REVOLVING DOOR:
Rogers Sports & Media has made staff cuts at its radio and television properties, that include the cancellation of Breakfast Television in Calgary and Vancouver, as well as the JACK 96.9 (CJAX-FM) Vancouver morning show. Mary Cranston, Thor Diakow, Greg Harper, John Streit, and Christian Adler are among the Citytv staff released, along with News 1130 (CKWX-AM) meteorologist Russ Lacate, senior managing editor Bruce Claggett, longtime afternoon news anchor Jim Bennie, weekend anchor/producer Toby Kerr, and web editor/reporter Mike Hall. As part of newsroom restructuring, morning co-anchor John Ackermann also moves to afternoons. On the FM side, Jeff Brown, Charis Hogg and Paul Brown, who had been teamed together on the JACK 96.9 morning show since Aug. 2018, have also been released. News 95.7 (CJNI-FM) Halifax morning editor Steve MacArthur, anchors Skye Bryden-Blom and Steve Gow, talk show hosts Sheldon MacLeod and Todd Veinotte, and morning reporter David Heintzman were also pink-slipped, among what’s believed to be a total of 100 layoffs. Read more here.
JC Douglas and Melody Rose have been released from the C100 (CIOO-FM) Halifax morning show as part of what Bell Media says are “programming changes.” Douglas has been a staple in the market for 30 years and was formerly the long-serving program director at Stingray’s Q104 (CFRQ-FM). He’d been with C100 since 2015, while Rose joined the morning show in late 2016. The show’s third co-host, Peter Harrison, remains with the station. iHeartRadio’s CJ104 (CJCJ-FM) Woodstock, NB has also laid off morning personality Ed Shaw. He’d been with the station since 2018 and hosting the show solo since February of this year.
Kevin Desjardins is the new president of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB). Dejardins previously worked with the CAB from 2005-07 in communications, member services, and public affairs. For the last eight years, he’s been the Director of Public Affairs for the Canadian Dental Association. Desjardins is the organization’s first president since Glenn O’Farrell’s resignation in Dec. 2008, which was followed by a decision to restructure and downsize the association. His appointment comes as Sylvie Bissonnette, CAB Vice-President, Finance & Administration and CFO, retires this month. Bissonnette has been with the organization since 1991. Read more here.
Jeffrey L. Orridge has been named the new CEO of TVO, effective Nov. 30. Orridge, a former CFL commissioner and CBC Sports executive, most recently had been Chairman of Toronto-based Tiidal Gaming. He succeeds Lisa de Wilde, TVO’s longest serving CEO, who stepped down at the end of 2019 after 14 years at the helm of the public broadcaster. Read more here.
Paul Beaudry is Cogeco’s new Vice-President, Regulatory Affairs following the retirement of Nathalie Dorval, who had held the role since 2013. For the past three years, Beaudry had been with TELUS as Director, Broadband Policy and Regulatory Affairs.
Sébastien Viau is the new General Manager of Quebecor’s COLAB STUDIO, overseeing the development of the collaborative marketing studio. Before joining Quebecor, Viau was VP, Sales and Marketing for the Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec. His appointment is effective Nov. 23 and follows the retirement of current GM Robert Renaud. Hughes Choquette is also promoted to Senior Director, Branding Strategy & Head of Creative. With Quebecor since 2015, Choquette will be in charge of the creative side of the team dedicated to Vidéotron and Fizz; the company having recently chosen to bring its creative services needs in-house.
Blue Ant Media has promoted Sarah Etherden to VP, Global Communications and Craig Junner to VP, Programming, Canadian Media. The company says Etherden’s promotion reflects the significant role she’s played in building the profile of its distribution business, production companies and media brands globally, while also overseeing internal communications. Junner’s new position reflects his on-going leadership in overseeing content and programming strategy for Blue Ant Media’s eight linear Canadian channels, as well as strategy for the company’s SVOD and AVOD channels. They’ll both continue to report to Jamie Schouela, President, Global Channels and Media.
Dana Wigle is set to step into the role of General Manager at Toronto’s JAZZ.FM91 (CJRT-FM), starting Nov. 30. Wigle was previously with the station from 2010-17, starting out as an account executive before moving into the role of Director, Advertising Sales. She’s also held sales and marketing positions with Rogers Communications, as well as AMC Theatres. She succeeds Lorie Russell, who has held the position since March 2019, and announced her departure in September. Read more here.
Jenn Dalen-Gordon has been promoted within Stingray to Operations Manager for the B.C. Interior stations (K97.5, K96.3, Radio NL, New Country 100.7, New Country 100.3), as well as overseeing the Real Country and New Country brands, nationally. Now based in Kamloops, Dalen-Gordon departs Red Deer where she was previously Regional Program Director, Red Deer/Rural AB/Kelowna/Kamloops.
Roo Phelps is filing in for Shannon Ella while the Pure Country network midday host is on mat leave. Phelps assumes the role in addition to her duties as host of The Roo Phelps Show, which airs evenings on the EZ Rock network in the Okanagan and B.C. Interior.
Ed the Sock has debuted a new one-hour show on SAUGA 960 AM (CKNT-AM). Ed the Sock Lives!, which debuted Nov. 13 and will air in its regular Friday timeslot at 2 p.m. ET, with repeats Sunday and Saturday evenings.
Joshua Grant, the former Corus Entertainment social media manager who went public with his allegations of racism earlier this year, has signed on to manage social media for George Stroumboulopoulos’ team, including his new show for Apple Music Hits. Grant has also worked as a Senior Communications Officer at CBC.
Just wanted to share some good news ✨ I’m joining the legend @strombo and his team as Social Media Manager! I’ll be working on his @AppleMusic show and other special projects. pic.twitter.com/n5dCfOYkWx
— josh (@thejoshuagrant) November 18, 2020
Matrix Solutions has added several new hires as the media ad sales platform continues its ongoing global expansion. Fantisha Bailey is the company’s new Product Manager. She’s previously worked in Traffic with Comcast Spotlight, among other roles; Todd Barkes, formerly VP, Advertising Operations with Yangaroo/DMDS, joins as Strategic Director of Sales Engineering; while Chris Snyder is named Software Architect.
RADIO & PODCAST NEWS:
The New Classical FM and Zoomer Radio’s Holiday Hope Fund kicked off this week. Until Dec. 24, listeners are asked to make a donation to Scott Mission. Since its inception in 2008, the fund has raised almost $400,000 for the charity which has been helping Toronto’s disadvantaged since 1941.
LISTEN: Peggy Kelly and Carole Gerson, authors of new book, Hearing More Voices: English-Canadian Women in Print and On The Air, 1914-1960, are our guests on Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast, talking about their project to acknowledge the early women of radio and print, whose names have been lost to history. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
LISTEN: Tony Coles, iHeartMedia executive and President of the Black Information Network, is Matt Cundill’s guest on the Sound Off Podcast. Coles talks mentorship, pivoting to programming, finding new talent, and gratitude. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
MILESTONE: 980 CKNW Vancouver host Stirling Faux marked 50 years in radio last Sunday. Faux signed on as a host on CKSO Sudbury, ON on Nov. 15, 1970, the start of a career that took him to CFTR Toronto, CFOM Quebec City, CKLG/CFOX-FM, CFMI-FM, CKNW Vancouver, and CHQR Calgary, returning to Vancouver and CISL-AM, before re-joining CKNW in 2016. Faux was joined by radio legends, including Bob Saye, Doc Harris, and Red Robinson on Sunday’s show.
SIGN OFFS:
Lito Taruc, 62, on Nov. 17, following a heart attack. Taruc was the longtime co-anchor of “Good Morning Philippines” on Evanov Radio Group’s CKJS 810AM Winnipeg. Following the lead of his brother Resty, who pioneered a one-hour program on the station called “Radyo Pilipino” in the mid-1970s, Taruc joined CKJS in 1997. He was with the station for over 20 years, becoming news director for CKJS Filipino programming in 2003. Taruc was also a well-known community leader, and president of the Philippine Association of Manitoba, as well as the Philippine-Canadian Centre of Manitoba. He unsuccessfully ran for a city council seat in the inner-city ward of Daniel McIntyre in 2010.
Doug Laite, 81, on Nov. 13. Laite’s presence was a staple on CBC radio and television in Newfoundland and Labrador for 30 years. Best known as the host of variety TV series “All Around the Circle”, which aired from 1964-75 and helped make many local performers household names, he also hosted the CBC St. John’s radio morning show, “Radio Noon”, “On the Go” and “Country Jamboree”, among other programs over the years. Laite was also called upon to officiate numerous important events in the province, including the funeral service following the 1982 Ocean Ranger disaster, and several royal visits.
TV & FILM:
Pinewood Toronto Studios has started major construction on its multi-stage expansion of more than 200,000 sq. ft. of new sound stage and support space. Pinewood says the five-acre new build will better meet growing demand from domestic and international film and television clients in Toronto, and bring the production facility to a total of over 525,000 sq. ft. The expansion features five new sound stages totalling 102,000 sq. ft., 58,000 sq. ft. of additional office and support space, and 15,000 sq. ft. dedicated to a mill shop and workshop space, in addition to a new 25,000 sq. ft. workshop added in 2019. Upon completion, the facility will house 16 sound stages, along with offices that can house multiple productions at a time.
Bell Media has acquired a minority investment in Montreal’s Grandé Studios, which provides production facilities, camera and lighting equipment rentals in Montréal and Toronto, as well as technical services to the TV and film production industry. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Grandé Studios facilities have already been home to several Bell Media original productions including Transplant, La Semaine Des 4 Julie, and Crave Original film The Song of Names, in addition to Hollywood blockbusters like X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Jack Ryan, and Roland Emmerich sci-fi feature Moonfall, one of the biggest productions currently filming in Canada.
Big Time Decent Productions is a new Vancouver-based prodco launched by producer and director Matt Shewchuk, the executive producer of Rust Valley Restorers and producer of OUTtv series Dog Dudes, among other shows. The prodco’s focus will be on developing and producing unscripted and scripted series, feature films and digital content. It’s already in development on a number of new projects with Corus Entertainment and has brought industry veteran René Brar on board as Head of Development. Big Time Decent Production’s first series, Backroad Truckers, produced in partnership with Mayhem Entertainment and distributed by Corus Studios, will premiere on History in Winter 2021. The company has also secured strategic partnerships, including post-production services with producer and editor Bridget Durnford (Chicago Med, Fargo), and a development deal with showrunner Tommy Blacha (Metalocalypse) for a new half-hour animated comedy series.
The Pacific Screenwriting Program (PSP) has announced that award-winning writer/producer/director Will Pascoe will serve as Showrunner-in-Residence for the 2021 Scripted Series Lab. Pascoe will mentor six up-and-coming BC-based screenwriters selected to participate in the program and lead the writer’s room as they develop his original series in the PSP’s flagship training program starting in January. Going into its third year, the lab will be a combination of in-person and virtual meetings to reflect current COVID-19 production protocols. Pascoe most recently wrapped showrunning the third season of Amazon’s Absentia. He’s also written for Fox’s The Finder, Bell/SyFy Channel’s, Bitten; NBC’s Chicago Med; BBC Worldwide/Starz’s Da Vinci’s Demons and Hulu’s Shut Eye.
CTV airs The Original Santa Claus Parade in a new, two-hour primetime special, premiering Saturday, Dec. 5 on CTV and CTV2. A closed nighttime parade route at Canada’s Wonderland, adhering to local health and safety protocols, is allowing the tradition to go ahead in its 116th year. Produced by Bell Media Studios, guest performers will include Dolly Parton, Kelly Clarkson and Brett Eldredge, Meghan Trainor, Ruth B., Shaggy ft. CARYS, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Melissa Grelo of CTV’s The Social and Kelsey McEwen of Your Morning host.
CTV Toronto has launched its 25th annual Toy Mountain campaign in support of The Salvation Army. This year’s event has set a goal of collecting 150,000 new, unwrapped toys this holiday season – with an emphasis on the greatest area of need: girls and boys aged 7-9, and youth aged 10-17. CTV Toronto weather anchor Tom Brown will provide progress updates throughout the duration of the campaign on CTV News At Six. He’ll bring the campaign to a close Friday Dec. 18.
Pier 21 Films has partnered with Canadian YouTube personality Jasmeet Singh Raina (aka Jus Reign) on new half-hour series Late Bloomer (w/t), currently in development at the CBC. Inspired by his own real-life experiences as a first generation Indo-Canadian, Late Bloomer focuses on Raina’s journey navigating his newfound internet fame, dating, spirituality, culture, and his dysfunctional (yet loving) family. With more than 167 Million YouTube views, 970,000+ subscribers and 1M+ fans on Facebook, Jus Reign is known for his irreverent humor incorporating his ethnic background and upbringing. Comedian/actor/producer Russell Peters is attached to executive produce.
Stories From the Land, a podcast dedicated to Indigenous storytelling, has been adapted into a documentary series by Wanderer Entertainment Inc. for CBC Short Docs. The first two episodes in a four-part series aired as part of a “sneak-peek” on CBC’s Absolutely Canadian Nov. 14 in Ontario, and on CBC Gem. The complete series will be available to stream in early 2021. Narrated and hosted by Anishinaabe comedian Ryan McMahon, the series of short documentaries picks up where the podcast ends, with each themed episode a collection of documentary vignettes of new stories, interviews and landscapes woven together by a visual tapestry. The series also features a soundtrack by DJ Shub, taken from his new album “War Club.”
MBM TV INC. has announced the Canadian Premiere of their latest series America’s Wild Border: Northern Exposure on Nov. 18 on Love Nature. The series, filmed along the world’s longest border between Canada and the U.S., follows the wildlife that live with one foot in two worlds. The Vancouver-based production studio, MBM TV, produced the series in partnership with Tamarin Productions Inc. for Blue Ant Television. It features the work of Emmy-nominated cinematographers, including Director and DP Jeff Morales.
Bell Media has announced that LETTERKENNY’s ninth season will start streaming on Crave on Christmas Day. All seven new episodes will drop at once.
ONLINE & DIGITAL MEDIA:
Indiegraf, the platform for independent publishers and journalists led by sisters Caitlin Havlak and Erin Millar, has announced an investment from New Media Ventures, a U.S.-based investment fund focused on innovation, that will pave the way for it to enter the American market. Co-led by Toronto-based Marigold Capital, which has also invested in Havlak and Millar’s The Discourse, Indiegraf’s aim is to help journalist-entrepreneurs launch digital news outlets to fill gaps in community news. Since its launch this spring, it’s grown to serve 18 publishers in 23 communities.
REGULATORY, TELECOM & MEDIA:
Ernest Tucker, the CBC’s first Black journalist, will be inducted into the CBC News Hall of Fame next month. Born in Bermuda, Tucker was the first Black graduate of the journalism program at Ryerson University in 1954. Unable to find work, he entered Sir George Williams College (now Concordia University) and upon his graduation in 1958, returned to Bermuda, working as a freelance writer for The Royal Gazette as its first Black journalist, before coming back to Toronto when one of his pieces caught the attention of an editor at the Toronto Telegram. He joined the CBC Toronto newsroom in October 1961 and was famously on the desk alone when John F. Kennedy was shot in 1963, writing and producing the breaking story that went to air. He later moved to CBC Montreal before retiring in the mid-1990s. Tucker died at age 87 on Jan. 3, 2019. Read more here.
BROADCAST TECH & ENGINEERING:
The HIDI Group has announced the consulting engineering firm’s expansion into Ottawa. Ahmad Shakil will head the office in the National Capital Region, joining the company’s existing operations in Greater Toronto, Calgary and Dubai. The HIDI Group works in seven integrated engineering disciplines, including Communications, Audiovisual, Security, and Energy Services.
The Western Association of Broadcast Engineers (WABE) 2020 convention took place Nov. 4th & 5th, marking 70 years for our organization. This convention was held virtually and literally put together between mid-August and November. Just ahead of our first organizational meeting in March, we were thrown into the unprecedented global pandemic. Immediately, we had to shift gears. It became evident early on that an in-person convention would not be possible.
I would like to recognize the efforts of this year’s committee: Our outgoing Past President Bill Stovold for his guidance and advice. Paper chairs Mike Modney and Tessa Potter, who did an outstanding job coming up with remarkable LIVE and ON DEMAND content. Host Chair Marco Auriti and Sessions Chair Sarah Boutette who were highly creative in their efforts of getting this virtual convention off the ground. Eric Becker was our exhibitor liaison who helped bring together our vendors into this new virtual world. I would also like to recognize that once again, the glue that held this event together was our WABE Office Manager Kathy Watson.
Another benefit of a virtual convention is that the convention remains accessible online until the end of August 2021. When you paid your $25 delegate fee, you retain access to the WABE site. You can go back, look at papers, and will be able to attend future offerings every quarter through educational seminars. If you have not yet registered, you can still register online any time for $25 to access that content, including LIVE papers that were recorded. That includes the exhibit hall with the ability to gain vendor’s contact information.
During the convention Awards Ceremony, we recognized members of our community with the following awards:
Retirement Awards: George Buzunis, Chris Lee, John Bos, Allan Smale and Jonathan Hutchinson
Spirit Award: Jonathan Hutchinson
Excellence in Engineering Award: Mike Modney
RW Lamb Award: Laverne Siemens
We are also pleased to announce our new executive board members for the next two-year term:
President: Rob Brown
Past President: Clint Hollinger
Secretary/Treasurer: Tessa Potter
Most importantly, we thank our numerous sponsors and exhibitors who ventured out into the new virtual world with us, by providing their continued financial support of our convention. Without their participation, our conventions would not be possible.
Rob Brown
WABE President
