André Provencher, 76, on Jan. 1, of pancreatic cancer. A veteran media manager, Provencher’s experience spanned television, publishing, radio and digital media across companies including TVA, Quebecor Media, Télé-Québec, Cogeco and Gesca Ltée. During his tenure as Executive Vice President of Programming at TVA Group from 1995-99, TVA network market share rose from 32 to 41%, which Provencher counted as one of the strongest achievements of his working life. In 1999, he served as the first president of TVA International, which specialized in TV movie production and distribution. Provencher turned to publishing in 2001, serving as president and publisher at Le Nouvelliste in Trois-Rivières from 2001-02 and at Gesca’s Le Soleil in Quebec City from 2004-07, leading the digital transformation of both dailies. As a producer, he founded Gesca’s La Presse Télé in 2002 and oversaw the creation of multiple hit TV series, including “Les Parent,” which aired in more than 20 countries. From 2011-13, he oversaw implementation of the Fonds Capital Culture Québec as President and General Manager, going on to serve as VP of Creation and International Development for Quebecor Content from 2013-16. Since 2016, he’d been working as a consultant for the media and creative industries, in addition to serving as a member of NFB’s board of trustees for seven years.
Mandy Wood, 45, on Dec. 25, after a year-long battle with vulvar cancer. Wood studied at Dalhousie University in Halifax for a year before entering the Radio and Television Arts (RTA) program at NSCC Kingstec in Kentville, NS. Before her graduation, she was hired by what is now Cat Country 99.5 (CKTY-FM) Truro where she spent the entirety of her 24-year radio career, best known for her time as morning show co-host, alongside Rod DeViller for 17 years. Diagnosed with stage 3 vulvar cancer in December 2024, Wood spent much of 2025 advocating for women’s health.
Michelle Jones, 72, on Dec. 22. Jones’ broadcast career spanned both radio and television, starting at CBC Yellowknife, followed by CFGP-FM Grande Prairie, CKRD-FM Red Deer, CKXL-AM Calgary, and ultimately CTV Edmonton. Jones established herself as a respected CFRN reporter, working across general assignment, in addition to covering courts and the health beat.
Lawrence “Larry” Bennett, 71, on Dec. 16, at Western Memorial Regional Hospital. From a young age, Bennett dreamt of working in radio while growing up in St. George’s, NL. That dream became a reality at CFSX Radio Stephenville where he hosted the morning show for 42 years. He went on to host the weekly “Gold Rush” program on Corner Brook community station, BayFM (CKVB-FM).
Pierre Trudel, 82, on Dec. 12, after battling Parkinson’s. A familiar voice to Montreal sports fans, starting in 1979, Trudel spent nearly three decades at CKAC. He went on to host call-in show “Parlons Sports” on CJMS, alongside Ron Fournier and former NHL’er Mario Tremblay in the late 1980s. He also contributed regularly to Mario Langlois’ “Les Amateurs de sports” on 98.5 (CHMP-FM). Trudel wrapped up his radio career in 2015 as a columnist at Montreal’s Radio 9 (CKLX-FM), now part of the BPM Sports network.
Bruce Bowie, 72, on Nov. 20. Bowie grew up on a cattle ranch in the hamlet of Piapot, SK, starting his radio career in 1972 at CKSA Lloydminster. Opportunities in Lethbridge and CHAB Moose Jaw followed, before Bowie arrived at CHED Edmonton in 1974. He would host the station’s morning show for 12 years before leaving in 1986 for oldies startup KING FM (CKNG-FM) Edmonton in 1986. A two-year stint at CISS-FM Calgary followed, before Bowie returned to Edmonton and CISN Country (CISN-FM). He remained at the helm of the CISN morning show for 21 years before returning to CHED in 2010 to replace the retiring Gord Whitehead in mornings, up until his retirement in August 2019 after 47 years in broadcasting. Among the awards he received over the years are the 2017 Goodwill Greatness Award, 2010 Canadian Country Music Award for Morning Show of the Year and the 2004 Strathcona Award for Volunteer of the Year. He was honoured in 2016 with a Community Enrichment Award for his work on the Salvation Army Advisory Board, which he sat on for more than a decade.
