Revolving Door

Tina-Marie Tatto has announced she is retiring from the CBC. Tatto has been Director of Regulatory Affairs for the past eight years and was part of the team that shepherded the public broadcaster through its recent licence renewal hearings. Prior to joining CBC, she was the Manager of Regulatory Affairs at Rogers Media and before that held a similar position at CanWest Global. Her last day with CBC will be Dec. 31. 

Heather Conway, former Executive Vice-President of English services at CBC/Radio-Canada, has been named Hot Docs’ new Executive Director and Co-President. She succeeds Brett Hendrie, who departed the organization in March, and will assume responsibility for the strategic leadership and management of the annual festival, industry programs and other year-round initiatives, starting Nov. 4. Conway was the head of CBC English Services from 2013-18, helping lead its digital transformation. Prior to CBC, she ran all non-curatorial/development operations at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO).

Jason Badal has been named the Canadian Vice-President and General Manager of Disney+. Charged with accelerating and expanding the streamer’s presence in Canada, Badal has been with Shopify for the last three years as Director & GM, Shopify Studios and more recently Director, Global Head of Multinationals & CPG. Prior to that, he held Business Affairs roles with Sportsnet and Score Media.

Michael Moskowitz, former Chairman and CEO of Panasonic North America, is joining Northstar Gaming as Chief Executive Officer and founding partner. Intending to operate in the regulated Ontario online gaming market, NorthStar Gaming plans to launch its online betting brand and sportsbook as early as December. In his new role, Moskowitz will oversee that launch. NorthStar Gaming has entered into an omnichannel advertising and marketing services arrangement with Torstar and its extensive footprint of data-led media solutions, news, and sports platforms.

Peter Shurman has confirmed that he and 640 (CFMJ-AM) Toronto have parted ways after five years as a fill-in host. Shurman, a former Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP, whose radio career started in the 1960s and has included stops at CJAD Montreal and CFRB Toronto, confirmed on a message board that management took issue with a recent incident in which the host was accused of berating a victim of alcohol-involved sex assault on-air. “Several weeks ago, there was an incident on the air. I did not think it was minor, so I immediately informed management. Our view of it, however, differed as things moved along and we discussed it…and, in the end, it’s their radio station. So, if I fill in for anyone, it won’t be at 640,” wrote Shurman. 

Dave Turnbull has confirmed he’s no longer with 92 CITI FM Winnipeg. Most recently part of the morning show, Rena, TJ & Turnbull, which has been on hiatus since earlier this year, Turnbull had been with the station since 2017. Rena Jae and TJ Connors both parted ways with CITI over the summer. Pancho Parker has been filling in on mornings in the interim.

Alix Michaels has been released by Pattison Media in Winnipeg ahead of what appears to be a forthcoming CHIQ-FM format flip from 94.3 The Drive, all but confirmed by a “Now” billboard campaign that’s popped up in the city. The station website was scrubbed of talent mentions late Thursday. Pattison says an announcement is coming Monday.

Chris Ash has left Kool FM (CKMB-FM) Barrie, where he’s been hosting afternoon drive for the last eight months, for a yet to be revealed gig in Winnipeg. Hailing from England, Ash started his on-air career as a swing announcer at Fox FM (CFGW-FM) Yorkton, SK in 2016. He’s since held roles with Z99 (CIZL-FM) Regina and Mix 103.7 (CFVR-FM) Fort McMurray.

Ryan Sullivan has joined Surge 105 (CKHY-FM) Halifax as the third member of the station’s morning show, alongside Jeff Brown and Amy Chabot. Sullivan was most recently with Rogers Sports & Media in Vancouver as National Digital Producer for the JACK FM brand. He’s also done work with Daily Hive, the Canadian Football League (CFL), and was one of the infamous “Green Men” appearing at Vancouver Canucks’ games and inducted into the ESPN Hall of Fans.

Espe Currie is rejoining Rogers Sports & Media as CityNews Vancouver’s Supervising Producer. Currie was formerly an associate producer with CityNews Toronto and a web editor and reporter with News 1130 (CKWX-AM), prior to joining CTV News Vancouver as an associate producer in Jan. 2020.

Claire Hanna has revealed she’s joining TSN’s Ottawa bureau. Hanna, who left CTV Regina last month after three years with the station as a sports reporter and video journalist, has previously worked as a sideline reporter for CFL on TSN.

Rob Fai has announced he’s taking a break from his The Nation podcast to focus on NEW Wrestling. Fai, who was part of layoffs at TSN 1040 (CKST-AM) Vancouver in February, has also been hosting SportsBar Radio.

Scott Brown is the new Sports Editor at The Canadian Press. He’ll continue to be based in Vancouver where he leaves the Vancouver Sun & Province after 13 years. Brown started with the papers in 2008 as Sports Editor, before moving into the role of Editor, in charge of the online news team.

Thomas Drance, Senior Vancouver Canucks writer at The Athletic, is joining Sportsnet 650 (CISL-AM) Vancouver’s lineup. The Canucks Hour with Jamie Dodd and Drance will air weekdays, 11 a.m. – noon, starting Oct 18. Drance, who prior to joining The Athletic was VP of Communications for the Florida Panthers, was previously a Sportsnet columnist in 2015-16.

Ina Sidhu has been hired as the 11 p.m. anchor and digital journalist with Global News Calgary. Most recently, Sidhu has been working as a VJ/Anchor for CTV Calgary. She’s also worked as the weekend anchor/reporter at CTV Winnipeg, anchored at CHAT TV Medicine Hat, and worked as an anchor/reporter for 660 News (CFFR-AM) Calgary. Her first day with Global Calgary will be Nov. 1.

Jamie Jensen is leaving her Communications role with Corus Entertainment to join DNEG as a Marketing and Communication Specialist ahead of the VFX and digital animation studio’s forthcoming Toronto expansion. Jensen has been with Corus for the last three years, most of that time focused on Corus Radio and Global News in Western Canada. She previously held a similar role with Blue Ant Media.

Ewald Friesen has joined Golden West Broadcasting as the company’s podcast lead. A former speech writer for both late NDP leader Jack Layton and former Manitoba Premier Gary Doer, Friesen has most recently been producing content under the banner of his own Manitoba-based company, Nonfiction Communications.

Erin Shaw has joined TELUS Storyhive as Production Manager, based in Vancouver. Shaw previously had a career in media as a producer for Global and Shaw TV in Vancouver, among other stops, prior to a five-year stint in Communications with the University of British Columbia (UBC).

Andrew Smith has been promoted at PromoSuite into the newly-created position of Director, Product Integrity where he’ll serve as the liaison between sales, client services and the product development teams. Additionally, Michael Englebrecht has been elevated to the position of Director, Client Services & Business Process Automation where he’ll lead the Client Service team while focusing his efforts on streamlining onboarding, training, and support. Smith joined PromoSuite in 2013 serving as Operations Coordinator before being promoted to Director, Client Services. Englebrecht had a long career with Emmis, starting as an intern at WKQX-FM Chicago before transitioning to Emmis Interactive and NextRadio (TagStation) where he served as the Director of Product Engagement.