Originally published in the July 25, 2024 edition of Broadcast Dialogue’s Weekly Briefing
Corus Entertainment has released its on-air talent at its Kingston radio stations as it continues an ongoing workforce reduction. An unknown number of cuts were also made at Global News Kingston. “On the audio side, BIG 96.3 and Fresh 104.3 will remain in Kingston, and the stations will utilize voice tracking to continue to produce local content made for and reflecting Kingston,” Corus said in a statement. “In the news division, we have reimagined our broadcast schedule in Kingston, Peterborough, and Kelowna with a focus on supper hour and late-night news programming. Additionally, our local online team will now operate under a new model to better support local breaking news.” Read more here. Among the recent casualties are Fresh 104.3 morning show duo Monica & Jesse; afternoon drive host Care Humphries; BIG FM morning show host Sideshow; midday host Bill Welychka, who joined the station earlier this year after his release from Global Kingston; drive host and music director Derek Bolduc; Global Kingston anchor Bill Hutchins, who had been with the station for 34 years; Laura Baziuk, Managing Editor, Digital and Radio, at Global BC; Toronto-based digital broadcast journalist Ryan Rocca; Paula Tran, an online journalist at Global Calgary; and Aaron Sousa, an online journalist at Global Edmonton.
Kevin O’Connell has announced his retirement from Global Edmonton. A weather specialist with the station for the last 36 years, most recently seen on Global News Morning and weekends, O’Connell will deliver his last weather forecasts on Sunday, July 28. His 40+ year career started in Red Deer, before he joined Global Edmonton predecessor ITV as the co-host of ITV First News in 1988. O’Connell has also been featured as a weather personality on Corus Radio’s 630 CHED.
Breanna Karstens-Smith has announced her departure from Global Edmonton and journalism as she exits the industry after 14 years. Karstens-Smith started her career with CHAT-TV Medicine Hat, with subsequent reporting stops at CTV Edmonton and Vancouver, before joining Global in 2019.
Dawn Kelly is retiring from The Canadian Press (CP) after 26 years as an anchor, editor and reporter. Kelly joined CP in 1998 from CJBK London, where she was the morning newscaster and a producer/fill-in host. She also held on-air roles at CKSY Chatham, Q-92/CIGM Sudbury and CKPR Thunder Bay. Her last day with CP is July 31.
Ashley Greco is leaving her midday show on CHUM 104.5 Toronto after 12 years. Greco hasn’t revealed her next move, but will be staying within the iHeartRadio family. She’ll also continue to be heard on Back In The Day Brunch on Sundays.
Bryce Kelley has announced his departure from SONiC 102.9 (CHDI-FM) Edmonton after 16 years. Kelley, whose final morning show alongside Garner Andrews is this Friday, will be moving to Calgary for a new opportunity.
Jamie Paterson and JC Douglas are both returning to Stingray’s Q104 (CFRQ-FM) Halifax, after absences of 11 and 21 years, respectively. Douglas departs MBS’ 89.9 The Wave (CHNS-FM) where he’d been voicetracking afternoons, and where Paterson was morning show host up until leaving the station last year. Douglas, Q104’s former longtime program director, moves to host network evening show The Rock of the Atlantic, while Paterson – a former member of the “Q Morning Crew” – will be heard weekends. Current evening host Dominik Diamond takes on mornings at The Wave. Read more here.
Avery LeBlanc has joined Golden West Broadcasting’s Country 100 (CILG-FM) Moose Jaw in afternoon drive. A graduate of Western Academy Broadcasting College, Avery had most recently been hosting mornings at Harvard Media’s former Fox FM (CFGW-FM) Yorkton, which adopted the CRUZ FM branding in May.
Patrick Smith is the new Director of Regulatory Affairs at the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). Smith most recently ran his own law practice, but prior to that was a Senior Legislative Policy Analyst at the Department of Canadian Heritage, where he helped develop and implement amendments to the Broadcasting Act, providing legal and policy research and analysis in support of Bills C-10 and C-11.
