Sportsnet has parted ways with Toronto Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Mike Wilner. Wilner had worked with Rogers Sports & Media since 1995, starting as an anchor, news and sports reporter with 680 News (CFTR-AM) Toronto, before transitioning to Sportsnet 590 The Fan (CJCL-AM) and the Sportsnet Radio Network in 2001, where he held various roles from off-season anchoring to hosting pre- and post-game shows. Since prior to the 2019 season, he’d been partnered with Ben Wagner on network radio broadcasts. In a post to his social media, Wilner said his “heart is broken” not to move forward with the Blue Jays broadcast crew, but that he was grateful for getting “to live an absolute dream for the last two decades.” Read more here.
Global BC has named Bhupinder Hundal as its new News Director and Station Manager, overseeing editorial direction, staff and operations. For the past two and a half years, Hundal has been a Senior Producer with CBC Vancouver. He’s best known in the market for his work with channel m and OMNI Television. With Rogers Sports & Media for a decade, he served as News Manager for OMNI BC and oversaw the expansion of OMNI News: Punjabi Edition into Alberta and Ontario. He was also a studio host, commentator, and producer for Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition. Hundal succeeds Jill Krop who stepped down earlier this fall. Read more here.
Robert Doane has been appointed as CBC’s first Indigenous Advisor. Based in Prince George, B.C., he’ll report to Nick Davis, Director of Engagement and Inclusion. Doane began his career at CBC in 2006 and has held roles from associate producer to reporter and host. He’s also a graduate of CBC’s Developing Emerging Leaders program and a founding co-chair of the public broadcaster’s All Nations Employee Resource Group.
Eric Rankin, who has been with the CBC since 1984, is retiring. Rankin, who was most recently with the CBC News Investigates team in Vancouver, has also done stints as a war correspondent covering the Balkans conflict, The Gulf War, Sandinista-Contra tensions in Nicaragua, and was on the front line of the Oka Crisis. He’s also produced current affairs programming for CBC News Network.
Manjula Dufresne has retired from CBC after 32 years. The veteran TV producer first joined the public broadcaster in 1988 and has worked on The National, CBC News Network, Go Public and the investigative unit, both in Toronto and Vancouver.
Deborah Goble is also retiring from CBC Vancouver. With the public broadcaster since 1990, Goble has worked as both a TV and radio reporter. CBC News Vancouver put together a tribute reel, highlighting some of Goble, Dufresne, and Rankin’s work.
Connell Smith has retired from CBC Saint John, NB. The veteran radio reporter’s last day was Nov. 27. Back in May, Smith wrote a very personal account of losing his mother to COVID-19.
happy retirement to a wonderful friend & colleague, @connellcbc, whose last day it is at CBC #saintjohn
connell taught me SO much about radio, local politics, & SJ history over the years
thanks for all the laughs, tape, story tips, snacks, & help! we’ll miss you pic.twitter.com/7PqWUIFJtM
— Julia Wright (@thewrightpage) November 27, 2020
Don Bell has retired from CBC Edmonton. He’s served primarily as the afternoon news anchor on CBC Radio One since 2001, with his career also including stops at stations in Peace River, Red Deer, and Calgary, as well as CKUA Edmonton.
Sean Henry is the new permanent host of CBC Montreal radio morning show, Daybreak, following the retirement of Mike Finnerty. Henry will take over the role in January, with Rebecca Ugolini filling in as interim host until then. Henry is better known for his TV anchor work with CBC Montreal, but has also acted as a frequent radio guest host and anchor.
Andrew Peplowski, Assistant News Director at CJAD 800 Montreal, is leaving the station on Dec. 11. Peplowski has been with CJAD since 2010.
So….I’ve decided that it’s time to turn the page on a huge part of my life…
My last day at #CJAD800…. and the final day of my career as a broadcaster will be December 11.— Andrew Peplowski (@AndrewPeplowski) November 25, 2020
Supriya Dwivedi has resigned from AM640 (CFMJ-AM) Toronto. A host on The Morning Show since 2016, Dwivedi has filed a grievance with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, alleging that Corus Entertainment’s lack of attention to upholding journalistic standards on the talk station resulted in an increased number of personal attacks, hate mail, racist comments and threats against both her and her infant daughter.
As some of you may have just heard on air, after submitting my resignation to Corus early last month, today was my last show. Without turning this into an annoyingly long thread, a few things: thank you so much to the listeners over the last 4 years. It’s been 1/
— Supriya Dwivedi (@supriyadwivedi) November 27, 2020
Elise Toplass has left the Senior Promotions Coordinator position at CTV Vancouver to join Stingray Vancouver as Promotions Director. Toplass had been with Bell Media since 2015. She’s also worked in promotions with Sun Media and Corus Radio in Vancouver, among other companies.
Cody Mack has been appointed Retail Sales Manager for 93.1 The One (CJLD-FM) Leduc, AB, after just six months with Blackgold Broadcasting. Mack has spent the past 13 years as a professional musician, bandleader, talent agent, and tour manager for a number of rock and country artists, most recently as a drummer for Edmonton-based entertainer and radio personality Danny Hooper.
Phil Wood has parted ways with Rogers’ Fort McMurray stations where he handled news for Country 93.3 (CJOK-FM), 97.9 ROCK (CKYX-FM) and MyMcMurray.com. A Fanshawe College grad, Wood had been with the stations since Dec. 2018.
Mike McDonald has joined CTV News Northern Ontario as a videojournalist, where he’ll be reporting from the Algoma region. McDonald arrives from Superior Media (Saultonline.com, myAlgoma.ca, ONNtv), and has also worked with The Canadian Press in Toronto and CKLW Windsor, among other newsrooms.
Alison MacKinnon is leaving CTV News Yorkton to join CTV Regina. MacKinnon has been a videojournalist with the station since Oct. 2019. She previously worked for CTV Lethbridge, as well as Global News in Winnipeg.
Allison Kelba has left Corus Entertainment after three and a half years working in reception at the Vancouver radio group. Kelba previously worked with the Variety the Children’s Charity, among other disability advocacy groups.
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) has appointed Christine Noël as executive producer of the NFB’s French Program Animation Studio, effective Jan. 4. Noël has been with NFB since 2001 in various roles, most recently as head of marketing.
Jessica Gibson, is the National Screen Institute’s (NSI) new Manager of Programs and Development. Gibson will manage the TELUS STORYHIVE Podcast Edition working with content creators in Alberta and BC, in addition to other new NSI programming initiatives focused on diverse creators. Gibson arrives from Winnipeg-based Media RendezVous Inc. where she was production manager. She’s also worked as a Development Manager with Eagle Vision.
Tonya Williams has joined the Board of Directors of WOW! Unlimited Media Inc. An actor, producer, director and activist, Williams is also the founder and Executive Director of the Reelworld Film Festival and the Reelworld Foundation.
