Dina Pugliese, co-host of Breakfast Television Toronto, is now hosting entertainment and lifestyle segments across the BT brand as part of a re-launch of the Citytv morning shows in Vancouver and Calgary. Sarah Freemark, formerly the “On the Go” reporter for CTV Morning Live Ottawa, also joins BT Calgary, alongside traffic and weather reporter Michelle Yi, and national tech expert and live-eye reporter Mike Yawney. The BT Vancouver on-air lineup remains status quo featuring news anchor Mary Cranston, meteorologist Russ Lacate, Thor Diakow providing entertainment and traffic, and news reporter Greg Harper. A new “L-bar” design also sees traffic and weather information remain on-screen throughout the entire show and during commercial breaks. The Sept. 23 re-launch follows layoffs across the network earlier this month that included the cancellation of Breakfast Television Montreal. Read more here.
Gord Gillies has retired from Corus Calgary. Gillies, 58, had been with Global Calgary since 1991, serving as the anchor of the 6 p.m. newscast for much of that time. Since 2017, he’d been host of the morning show on Newstalk 770 (CHQR-AM). Gillies began his career in journalism as a copy boy at the Toronto Star in 1981. In addition to Global, he worked with both CBC and CTV.
Reg Hampton has announced he’s signing off from CTV Calgary. Hampton has been with the station since 2006, holding down the role of assignment editor for the past six years. Hampton hasn’t revealed where he’s headed, but says he’s staying in the industry.
Scott Fox and Kat Callaghan, who have co-hosted mornings at Evanov Radio Group’s Z103.5 (CIDC-FM) Toronto for the last seven years, have announced they’re taking the show to 91.5 The Beat Kitchener-Waterloo. Both hosts hail from the Tri-Cities area. The new show starts airing Monday. Fox had been with Z103.5 for 18 years, Callaghan for seven. Read more here.
Carlos Benevides, who had hosted mornings at 91.5 The Beat (CKBT-FM) for the past decade, has left the station to join the staff at Conestoga College. Prior to joining The Beat, Benevides hosted afternoons at 107.5 DAVE Rocks (CJDV-FM) Kitchener and did a five-year stint with 102.1 The Edge (CFNY-FM) as an announcer and assistant music director.
Leah Johansen has left 570 News (CKGL-AM) Kitchener for Rogers’ sister station 680 News (CFTR-AM) Toronto. Johansen has been with 570 News since she was a student at Conestoga College, first joining the station’s promotions team in 2014 and then graduating to news anchor/reporter and most recently weekend managing editor.
David Gerhard is joining Atomic Cartoons to lead its Ottawa team as Studio Creative Director, overseeing teams working on projects for NBCUniversal. Most recently, Gerhard was based in L.A. as Creative Director of Alternative Media for Nickelodeon Animation. He was also part of the creative leadership team that developed the virtual reality experience for Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and directed Nickelodeon’s first Live 2D Animation stream for Facebook, entitled “Loudhouse Live.” Atomic’s Ottawa production hub officially opened last December and expects to employ 150 people by next June.
CJ Knowles has been promoted to Director of Business Development for Promosuite. In his new role, he’ll focus on new business development and cross-platform partnerships, with continued oversight of PromoSuite’s marketing and branding efforts. Knowles joined PromoSuite in 2008 and has worked across multiple departments, including Operations Coordinator, Digital Brand Strategist, and most recently Business Development Manager.
Scott Garvie, Shaftesbury SVP, has been re-elected as chair of the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), a position he’s held since June 2016. The 2019-21 term will see Kim Todd (Original Pictures) and Erin Haskett (Lark Productions) serve as the CMPA’s co-vice-chairs. Mark Bishop (marblemedia) and Anne Loi (WildBrain) will serve as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. Ira Levy (Breakthrough Entertainment) reassumes the role of Director Emeritus.
Ken Landers, who parted ways with CKBI Prince Albert this summer after three decades, has joined the Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation. Landers is hosting a nightly show Sunday to Thursday evenings, from 5 to 9 p.m, that’s.airing across MBC’s stations in Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Big River, La Ronge and North Battleford, SK, in addition to Flin Flon, MB.
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