Revolving Door

Jim Hughson is retiring from sports broadcasting after 42 years. Hughson, 64, began his hockey broadcast career in 1979, calling South Peace Hockey League games on CKNL Radio in his hometown of Fort St. John, B.C. Stops at CKIQ Kelowna and CKNW Vancouver followed, before Hughson made the move to Toronto in the early 1980s to call play-by-play for the Toronto Maple Leafs on CBC-TV. He joined TSN from 1986-94, calling both hockey and baseball before returning to CKNW to anchor Vancouver Canucks broadcasts from 1994-99. He returned to national broadcasts and Sportsnet in 1999. He was hired in 2005 by CBC as Hockey Night in Canada’s secondary play-by-play announcer, signing an exclusive six-year contract in 2008 with the public broadcaster that saw him replace Bob Cole as the primary HNIC announcer the following season. In 2014, he re-joined Sportsnet, with Rogers’ acquisition of the national NHL rights. Read more here.

Steve Murphy, CTV News Atlantic’s Chief Anchor and Executive News Editor, is stepping aside from his day-to-day role on the local edition of CTV News at Six. His last day anchoring is Nov. 30, however Murphy will continue to contribute commentary and feature stories to the station. Murphy started his career in 1977 at CFBC Saint John, NB and went on to host of “The Hotline” on CJCH Halifax, before moving into television. He was the principal host of Live at Five for seven years before assuming his current role in 1993.

Kevin Stanfield is CTV News Calgary’s new weekday weather anchor, succeeding longtime broadcaster David Spence, who announced his retirement earlier this year. Stanfield has been with the station for the past five years. He began his career as a reporter in Smithers, B.C., and has also held traffic and weather roles with Global Saskatchewan and the Canadian Traffic Network in Toronto.

Allya Davidson has joined CBC’s Fifth Estate as Senior Producer. Davidson arrives from CTV’s W5 where she’s been for the last five years as an Investigative Documentary Producer and more recently Senior Producer. Davidson previously worked on the Fifth Estate from 2013-15 as an Associate Producer.

Jennifer Crosby is leaving television news to join the University of Alberta in a communications role. Crosby started her career as an anchor and reporter with CHEK News in Victoria. She’s been with Global Edmonton since 2009, most recently as a Senior Anchor and Producer, co-anchoring Global News at Noon Edmonton.

G98.7 (CKFG-FM) Toronto has parted ways with Mark & Jem in the Morning. Mark Strong and Jemeni G had both been helming the station morning show since 2011. An actor, writer and producer, Strong got his start in radio as part of The Morning Rush on Flow 93.5 (CFXJ-FM) in 2001. Jemeni, who is also a poet, actress and music journalist, has been in radio since her teens, initially as part of Hip Hop show The Powermove on Toronto community station CKLN-FM. G98.7 has yet to announce a new morning show.

Brady Jones (aka Brad Johns) has officially joined The Morning Hot Tub lineup, alongside Mauler, Rush and Jenni. Based out of The New Hot 89.9 (CIHT-FM) Ottawa, Jones has been behind-the-scenes producing the multi-market Stingray morning show.

Anthony Conte, Imaging Producer for 98.1 CHFI Toronto & Rogers Sports & Media’s National Imaging Lead for AC, has been promoted to the role of Production Manager. In his new position, he now oversees the radio production departments in Ottawa, Kingston & Halifax. Conte has been a key player on the Toronto programming and production teams for the past decade, previously imaging for Sportsnet 590 The FAN (CJCL-AM) Toronto.     

Derek Welsman moves from Stingray’s boom 97.3 (CHBM-FM) Toronto to join the Rogers Sports & Media Creative Team as the new Imaging Producer for 98.1 CHFI and National Imaging Lead for their AC format. Welsman has over 20 years experience in the Toronto market with Stingray, Corus and Astral Media. Dan Macintosh, who was most recently with Corus Toronto, has joined boom 97.3 as Senior Imaging Director.

Corey Graham has joined Blackgold Broadcasting’s news team. He’ll anchor afternoons and report on 89.7 The One “Ponoka’s Best Country” (CKPA-FM) set to officially launch Sept. 27. Graham was formerly a host at TSN 1260 (CFRN-AM) Edmonton from 2004, up until layoffs this past February. He’s also the stadium voice for the Edmonton Elks, and provides play-by-play for both the University of Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas soccer teams and the Edmonton Huskies football club. 

Stuart McGinn has joined the morning anchor team at 570 News (CKGL-AM) Kitchener, alongside co-anchor Lisa Drews. McGinn has been with Rogers Sports & Media since 2017, anchoring and reporting at 1310 News (CIWW-AM) Ottawa and 680 News (CFTR-AM) Toronto.

Annalise Nielsen has accepted a new role with Pacific Content as Senior Manager of Business Development. Nielsen was formerly with Rogers Sports & Media’s Frequency Podcast Network as Manager of Content and Business Development.

Scott Steele has joined Vancouver-based PlayMPE in a Music Industry Relations capacity. Steele previously helmed Canadian label management at Glassnote and worked with Sony Music as a regional promotions rep. Prior to that, he spent almost 15 years in radio including promotions stints with Harvard Broadcasting and Rogers Sports & Media.

J’net Ayayqwayaksheelth has been appointed Director, Indigenous Relations and Community Engagement, a newly- created NFB position based in Toronto. In collaboration with the NFB Indigenous Advisory Committee, J’net will provide leadership and cultural awareness within the NFB to implement organizational change and transformation. J’net previously served as the Indigenous Outreach and Learning Coordinator with the Royal Ontario Museum Learning Department and prior to that was Developer & Manager for Centennial College’s Indigenous curriculum.

Dave Baxter is retiring as President & CEO of Westman Communications Group, effective March 2022. Baxter has been with the Brandon, MB-based telecommunications and internet service provider since 1995, starting as the company’s Chief Financial Officer, before assuming the President & CEO role in 1997.

Damon Berger has joined WildBrain in the newly- created position of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). In the role, Berger – who was formerly at Mattel as Vice President, Head of Digital Engagement – will drive new business and revenue through media sales, social commerce and digital marketing. WildBrain has also promoted Stephanie Betts to Chief Content Officer (CCO) and Deirdre Brennan to Chief Operating Officer (COO). In her elevated role, Betts is responsible for overseeing WildBrain’s content slate, cultivating talent in both animation and live-action production at WildBrain Studios. Brennan takes on an expanded remit to integrate the company’s AVOD network, WildBrain Spark, into her existing portfolio of content and distribution operations. Due to the management realignment, the role of Managing Director at WildBrain Spark will no longer exist with Jon Gisby to exit the company.

Sandi Treliving has been appointed the new Chair of Telefilm’s Talent Fund. A dedicated philanthropist, mental health advocate and supporter of Canadian arts and culture, Treliving has been on the Talent Fund Advisory Board since 2014. She replaces Christine Magee, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Sleep Country, as Chair. Magee had served in the role since 2018. New to the Advisory Committee is serial entrepreneur Nathan Yeung, who is currently a VP with Find Your Audience, a marketing outsourcing firm for mid-size businesses.