Originally published in the Jan. 9, 2025 edition of Broadcast Dialogue’s Weekly Briefing
Caroline Jamet will assume the role of President of Cogeco Media, effective Feb. 3. Jamet arrives from Radio-Canada, where she served as Executive Director of French Radio, Audio, and Greater Montreal. Prior to joining the public broadcaster in 2017, she held executive roles at La Presse, Éditions Gesca, TVA International and L’Équipe Spectra. Read more here.
Paul Thomas has been appointed the Corus Audio division’s new Toronto Program Director for FM radio. Thomas, who arrives from ZoomerMedia, where he served as General Manager and Program Director for The New Classical FM (CFMZ-FM) and Zoomer Radio (CFZM-AM), is overseeing programming for Q107 (CILQ-FM) and 102.1 the Edge (CFNY-FM), as of Jan. 6. Other changes see Dave Blezard take on a new role as co-host of the morning show on 91.5 the Beat (CKBT-FM) Kitchener, alongside Kat Callaghan. He’ll also serve as Program Manager for the Kitchener/Guelph cluster. Blezard previously held the title of Regional Program Director for Kitchener, Barrie and Collingwood. Stephanie Hunter expands her Regional Program Director role to cover all Ontario stations, excluding Toronto. The changes see Scott Fox, Callaghan’s longtime co-host on The Scott & Kat Show, depart the company. Read more here.
Christian Hall will join Toronto’s CHUM 104.5 as Heidi Baiden moves over to the company’s syndicated programming arm, Orbyt Media. Baiden will transition from Program Director at CHUM 104.5 to Senior Manager of Orbyt, with a focus on content development, partnerships & revenue growth. Hall will assume the role of Program Director at CHUM 104.5. He was most recently with Rogers Radio in Vancouver, serving as National Programmer for Classic Hits, as well as Content Director for JACK 96.9 (CJAX-FM) and SONiC RADiO (CKKS-FM), up until management changes in late October. Read more here.
Tiffany Lizée will join Global Calgary’s News at 5 and News Hour at 6 time slots, as well as Global Lethbridge’s News at 5 and News at 6, beginning Jan. 13. Lizée, who has been with Global Calgary since 2018 and Chief Meteorologist since 2021, succeeds weather anchor Paul Dunphy, who retired from the station on Dec. 23 after 51 years in broadcasting.
Al Wright, Global BC Operations Manager, has retired after four decades with the station. Wright started with the station under the CHAN-TV banner in the early 1980s as a production editor and technical director. He moved into the role of News Operations Manager in 1987 and had held his current role since 2014.
Kalina Laframboise has departed Global Montreal where she’s primarily been an online producer for the last seven years. She’ll be joining the Montreal Gazette as a reporter.
Robert Brilz has retired from CTV Edmonton where he’d been an assignment editor for 24 years. Prior to joining CTV in 2000, Brilz was a producer with ITV/Global TV Edmonton; an anchor and assignment editor at 630 CHED; and news director at MG 1200 and FM 105. Brilz will continue to do communications consulting.
Ioanna Roumeliotis is joining CBC’s The Fifth Estate as the investigative program’s full-time host, alongside Mark Kelley and Steven D’Souza. A reporter with The National since 2000, Roumeliotis started her career with CBC Montreal in 1995. A past guest host of The Fifth Estate, the first episode featuring the veteran reporter in her new hosting role will air Friday, March 7. Read more here.
Heartfelt appreciation for your support both for the program and my personal battle with cancer. The program ends January 26, but your generosity of spirit will fuel my fight against what lies ahead.
My thoughts are with everyone engaged in a life-threatening health challenge.— The Roy Green Show (@TheRoyGreenShow) December 29, 2024
Roy Green is set to depart the Corus Radio talk network later this month. Green, who continues to battle cancer, will host the final episode of The Roy Green Show on Jan. 26. Green, 77, started his career at CKGM Montreal as a teenager, going on to hosting stints at CHML Hamilton and AM 640 (CFIQ-AM) Toronto. He previously retired from daily broadcasting in 2007.
Clayton Dreger has officially retired 40 years to the day he first joined Golden West Broadcasting on Jan. 7, 1985. The longtime sports director and champion of amateur sport, who was inducted into the Western Association of Broadcasters (WAB) Hall of Fame this year, signed off with a column thanking those who’ve listened over the years.
Angela Valiant has joined 107.3 The Edge (CFGQ-FM) Calgary in afternoon drive. Valiant, who most recently helmed the morning show on SONiC RADiO (CKKS-FM) in Vancouver, will be heard from 2 – 6 p.m. MT weekdays.
Leanne Page has moved into middays on 107.5 KOOL FM (CKMB-FM) Barrie. Page, who has held numerous roles with the station over the last 12 years – including Sales & Marketing Coordinator and more recently Director of Community Parnterships – will be heard weekdays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Erik Wedekind has joined the team at CoOL 94.5 (CIBU-FM) Wingham, ON. Wedekind will be heard in afternoon drive from 2 – 6 p.m. weekdays, before a planned move to mornings. He was most recently heard on Pattison Media’s Nanaimo stations, 102.3 The Wave (CKWV-FM) Nanaimo and 106.9 The Wolf (CHWF-FM).
Richard Zurawski has announced that his Friday morning science segment on Stingray’s Q104 (CFRQ-FM) Halifax is coming to an end after eight years. In a post to social media, the longtime broadcaster says his mobility has deteriorated as he awaits a third joint replacement surgery. Zurawski was a longtime meteorologist for News 95.7 (CJNI-FM) Halifax and other Rogers’ radio stations before being elected to Halifax Regional Council in 2016.
Emma Witkowski has been named Vice-President, Media Solutions, at WildBrain. In the newly-created role, Witkowski will lead WildBrain’s Media Solutions team, driving advertising sales for the company’s global inventory across digital platforms including YouTube, FAST and AVOD, as well as brand integrations on gaming platforms like Roblox and Fortnite. Based in Los Angeles, Witkowski reports to Kate Smith, Executive Vice President, Audience Engagement. Most recently, Witkowski was Global Head of Strategy and Client Success at Moonbug Entertainment, where she was responsible for building and scaling their brand partnerships business.
Stéphane Cardin has joined the Quebec Film and Television Council (QFTC) as President and CEO. Cardin was, until recently, Director, Public Policy for Canada at Netflix. Previously, he held the position of Vice President, Industry and Public Affairs at the Canada Media Fund (CMF) and served as Director General, Tax Credits at the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC).
Kate Ziegler will succeed David Gale as the new President of ACTRA Toronto for a two-year term. Ziegler joined ACTRA in 2011, shifting her focus to become a leading voice talent, lending her skills to thousands of commercials and has served as the brand voice for major national campaigns, including Rogers, Ford and Lotto 6/49. Her previous on-screen credits include roles in Flashpoint, God & Country, Man Vs. and The Divide.
Mike Pappas is now Senior Vice-President of Global Sales at Orban as the company undergoes management restructuring. Pappas has handled U.S. sales along with corporate development for the past eight years as VP, Business Development. Orban Labs President David Day says under Pappas’ sales leadership, 2024 was the company’s best year ever in the U.S.
Todd Beswitherick has departed Pippin Technical Service as an RF Tech/Installer after 10 years to pursue an opportunity outside the broadcast industry. Other changes within the company see Mike Delayen’s duties shift as he hands over the reins to the Shipping department. He’ll now be hitting the road as Studio/RF Tech, while retaining his position as Service Manager. Barry Waldbillig joins the team covering off Logistics, while Tharindu Dissanayake arrives to add to the depth in the technical and engineering department by serving in the dual roles of installer/technician and designer for PTSGear.
