REVOLVING DOOR:
Corus Entertainment has announced changes to its leadership team that see Co-CEO Troy Reeb depart the company after more than 25 years. Starting with Global News as a reporter, Reeb has taken on successively expanded roles, assuming the network’s top news job in 2008. He was named Executive Vice President, Networks and Content in late 2023, before moving into the CO-CEO role alongside John Gossling one year ago. Gossling now officially moves into the role of CEO and will continue to act as Chief Financial Officer on an interim basis. Among other changes, Jennifer Abrams expands her mandate as she takes on the title of Senior Vice President, Content and Marketing. Read more here.
Heather Hiscox has announced she’ll retire this fall after 20 seasons at the helm of the CBC News’ national morning show. Hiscox will mark her 20th anniversary with CBC Morning Live on Nov. 6, with her final hosting appearance to take place in front of a live audience at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto. Hiscox, 59, began her broadcasting career in 1982 at CFOS/CFPS in her hometown of Owen Sound, a year after winning the title of Miss Teen Canada. She has worked for CFPL-TV London, Global TV, the Atlantic Satellite Network (ASN), CHCH Hamilton, and 1290 CJBK London. Read more here.
Will Aiello has been announced as the new co-anchor on Ottawa’s CTV Morning Live, beginning Monday, June 16. Aiello, who most recently delivered the weekday weather forecasts for CTV News Kitchener, joins co-anchors Rosey Edeh and Melissa Lamb, weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET. The move marks Aiello’s return to his hometown, where he started his career behind-the-scenes in promotions. Read more here.
This morning was my last segment as a medical contributor for @globalbc. Have appreciated the opportunity over the last 3 or so years to help educate & advocate.
Thankful to all who encouraged me to do take this on, and voiced their appreciation to me personally. pic.twitter.com/DI3AvIrvVl
— Dr. Birinder Narang MBBS CCFP (@BirinderNarang) May 31, 2025
Dr. Birinder Narang’s last segment for Global BC as a medical contributor aired on May 31. The Burnaby-based family physician had been a contributor for the last three years. Narang succeeded Dr. Art Hister, who retired in 2022 after three decades as a “media doctor.”
#personalnews: You might notice a Toronto location tag when I’m on TV starting next week. I’m staying in the same job at CNN, so this post is boring even by the standards of these posts, but I wanted to tell you I moved back to my hometown yesterday to live near family.
Longer…
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) June 1, 2025
Daniel Dale has announced he’s returning to Toronto, while retaining his role with CNN. Dale has been a reporter with CNN’s Washington bureau since 2019. Prior to that, he was with the Toronto Star for a decade, moving into the role of Washington correspondent in 2015.
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Andie Bennett has announced she’s departing Melnick in the Afternoon on TSN 690 (CKGM-AM) Montreal. Bennett, who is a single mom to a son with autism, cited the need to spend more time closer to home. Bennett has worked with TSN 690 and its CHUM-owned predecessor The Team 990 for the last two decades.
Kerry Martin has a new position as Editorial Lead, Canada at Spotify. Martin arrives from Amazon, where he’s been a Senior Music Curator, based in Toronto, for the last four and a half years. Prior to that, the former CBC Radio producer was the Canadian Music Editor at Google Play Music and YouTube Music Canada.
Darren Battersby has resigned as Chief Financial Officer of Vancouver-based Network Media Group. Battersby was appointed Network’s CFO in October 2014 and had been consulting for the company since 2010. Network says it’s actively reviewing candidates for the position.
John Sardelis has joined the BBC as Head of Sales, Podcasts for North America. Sardelis leaves New York-based podcast insights company, Barometer, where he had been Chief Revenue Officer since 2023.
Victoria Ahearn has joined Rogers Communications as Senior Manager, Media Relations. Ahearn, who is best known for her work with The Canadian Press (CP), where she covered arts and entertainment for more than 15 years, was most recently handling corporate communications for Tim Hortons parent company, Restaurant Brands International (RBI).
Taylor Braat has joined Calgary social profit agency, Carya, as Content and Engagement Coordinator. Braat departed CBC Calgary in April where she’d been a reporter and videojournalist for the past two years. Prior to that, she was a VJ and producer with CityNews in the market.
Gina Lorentz has announced her retirement from Fanshawe College, effective Sept. 1., where she’s been a Multimedia Journalism professor for the past 13 years. Prior to that, she spent more than 25 years in broadcast news and programming, including stops at CTV Kitchener, 570 News (CKGL-AM) Kitchener, CHML Hamilton, and 101.7 The One (CKNX-FM) Wingham, among other stations.
RADIO & PODCAST:
Golden West Broadcasting, Pattison Media, Bell Media, Corus Entertainment, Evanov Communications, and Native Communications Inc. are rallying around wildfire evacuees, coming together for a province-wide Radiothon this Thursday, June 5 in support of the Canadian Red Cross 2025 Manitoba Wildfires Appeal. The Manitoba Day Of Caring For Wildfire Evacuees is modelled after a similar effort undertaken last summer in Alberta, following wildfires that devastated the community of Jasper. It went on to raise more than $2.9 million. Read more here.
Numeris’ spring PPM release completes the 13-week period from Feb. 24 to May 25, 2025. With this book, radio retains an average weekly reach of 81% for Canadians A12+. In home represents 50% of tuning. Check out David Bray’s breakdown for Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal here.
Numeris’ spring diary release covers the period from April 29, 2024 to April 27, 2025. Most markets borrowed sample from previous releases. AM/FM radio reached 81% of Canadians 25-54 in diary markets. This spring, 38% of Adult 25-54 listening occurred in their vehicles, while 33% of listening was done in the home. Find David Bray’s breakdown of the top performers in Ottawa-Gatineau, Quebec City, Victoria, Halifax, and Winnipeg here.
The Western Association of Broadcasters (WAB) 89th Conference wrapped up Thursday evening in Banff with its Gold Medal Awards Gala, recognizing former Clear Sky Radio President Paul Larsen with its Broadcast Hall of Fame Award. Pattison Media’s Edmonton stations, 102.3 NOW! Radio (CKNO-FM) and UP! 99.3 (CIUP-FM) won the Gold Medal for Community Service (Market 150,000+) for spearheading the Alberta Day of Caring for Jasper initiative. In the under 150,000 market category, Harvard Media’s GX94 (CJGX-AM) Yorkton claimed the Community Service honour for its Save the Terriers ticket blitz campaign, in support of the local Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) team. The Gold Medal for Digital Innovation was presented to Golden West Broadcasting for its Local Digital Sponsorship Solutions initiative. Read more here. More WAB coverage to come.
The Pat Grierson Radio SalesPerson of the Year Award is now open for nominations. Sponsored by Slaight Music, the winner receives a $5,000 prize, presented at an industry reception. The honour recognizes a Canadian radio sales professional for top notch performance, including embracing new technologies and innovation, and leading by example. Submissions can be sent to patgaward@localradio.ca until July 18.
TELUS Storyhive has launched the First Frame video podcast, spotlighting new and emerging Canadian and Indigenous content creators. Streaming on YouTube and TELUS Optik TV, the podcast is hosted by Cameron Zinger, TELUS Local Content Director, and Jennifer Park, Manager, TELUS Storyhive & Community Content.
Gill Deacon, the former host of CBC Radio Toronto afternoon talk show, Here and Now, has released her new podcast, A Love Affair with the Unknown, in line with her Substack newsletter and forthcoming book of the same name. Among her guests so far are comedian Mary Walsh, author Ian Brown, and former federal cabinet minister Lisa Raitt. Episodes drop weekly, every Tuesday. Check out Deacon’s appearance on Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast earlier this year here.
Sonar Network’s StanLand, a satirical fantasy audio series starring Saturday Night Live comedian Bobby Moynihan, will be featured at Just For Laughs Montreal on July 26 with a live script read. The podcast follows a cynical podcaster (Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Sault) and a delusional everyman (Moynihan), as they’re thrust into a dying fantasy realm overrun by corporate greed. John Waters and Jon Hamm are among those lending their voices to the project.
Pod the North is organizing a series of summer picnics to bring together the Canadian podcasting community. At the June 22 event in Hamilton, podcasters Jessica Hart and Dawn Marie Walton (Opinionated Lushes) will join Pod the North Editor Kattie Laur for an open forum discussion on what indie podcasters need to thrive in Canada. Learn more here.
LISTEN: What is a podcast in 2025? The Sound Off Podcast called in Rob Greenlee, Podcast Hall of Fame inductee and founder of the Adore Podcast Network & Creator Community, to provide insights into the evolving landscape of podcasting, focusing on the rise of video podcasting. He discusses how platforms like YouTube and Spotify are reshaping the industry, challenging traditional RSS-based distribution. He and Matt Cundill also talk metrics, monetization, and content creation for new podcasters.
SIGN OFFS:
Ann Camilleri, 67, on May 22. Camilleri graduated from the Ryerson University Radio & Television Arts program in 1980, starting her career as a production assistant at CBC before becoming an Assistant Director. She went on to a 45-year career working on productions from awards shows to figure skating specials and unscripted series. Camilleri contributed to numerous productions for Proper Television and Insight Productions, including serving as a producer on all 11 seasons of Amazing Race Canada. Other credits include Top Chef Canada, MasterChef Canada, Iron Chef, and multiple Canada’s New Year’s Eve specials.
TV & FILM:
Pattison Media has announced that CHAT-TV in Medicine Hat, AB is closing its doors after 68 years of serving the community. In an announcement Tuesday morning, Pattison Media President Rod Schween said despite exploring avenues to sustain operations, shrinking support for local TV and ongoing losses make it impossible to continue TV operations in Medicine Hat. The station closure means the loss of 16 jobs, which he called “the most difficult aspect of this decision.” Read more here.
The 2025 Canadian Screen Awards, celebrating the best in Canadian film, television, and digital media, saw Canada’s Drag Race lead both television and overall honours with eight, including Best Reality/Competition Program or Series. Wynonna Earp: Vengeance picked up seven honours, including Best TV Movie. Documentary series The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal took home seven awards. In film, Universal Language went home with six awards, including Achievement in Direction for Matthew Rankin. At the News, Entertainment, and Sports Awards, This Hour Has 22 Minutes picked up five awards, including Best Sketch Comedy Program or Series. TSN’s 2024 COPA America coverage earned three, including Best Sports Program or Series and Best Sports Host for James Duthie. Global BC picked up two awards – Best Local Newscast and Best News Anchor, Local for Chris Gailus and Sophie Lui, while Jeff Semple of Global National won Best National Reporter. Read more here.
Canadian Cinema Editors (CCE) has handed out its 15th annual awards, recognizing excellence in editing. Find the full list of winners and nominees here.
Screen Nova Scotia hosted its 11th annual awards gala on May 31 at the Halifax Convention Centre in front of a sold-out crowd of 600 industry members and supporters. The award for Best Feature Film went to Sharp Corner from writer/director Jason Buxton and producers Marc Tetreault and Jason Levangie (Shut Up & Colour Pictures) and Paul Barkin (Alcina Pictures). The first season of Crave comedy The Trades was crowned the winner of Best Scripted Television Series category. Produced by Trailer Park Boys and Kontent House, the series also proved to be a showcase for local talent, with Gil Anderson winning an ACTRA Maritimes Award for Outstanding Performances, and Robb Wells, Susan Kent, and Jason Daley winning the ACTRA Maritimes Award for Series Ensemble.
Stephan James and Phil Rosenthal will receive BANFF Rockie honours on June 9. James will receive the Canadian Award of Distinction, presented by the Canada Media Fund (CMF/FMC) and MadeNous, given to a Canadian whose body of work exemplifies outstanding achievement in the entertainment industry. Rosenthal will be presented the Award of Excellence, acknowledging “exceptional achievement through a body of work over an extended period of time.”
Hollywood Suite has launched a refreshed channel lineup, alongside a new logo and visual identity for the group of specialty channels. To accommodate a growing lineup of film content, the revamped channels are now branded as: Hollywood Suite 70s+ Movies – a showcase of the far-out films of the ’70s, plus Golden Age classics that shaped modern culture; Hollywood Suite 80s & 90s Movies – the best of two iconic decades on one channel; Hollywood Suite 2000s Movies – the best modern classics from the dawn of the new millennium; and Hollywood Suite 2010+s Movies – the home of the latest and greatest selections from Canada, Hollywood, and around the world. Read more here.
Private Eyes West Coast goes to camera this week as Global, Lionsgate Canada, and Shawn Piller & Lloyd Segan kick off production on Vancouver Island. The new 10-episode spinoff sees Canadian stars Jason Priestley and Cindy Sampson return as private investigators Matt Shade and Angie Everett, now navigating a fresh set of mysteries in their new West Coast home. Picking up after the events of the original hit series, which ran for five seasons on Global from 2016-21, the series has been licensed in over 180 territories worldwide.
Big Time Decent Productions has announced greenlights for a slate of scripted and unscripted content for AMI. Marking the Vancouver prodco’s first scripted series, Adapting (6×30) is a bold new dramedy about navigating high school love while living with cerebral palsy. Underdog Inc. (8×60), a docuseries that follows Dale Kristensen (Backroad Truckers), a little person navigating life in a small mountain town in the B.C. interior, has been renewed for a second season. Bread & Better Films, Big Time Decent’s scripted division, will begin production in winter 2025 throughout the Lower Mainland. Season 2 of Underdog Inc. will be in production throughout the interior of B.C. this summer. Season 1 will premiere Friday, July 11 on AMI-tv and AMI+.
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) will open with the World Premiere of John Candy: I Like Me on Thursday, Sept. 4. Directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds, TIFF describes the documentary as “a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Canadian icon, with stories and memories from Candy’s family, closest friends, and longtime collaborators.” The Amazon MGM title is set to debut on Prime Video on Oct. 10 worldwide. Read more here.
Animation Career Excelerator (ACE CANADA) has announced the formation of its first Board of Directors and the official launch of the new not-for-profit Animation Career Excelerator Society, dedicated to advancing the careers of women and non-binary professionals in the animation industry. Chairing the board is independent producer and founder of the ACE Program, Rose-Ann Tisserand. Read more here.
ONLINE & DIGITAL MEDIA:
Unifor, the Union Cooperative Initiative and four community reporters have joined forces to launch the Save Our Local News campaign, aiming to create a fresh, trusted and reliable news publication in the growing communities of New Westminster, the Tri-Cities and Burnaby. The move is in response to the Feburary closures of the New Westminster Record, Burnaby Now and Tri-City News by Glacier Media. Unifor says that’s sparked interest in developing a new worker-led and community driven model for local news — one that puts communities over profits. Those involved include Cornelia Naylor, Burnaby Now; Mario Bartel, Tri-City News; Janis Cleugh, Tri-City News; and Theresa McManus, New Westminster Record.
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Ontario Creates (OC) have announced 14 projects selected to receive a total of $278K in development funding. Allocated through the 2024-25 edition of the Ontario Creates-CMF IDM Futures Forward Program, the program funds early-stage, interactive digital media (IDM) development projects from emerging Ontario companies owned by individuals from Indigenous and Equity-Deserving Communities, and those who completed Ontario Creates’ Futures Forward training program. Successful applicants can secure up to $20,000 for video games, short-form web series, mobile content, E-learning content, XR experiences, or digital publishing projects.
REGULATORY, TELECOM & MEDIA:
The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) capped off its 2025 national conference in Calgary this past weekend by presenting this year’s CAJ Awards. Both Gold and Silver winners were named this year for the first time, chosen from a record 540 entries across 18 categories. Radio-Canada Info, La Presse, The Globe and Mail, and the Investigative Journalism Bureau led wins with three apiece. Find the full list of winners here.
The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) has announced the winners of this year’s Media Awards competition. Winners include Richard Coffin
106.3 Jet FM and Country 90.5 FM North Bay, for Radio – Best News Report; Colton Praill of CTV National News claimed the Television – Best News Report honour, while Brit Weaver and Jeyan Jeganathan of TVO captured the Television – Best in-depth report or series. Awards will be handed out at a virtual awards ceremony on Thursday, June 5 at noon ET. Register online to join.
TELUS is investing more than $15 billion over five years to expand and enhance its network infrastructure and operations across BC. The telco says it will deploy targeted enhancements to its 5G and LTE services at 228 sites province-wide this year. Among other initiatives, it’s establishing a Sovereign AI Factory in Kamloops, one of two in Canada providing Canadian businesses and researchers with access to cutting-edge technology.
Ericsson has launched its Ottawa-developed Indoor Fusion 8828 5G solution. The compact 5G indoor solution combines radio and baseband functionalities into one unit to provide enhanced wireless coverage for consumers. The plug-and-play 5G solution is aimed at businesses in small and medium-sized buildings, like coffee shops, chain stores, movie theatres, and restaurants. Bell will be a global pioneer in implementing Ericsson’s Indoor 5G solutions.
Bell Canada and National Indigenous Connectivity Inc. (NICI) have announced a new Reconciliation Agreement with the shared goal to advance connectivity in rural and remote First Nations communities. NICI is a 100% Indigenous-owned tech company that advocates for wireless spectrum access and high-speed Internet for all First Nations. In response to the 2024 Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and Indigenous Services Canada report, Closing the Infrastructure Gap, Bell and NICI will work together to expand infrastructure and service delivery in underserved First Nations communities by 2030.
BROADCAST TECH & ENGINEERING:
Humber Polytechnic Broadcast-Broadband Convergence B²C Lab is hosting a one-day informational symposium Friday, June 6 to present emerging emergency communications technologies using the ATSC 3.0 broadcast communications system. Those interested are asked to register asap, as the event is nearly at capacity. Participants will also learn more about Humber’s partnership with the City of Calgary in experimentally deploying broadcast applications to deliver municipal services.
