Tara Woodbury has joined Netflix as the streamer’s inaugural Canadian content executive. Woodbury, who joins Netflix Canada as Manager, Canada Series, formerly oversaw domestic and international development at Sphere Media. In the new role, she’ll support the development and commissioning of scripted series in English and French for Netflix in Canada. She’ll also maintain relationships with writers, directors and producers and identify up and coming Canadian talent. Woodbury, who had been with Sphere Media for the last five years, has also served as Executive Producer of medical drama Transplant and produced sci-fi thriller feature Night Raiders by Danis Goulet. Read more here.
Michel Boyer, Ottawa-based National Reporter for CTV News, has announced his departure from the network and journalism. Boyer started his reporting career in 2010 as an intern with CTV Montreal, going on to work as an anchor and reporter with the station before heading west to Edmonton to join Global News in late 2014. He’s been with CTV Ottawa since 2016.
Some Monday morning news from me. I’ve decided to leave journalism. #cdnpoli #cdnmedia pic.twitter.com/Q2TEj5VDCv
— Michel Boyer (@BoyerMichel) November 1, 2021
David Drake has joined Corus Radio Winnipeg as a Program Manager for Peggy 99.1 (CFPG-FM) and Power 97 (CJKR-FM). Drake was formerly Program Director and Music Director for Pattison Media’s 94.3 The Drive (CHIQ-FM) for the last five years, prior to its rebrand as 94.3 NOW! Radio last month. He previously did a brief stint with Corus as afternoon drive host and music director for 99.1 Fresh Radio.
Sara Hyde has been promoted to Executive Producer at 980 CKNW Vancouver. Prior to joining Corus, Hyde was a longtime freelance producer for CBC Vancouver. She’s also held on-air roles with 103.5 The Bridge (CHNV-FM) Nelson and Q101 (CKMQ-FM) Merritt, BC.
Jessica Dionne DiMonte is moving on from CHOM FM Montreal where she’s been the station’s promotions manager for the last seven years. DiMonte, wife of recently-retired CHOM morning man Terry DiMonte, is also co-host of The Concert Goers podcast.
Taya Fast has joined Global Okanagan as a videojournalist for the Penticton bureau. Fast, a 2020 BCIT Broadcast Journalism grad, was previously a videojournalist and anchor at CKPG-TV Prince George.
Damhnait Doyle is now the full-time weekend host for CBC Mornings on CBC Music. The Newfoundland & Labrador born and raised singer/songwriter has been guest hosting Weekend Mornings for the last two years.
Daniel Vnukowski is the new host of The Classical Jukebox on The New Classical FM (CFMZ-FM) Toronto. The Canadian pianist will be on-air weekdays from 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. ET. In addition to taking listener requests, he’ll be sharing his own selections, thoughts, and stories based on his career as a classical musician. Vnukowski is a founder of the Piano Six – New Generation program which organizes world-class recitals for kids in remote communities and also the founder and artistic director of the Collingwood Summer Music Festival.
Niki Little, former Artistic Director at imagineNATIVE, is joining the NFB’s North West Studio as a Producer, based out of the Winnipeg office. Little is an artist, curator and arts administrator, and along with Jaimie Isaac and Jenny Western, was a founding member of The Ephemerals, who were long-listed twice for the Sobey Art Award. Of Oji-Cree/British descent from Garden Hill First Nation, prior to working with imagineNATIVE, Little was the Director of the National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition (NIMAC).
Tim Stevenson has been appointed Visual Effects Supervisor at Montreal’s MELS Studios. A 25-year VFX and animation industry veteran, Stevenson has held previous roles at Mokko Studio and Framestore with his filmography including work on Avatar, Jurassic Park (II and III), Happy Feet, and more recently Netflix series Cursed and HBO’s The Nevers. He’s also lectured in animation at Dawson College.
Régine Laurent has been appointed to the TVA Group Board of Directors. Laurent is the past chair of the Laurent Commission on Quebec youth protection, past president of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ) and a retired nurse. After two terms as head of Québec’s largest health care union, Laurent joined the television program La Joute in 2018, broadcast on TVA and LCN, as a commentator. She resumed that role in September 2021 as part of the TVA Nouvelles team.
Kevin Beggs, Television Group Chair of global content leader Lionsgate, has been elected Chair of the Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) Board of Directors. He succeeds Randy Lennox who served in the role for three years. A 23-year veteran of Lionsgate and a member of its corporate senior management team, Beggs has spearheaded the strategic expansion of the company’s television production operations. He also shepherded eight seasons of Mad Men, seven seasons of Orange is the New Black, eight seasons of Weeds, and six seasons of Dead Zone.
Bryson Masse is the new Regulatory and Communications Advisor at Competitive Network Operators of Canada (CNOC). Masse was previously a Regulatory Analyst at TekSavvy Solutions and has also worked as a reporter at The Wire Report.
Chris Burke has been appointed Vice President, Digital and Analytics, at Cogeco Connexion. Burke most recently served as VP, Digital Technology at Manulife’s Global Wealth and Asset Management. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Digital Solutions and Sales Enablement at RBC, responsible for the evolution of global client and employee digital experiences across web, mobile, and social media.
