Sonia Verma has returned to Canada from the Middle East to assume the newly-created role of Editor-in-Chief for Global News. Verma has spent more than a dozen years working and living overseas, mainly in conflict and in humanitarian crises zones. As of Sept. 21, she’ll oversee Global News’ online platform, globalnews.ca. In addition to her work as a lead producer for Al Jazeera World, Verma most recently served as a Deputy Humanitarian Representative in the Middle East and North Africa for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Verma has also worked with The Globe and Mail as a Global Affairs Writer, making history in 2013 as the youngest and first woman member of the Editorial Board in The Globe’s 173-year history.
Laverne Siemens, VP of Engineering at Golden West Broadcasting, is beginning his transition toward retirement, and stepped into the role of Senior Broadcast Technologist. Originally from Saskatchewan, he joined the company as a Junior Technician after graduating from SAIT in 1979. In addition to leading the development and growth of Golden West’s broadcast system across the Prairies, he played a key role in the launch of consulting company, Golden West Sound Design. Alongside his transition, Golden West has named Corney Unger as Director of Technical Operations and Tom Wiebe as Director of Technical Projects. Unger started with Golden West in 1995 and developed a strong department as IT Coordinator, while Wiebe has worked on every Golden West site over the last 21 years and been the driving force behind many large projects and station builds.
My Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has promoted Rob Mise to VP, Content & Regional Market Manager, while Marg McNab-Tubman has been appointed VP, HR & Administration. Mise, who has been with MBC since 2010, previously held the title of Regional Manager for Peterborough, Cobourg, and Orangeville, a role he’ll be retaining. McNab-Tubman was formerly the company’s Administration Director for the past 15 years.
Rosey Edeh is joining CTV Morning Live Ottawa as a co-anchor, starting Sept. 14. Edeh began her career with CTV Montreal as a sports reporter, before moving to the U.S. to work with CNN’s American Morning and later MSNBC’s Early Today in various roles. Most recently, Edeh worked in both Toronto and Montreal for Global News and ET CANADA.
Paul Karwatsky has resigned from CTV Montreal. Karwatsky had been with the station since 2005, starting out as a reporter right out of Concordia University. He joined Mutsumi Takahashi as 6 p.m. co-anchor in 2012 and eventually became the anchor of the weekday 5 p.m. and late night newscasts. According to a statement on the CTV Montreal website, Karwatsky has his sights set on working in autism awareness, an issue close to his family.
Falen Johnson is the new host of CBC Radio’s Unreserved. Johnson is co-host of CBC Podcast, The Secret Life of Canada, as well as a playwright. She was named one of Maclean’s 20 people to watch in 2020. She succeeds Rosanna Deerchild in the host’s chair, who after seven seasons, has moved on to host a forthcoming podcast for CBC Books.
Jamil Jivani is hosting a new evening talk show for Newstalk 1010 (CFRB-AM) Toronto. Airing weeknights from 10 – 11 p.m. ET, Tonight with Jamil Jivani will focus on the latest news and current events, spanning politics, social change, and other topics. Born and raised in the Toronto area, Jivani is a Yale Law graduate, advocate for Canadians from underrepresented communities, and a special advisor to the Ontario Premier. The show will also be carried on 580 CFRA Ottawa, Newstalk 610 CKTB St. Catherine’s, and AM800 CKLW Windsor.
Henry Przybyszewski will be retiring Sept. 30 from CHEX-TV Peterborough. Przybyszewski has been with the station’s engineering department since 1976.
Adam MacVicar has a new role with Global Calgary as a city hall reporter. MacVicar has been with the station the last two years as a digital journalist. He was previously a VJ with Global Saskatoon.
Josh Pagé is the new senior producer on CBC Radio Calgary morning show Eyeopener. He was most recently producer of CBC’s B.C. Interior afternoon drive show Radio West and a mobile journalist, based in Kelowna.
John Biggs is the new afternoon drive show host at Jewel 92 (CKPC-FM) Brantford. In addition to hosting weekdays from 3 – 7 p.m., he’ll be heard Saturdays from 1 – 3 p.m. on Jewel 105 (CKHY-FM) Halifax. Biggs has had a more than 30-year radio career with stops at London’s Country 107.3 (CJDL-FM), Easy 101.3 (CKOT-FM) Tillsonburg, and C100 (CIOO-FM) and CJCH Halifax, among other stations.
The Facebook Journalism Project and The Canadian Press (CP) have announced the eight journalists selected for the Facebook-Canadian Press News Fellowship, a one-year, $1 million program supporting journalists covering pressing issues in communities across Canada. They include: Emma Tranter (Iqaluit), who will be CP’s first full-time correspondent in the North in 35 years; Danielle Edwards (Halifax), who has previously written for the Globe and Mail, National Post and Investing News Network, and interned with CP in its Ottawa bureau; Jacob Serebrin (Montreal), a freelancer for The Globe and Mail’s Report On Business, Toronto Star and Ottawa Business Journal; Jessica Beauplat (Montreal), who has written for Agence Science-Presse, HuffPost Québec and Voir, in addition to hosting and producing two series for Bell Media, Eyes of the City and L’Ascension TV; Denise Paglinawan (Toronto), who most recently worked for Reuters in Toronto; Maan Alhmidi (Ottawa), who has worked at the Winnipeg Free Press, Globe and Mail and Halifax Chronicle Herald; Fakiha Baig (Edmonton), who has worked with CBC in both Edmonton and Toronto, as well as the radio room program at the Toronto Star; and Brenna Owen (Vancouver), who has been with CP part-time since last fall and worked for the CBC, Globe and Mail and National Observer.
Grace Chin is the new Interim Managing Director of Women in Film and Television Vancouver (WIFT-V). Chin has more than 20 years of experience in the Vancouver arts and non-profit sector, including nine years with the Vancouver Asian Film Festival. She replaces WIFT-V Executive Director Carolyn Combs, who recently departed after eight years to relocate to Toronto to be closer to family.
