee various television projects under the Just For Laughs banner. He was most recently head of Live Action Development and Production for Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, the production company behind Adult Swim’s Robot Chicken and Crackle’s Supermansion. Griffin will report to Just For Laughs president Bruce Hills.
Women in Film & Television Toronto (WIFT-T) has elected its 2019-20 board of directors. Noora Abu Eitah (Secret Location); Sam Linton (Blue Ant Media); and Dylen Postnikoff (Shaftesbury) join the board for the first time, while Janet Chant (Toronto Blue Jays) was appointed to the Foundation for WIFT-T board of directors. Linda Stregger (Spin Master Ltd.) assumes the role of vice-chair and treasurer; and Sonia Brar (Bell Media) is our the secretary. Jocelyn Hamilton (eOne) is in her final term on the board and her role as chair. Christina Buchli (Goldstein Buchli LLP), Alex Lalonde (New Metric Media) and Rekha Shah (CBS International) have all concluded their max five-year terms.
Leslie Roberts, who left CJAD Montreal in December to edit travel website traveltowellnes.com, will join CTV Morning Live Ottawa as a co-host in June. Roberts previously worked for Global Toronto for 15 years as an anchor and executive editor, until his 2015 resignation when the Toronto Star investigated conflict of interest allegations against him involving his firm BuzzPR.
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