Originally published in the March 13, 2025 edition of The Weekly Briefing

Perry Macdonald is set to depart Bell Media, where he’s held the title of Vice-President, Advertising Sales and Partnerships since 2015, leading sales and operations teams across television, digital, radio, and Astral Out of Home. Prior to that, he served as VP of Sales for CTV for five years. The move comes amidst structural changes within Bell Media. Stewart Johnston, SVP of Sales and Sports, will step into MacDonald’s role in the interim.

Carly Meyers has joined Pattison Media’s 101.5 TODAY Radio (CKCE-FM) as afternoon drive host. Meyers joins the Hot Adult Contemporary station after a five-month hiatus from radio after getting swept up in changes at Rogers Sports & Media in Vancouver last September. She was most recently heard on the drive home show on Vancouver’s JACK FM, alongside co-host Jay Brody. The on-air duo were initially part of the launch lineup on sister station SONiC RADiO (CKKS-FM) in June 2022. Read more here.

Kieran Wilkie, aka Big Ginger, is headed to Edmonton where he’ll be helming afternoon drive on Virgin Radio (CFMG-FM). Wilkie had been hosting afternoons on Pattison Media’s Beach Radio 103.1 (CKQQ-FM) Kelowna, and was also heard on the Beach Radio stations in Prince Albert, Melfort, and North Battleford, SK, up until this past November. Blair Gaboury, who has been hosting afternoons on Virgin Radio in both Calgary and Edmonton for the last eight months, will continue in afternoon drive on Virgin Radio Calgary. Read more here.

Basem Boshra has been named the new Senior Director of Journalistic Standards & Public Trust for CBC News. An almost 30-year journalist, Boshra has been CBC Quebec’s Senior Managing Editor since 2022, overseeing journalism and programming, while also managing the CBC North Cree Unit for the past year and a half. He’ll transition into his new role in Toronto at the end of March. It was previously held by George Achi, who has joined the BBC as Head of Editorial Quality and Compliance, World Service. Read more here.

Jean Laroche has announced his retirement from CBC after almost four decades with the public broadcaster. Laroche has been a reporter with CBC Halifax since 1987. He got his start at CBC Montreal, while still studying journalism at Concordia University, working as a chase producer on Daybreak.

Hana Mae Nasser has joined CBC Vancouver. Nasser was previously with CityNews Vancouver for almost eight years, up until last September, where she most recently had held the title of Managing Editor.

Cathy Paine has joined CBC Toronto as a Senior Communications Officer. Paine was formerly a Communications Specialist at Corus Entertainment for the past three years, up until last November, overseeing media relations and audience relations for Global News and Corus Audio.

Manisha Krishnan is joining Wired as Senior Culture Editor. Krishnan was a senior reporter for VICE Media for the last nine years, up until March 2024

Darcy Matheson is moving into the role of Editor-in-Chief of BC Business and Vice-President of Digital at parent company, Canada Wide Media, which also publishes Vancouver Magazine, Western Living and BC Living. Matheson was formerly Editor-in-Chief of Daily Hive and did a brief stint at ZoomerMedia’s digital network. She’s also worked with CTV Vancouver as a Supervising Producer.

Toby Tannas, the morning show co-host on 103.1 Beach Radio (CKQQ-FM) Kelowna, is seeking the federal Conservative nomination in Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee. Tannas was an anchor and producer with Global Okanagan for 20 years, prior to joining Beach Radio in 2018.

Marci Ien has announced she won’t be re-offering for the Liberals in the next federal election. Ien was elected in Toronto Centre in October 2020 after 23 years as a host and reporter for CTV. She’s served as the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth since 2021.

Jason Lee has been promoted to Managing Vice-President, BC Producers Branch and Industrial Relations, at the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). In the new role, he’ll oversee daily operations of the CMPA-BC Producers Branch and continue to manage the office of BC Industrial Relations. Since joining CMPA in 2017, Lee has served as the lead negotiator in collective bargaining on behalf of the BC Branch Council and supported BC members in various labour matters. Prior to joining CMPA, he was Vice-President of Business and Legal Affairs with SEVEN24 Films. The position of Managing Vice-President of the BC Branch was formerly held by Tracey Friesen, up until her passing in January.

Brad Horvath has been appointed Vice-President, Content Sales at Toronto-based producer/distributor Boat Rocker. He’ll lead distribution of scripted and feature documentary content across the U.S. and Latin America, and support overall sales strategy. Horvath has been with BBC Studios in Los Angeles for the last 11 years, most recently holding the title of VP, Content Sales & Distribution.

Sarah Timlick has joined Amazon MGM Studios, where she’ll oversee Canadian distribution. Timlick has been with Elevation Pictures for the last decade, where she was Head of Theatrical Sales Distribution.

Lowell Schreider has been appointed Division Director of CK Talent Management’s new Canadian operation. The entertainment industry veteran has previously served as Director of Marketing and Communications for William F. White International and Comweb Group, among other communications work.