Originally published in the Sept. 17, 2026 edition of The Weekly Briefing
Todd Crocker has been named the Toronto Maple Leafs new radio play-by-play host for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Crocker steps into the role following the retirement of Joe Bowen, who called Leafs games for 44 seasons before stepping down at the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign. Crocker will join veteran colour commentator Jim Ralph, who returns for his 29th season. The promotion of the longtime Toronto Marlies broadcaster triggers a shift in the Marlies’ booth. David Bowen (Joe’s son) will take over primary play-by-play duties for the AHL affiliate for the majority of games this season, with Ben Shulman and Matt Cullen splitting responsibilities for the remainder. Read more here.
The Grand Slam of Curling (GSOC) has unveiled its broadcast team for the coming season. The 2026 GSOC broadcast team includes both new and returning voices, with a combined 56 Grand Slam titles between them: Brad Gushue makes his debut as a full-time analyst this season following his retirement from competitive curling, as does Brent Laing after providing streaming commentary the last two seasons on Rock Channel. Darren Dupont will also make his GSOC debut as a host and play-by-play commentator. The panel is rounded out by Joanne Courtney, Jennifer Jones, and John Cullen. Read more here.
Coleen Christie is joining Global National as the network’s new National Weekend Anchor. The new face of the broadcast Friday through Sunday, Christie has been with Global News’ B.C. bureau since 2017, including anchoring Global News at Noon, Global Okanagan News at 5:30, and the BC1 news channel. Prior to that, she had been an anchor and reporter at CTV Vancouver since 1997. Read more here.
Mercedes Stephenson has announced that she’s now Ottawa Bureau Chief at The Globe and Mail, exiting Global News after a more than an eight-year run in the same position. Stephenson, who also served as the host of flagship political show, The West Block, will be succeeded by David Akin, who had been filling in for the veteran political reporter on an interim basis while she’s been off on maternity leave for the past year. Read more here.
Acadia Broadcasting has hired Jeff Irwin as Regional Manager & Digital Media Strategist for New Brunswick, appointed Jessica DeMello as Director of News & Community Content, and promoted longtime team member John Ongaro to Director of Programming. Irwin joins Acadia following nearly two decades with Blackburn Media, where he most recently served as Operations & Sales Manager. DeMello brings a background that includes previous roles at CPAC, CBC, CTV and The Globe and Mail, where she was most recently Deputy Head of Programming & Audience. Ongaro steps into the Director of Programming role after more than 15 years with the company, most recently leading operations in Thunder Bay and supporting multi-market programming, Read more here.
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Rhianne Campbell has stepped onto the 11 p.m. anchor desk at CityNews Tonight in Toronto as Melissa Nakhavoly pursues a new project. Campbell has been a reporter with the station for the past five years.
Mike Gazzola has joined Global Calgary as a Digital Journalist. Gazzola was previously an anchor, producer and reporter with 660 NewsRadio (CFFR-AM) Calgary for the last five years, up until the station’s closure in July.
James Lewis has joined CBC as an Executive Producer, Live & Daily News. Lewis arrives from CTV Toronto, where he’s most recently held the title of Executive Producer, CTV News Toronto & CP24. He’d been with CTV since 2017.
Mitch Cormier has made the move to afternoons as the host of Mainstreet P.E.I., after years hosting Island Morning. Cormier first joined the Island Morning team in 2006 as a news editor, before taking over as host in 2009. He’s worked with CBC since 1997.
Sharon Taylor is now in the role of General Manager at JAZZ.FM91 (CJRT-FM) Toronto on a permanent basis as Dana Wigle’s medical leave becomes indefinite. Taylor, a former Rawlco Radio, Standard Broadcasting and Astral Media exec, assumed the role on an interim basis earlier this summer.
Sportsnet. Toronto.
A new chapter awaits. And a childhood dream comes true.
I’m unbelievably excited & grateful to be joining this incredible team as an Anchor on Sportsnet Central.
The last eight years shaped me in ways I could’ve never imagined. Now, I look forward to… pic.twitter.com/c4osPo3Xq5
— Tony Brar (@TonyBrarSN) September 16, 2026
Tony Brar, who recently announced his departure from the Edmonton Oilers, where he’d been a reporter, host and producer since 2018, has signed on with Sportsnet in Toronto. Brar will join Sportsnet Central as an anchor.
Chris VanTassel, formerly Program Director for Bell Media Truro, NS, can now be heard on 107.9 GO Rock (CFLB-FM) Lunenburg handling middays. In addition to his on-air contribution, he’ll be advising Novacast Media on its planned Truro operation, pending approval of its current licence application by the CRTC.
Megan Edwards is now being heard on GO Rock (CFLB-FM) Lunenburg every Saturday. Based in Nova Scotia, Edwards has radio and TV experience on both coasts, including stints at 94.5 Virgin Radio (CFBT-FM) Vancouver and the former Z103.5 (CKHZ-FM) Halifax.
Mike Letourneau has added Quinte Broadcasting to his broadcast technology consulting practice, serving as Broadcast Technology Consultant to the Belleville broadcaster. Letourneau is also continuing his consulting work with Torres Media, where he has led IT and broadcast technology strategy, project management and operations across the company’s radio properties since 2025. His broadcast technology career has included senior roles with Corus Entertainment, BroadView Software, and Astral Media/Bell Media.
Kate Evans has left CBC to join the Samara Centre for Democracy as Director of Content and Media Relations. Evans had been with the public broadcaster for 11 years, the last seven as Senior Producer, Podcasts.
Elizabeth Amos has moved into the role of Chief Content Officer at Lower Street, the branded podcast venture’s first CCO. Amos has been with Lower Street since 2021, starting as a podcast producer. She’d served as Production Manager the last four years.
Michael Kronish has been appointed President, Productions, at Cineflix. Working closely with Chief Commercial Officer, Content, Piers Vellacott, he’ll oversee production operations, with a focus on developing and delivering premium content for Canadian and U.S. broadcasters, streamers, and platforms. He arrives from his current position as President of C3 Media, which has a longstanding partnership with Cineflix Media. Kronish and C3 Media founder Pablo Salzman will both continue to serve as executive producers on key C3 projects in development and in production, with Cineflix producing some of the shows.
John Melville will be leaving AMI (Accessible Media Inc.) at the end of the year. The Vice President of Content Development and Operations, Melville is credited with helping evolve the organization into an award-winning content creator, with projects greenlit during his tenure including Underdog Inc., Crip Trip, Para Sport Nation, Pretty Blind and Adapting. Prior to joining AMI in 2011, Melville worked for the Blue Jays Radio network, Headline Media Group and XM Satellite Radio Canada.
Jenn Taylor has stepped into an expanded role at WildBrain as Director, Global Franchise Marketing. Taylor has held numerous marketing roles with the company since 2011, most recently as Director, Digital Marketing.
Juggy Sihota has been named Chair of the Board of Directors of the TELUS Fund. Sihota succeeds Jack Shute who will remain on the board as a Director. A founding executive of TELUS Health, Sihota also chairs the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, stewarding its $120 million endowment, supporting more than 500 charities annually. She is also Vice Chair of the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF). Canadian producers with health and well-being focused projects are encouraged to submit applications at telusfund.ca before Sept. 25.
Prem Gill, former CEO of Creative BC, has joined the Cultural Policy Hub at OCAD University as a Policy Fellow, Creative Industries. Her visiting fellowship term runs through May 31, 2027.
