Crossroads Christian Communications, the parent company of independent religious station, YES TV, has named Reverend Kevin Shepherd as its news CEO, effective Sept. 8. Shepherd has more than 24 years of ministry leadership experience, most recently as the lead pastor of Glad Tidings Church in Burlington, ON where he pastored Crossroads and YES TV founder, the late Rev. David Mainse. Shepherd succeeds Lorna Dueck, who recently retired after four years as both CEO and host of Context with Lorna Dueck on YES TV.
SOCAN has announced that Jeff Price has departed its New York-based Audiam licencing and royalty business, with SOCAN COO Jeff King assuming the duties of CEO. King has served as an Audiam board member and played a key role in establishing the company as a leader in digital rights administration since it was acquired by SOCAN in 2016.
Laura Earl has left My Broadcasting Corporation’s syndicated morning show “Jamie and Laura In The Morning,” which airs on the company’s 15 radio stations in Ontario under the myFM brand. Earl started co-hosting mornings in 2012, up until 2016 when she went on maternity leave, and returned as part of the afternoon show. She re-joined the morning show in fall 2018. Earl’s husband is a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and the family has been re-posted to Brunssum, Netherlands. Jamie will continue to host the show solo until a new morning co-host is named.
Jonathan Pinto is the incoming host of Up North, the afternoon drive show that airs on CBC Radio One in Thunder Bay and Sudbury. Pinto will assume hosting duties in early September. Originally from Peterborough, Pinto has been with CBC for the last decade working in Toronto, Windsor and London as a producer, reporter and guest host.
Rafi Mustafa is joining CBC’s flagship, national political program, Power & Politics, as the show’s executive producer. Mustafa is a former journalist, producer and editor with Al Jazeera English.
Rosanna Deerchild, who has hosted Unreserved on CBC Radio One since 2014, is moving on to a new project for CBC, the details of which will be revealed in August. Unreserved, which showcases Indigenous culture and stories, is currently on its regular summer hiatus and on the hunt for a new host.
Kevin Cotter has joined the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group (JPBG) in Prince George as Program Director of 101.3 The River (CKKN-FM) and 99.3 The Drive (CKDV-FM). Cotter was with Vista Radio in Prince George for the last 12 years, most recently as Group Content Program Director and morning host at 94.3 The GOAT (CIRX-FM). Cotter succeeds Ron Polillo, who had been PD since 2002 and with the company for 27 years.
Jennifer Campbell, one half of Mornings with Campbell & PJ on Country 106.7 (CIKZ-FM) Kitchener, has been off the air after receiving a cancer diagnosis. Campbell, who is undergoing chemo treatments, made an appearance on the morning show July 17 via Facebook Live to share an update.
Rick Ringer is stepping away from the Country 93 (CKYC-FM) Owen Sound morning show, which he’s been co-hosting alongside Julia Manina for the last three years. Ringer will continue on-air with Bayshore Broadcasting in a swing role where he’ll host a number of voicetracked shows for Country 93, Country 102 (CJMU-FM) Muskoka, and 560 CFOS Owen Sound.
Andy Captain is the new weekend host at Edmonton’s 100.3 The Bear (CFBR-FM). Captain was previously the morning show host at Country 105 (CKTG-FM) Thunder Bay, up until last November when he returned to his home province of Alberta.
Melissa Thomas, Imaging Director at X92.9 (CFEX-FM) Calgary, is the new imaging voice on newly-rebranded Michigan alt rocker 106.1 The New QYQ (WQYQ-FM), which is aimed at millennials, aged 20-40. Thomas is represented by CESD Talent Agency.
Jon Thompson has left TVO. Thompson joined TVO’s Ontario Hubs Initiative in 2017 as a dedicated Northwestern Ontario reporter and digital media producer, based in Thunder Bay.
