Steve Jordan is leaving the Polaris Music Prize, the award he founded in 2006, to join CBC Music as its Senior Director. Jordan will take up his new post Mar. 2. In the interim, Polaris events manager Claire Dagenais will take on an expanded role within Polaris, while Jordan continues to provide guidance as a board member. Jordan started his career at CKLC Kingston where he served as music director from 1990-93, before joining Kinetic Records in promotions, and later Warner Music Canada and True North Records in A&R roles. Read more here.
Jennifer Hollett has been named as the incoming executive director at The Walrus. Hollett will take over the role in June with the departure of Shelley Ambrose, who has been with the publication since 2006. Hollett, who many remember for her time as a MuchMusic VJ, was most recently head of news and government at Twitter Canada prior to an unsuccessful run as the NDP’s 2015 candidate in Toronto’s University-Rosedale,
Kirk LaPointe has been appointed publisher of Business in Vancouver Media Group, while retaining his roles as editor-in-chief of Business in Vancouver (BIV) and vice-president, editorial, with parent company Glacier Media. He has been with BIV since 2015. LaPointe also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, and has previously served as CBC Ombudsman, managing editor of The Vancouver Sun, and been a host on CBC Newsworld, among other roles.
Keri Ferguson is taking on Global News anchor duties for Durham, in addition to Global Peterborough’s local 6 p.m. & 11 p.m. newscasts. Starting Jan. 20, Ferguson takes over from the departing Crystal Goomansingh, who has been named the new Global News Europe Bureau Chief. She’ll continue co-anchoring Global Peterborough’s evening newscast with Jaye Makinson.
Ramraajh Sharvendiran will join Krissy Holmes as co-host of the St. John’s, NL Morning Show on CBC Radio One, starting Feb. 24. Sharvendiran is currently the host of CBC Radio’s North Country in Thompson, MB.
Saron Fanel is leaving CTV Saskatoon to return to CTV Ottawa. Prior to joining CTV Saskatoon as an anchor, producer and VJ in 2018, Fanel was a community reporter for CTV Ottawa and worked as an anchor/producer on 580 CFRA.
Nicole Di Donato has joined CTV Saskatoon as a video journalist. The 2019 Ryerson Journalism grad previously did her internship with the station. For the past nine months, she’s been working as a VJ with CTV’s Northern Ontario bureau in Sault Ste. Marie, ON.
Joy Loewen has been officially appointed CEO of the National Screen Institute (NSI). Loewen had been acting executive director since May 2019, following the resignation of John Gill. She was previously Manager of Programs and Development. She’ll continue to manage the NSI Totally Television program as part of her role moving forward.
Kimberley Ball has been promoted within Super Channel to Executive Director, Communications and Regional Outreach. Ball will continue to be based in the company’s Toronto office, reporting to Don McDonald, President and CEO, and will be a member of the company’s executive team. In her newly expanded role, Ball will be responsible for all communications relative to the strategic direction and positioning of the organization, in addition to continuing to oversee and manage the company’s industry outreach program and budget, with a focus on expanding Super Channel’s regional outreach initiatives. She’ll also maintain responsibility for media relations and publicity. Ball has been with Super Channel since 2012.
Annie DeMelt has left CTV Montreal to join the McGill University Health Centre Communications team. Demelt had been with CTV since 2003, most recently as a reporter and weekend anchor. She will oversee the launch of MUHCTV, a new online platform that will use video across MUHC’s social channels to update the Health Centre’s internal and external audiences.
Derek DeCloet is leaving his executive editor post at The Globe and Mail to join Bloomberg as Managing Editor for Canada. Decloet has been with The Globe off and on since 2003 and its executive editor and editor of Report on Business since 2016. He steps in for David Scanlan who is off to Singapore in February. Scanlan has been with Bloomberg for 25 years and in the managing editor role since 2003.
John Petrie is retiring from Stingray’s Real Country (CIBQ-FM) and boom 101.1 (CIXF-FM) in Brooks, AB, capping a 45-year broadcasting career. Petrie started as an evening announcer with stops in Rosetown and Yorkton, before joining CIBQ-FM in 1980. He held roles from news to sports, before taking on the PD position in 1990 and then serving as station morning man up until 1995. He’s been sales manager for both stations for the last 24 years.
Christine Maestracci has been promoted to the role of VP, acquisitions & international distribution at Quebecor Content. Maestracci was previously senior director of acquisitions. She’ll continue to be responsible for all content and format acquisitions for TVA Group platforms and Club illico, in addition to international distribution of original content and formats developed and created by Quebecor Content. Maestracci has been with Quebecor since 2003.
Meghan Sheridan has been hired by Portfolio Entertainment in the newly-created position of Executive Director of Development in Los Angeles. Reporting to SVP of Content Liliana Reyes, Sheridan will work with the Toronto team to expand Portfolio’s growing slate of children and family-targeted animation and live-action properties. Sheridan was previously Director of Original Programming and Development for Universal Kids, and Director of Children’s Entertainment for The Jim Henson Company.
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