Travis Dhanraj has officially exited the CBC, blasting the public broadcaster on his way out the door, saying he has been “systematically sidelined, retaliated against, and denied the editorial access and institutional support necessary to fulfill my public service role.” Dhanraj quietly disappeared from CBC News Network and his show Canada Tonight with Travis Dhanraj – which launched in January 2024 – last year. In an open letter to CBC leadership, entitled “Resignation Under Duress – CBC Leadership Has Left Me No Choice,” Dhanraj wrote that the involuntary resignation comes “because the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has made it impossible for me to continue my work with integrity.” Read more here.
Bob McKenzie has retired from TSN after 48 years in sports media. McKenzie, who will turn 69 in August, has been semi-retired for the last five years, continuing to host the World Junior Championships, Free Agent Frenzy and NHL Draft Rankings, among other broadcasts. In addition to TSN, McKenzie has worked with The Sault Star, The Globe and Mail, The Hockey News, Toronto Star, and ESPN.
Paul Bagnell has announced his retirement from BNN Bloomberg, effective July 18. Bagnell’s journalism career has spanned 40 years, including 24 as an anchor and reporter with BNN Bloomberg. Before joining the channel, Bagnell was a reporter at the Financial Post and a correspondent in Ottawa and Washington for Thomson Newspapers.
David Topping is Zoomer Digital Network’s new Chief Content Officer, overseeing editorial and audience strategy across blogTO, Daily Hive, and Curiocity Group. He joins Zoomer from Torstar, where he served as Newsletters Director for the last seven years. He’s also former Editor-in-Chief of First Up, the Star’s flagship morning newsletter.
Vanessa Lee has been named Director, Communications and Media Relations, for the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC). Lee’s nearly 25-year journalism career included spending a decade as a correspondent for CTV National News, in addition to stops at Global and CBC. She also covered Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games for Olympic Broadcasting Services.
@jessontheeastcoast 24 hours of my life 🫠 @Ocean100FM @CavendishBeachMusic #pei #princeedwardisland #immabe #bep #fergie #radioshow #cohost #morningshow #host #trend #charlottetown ♬ original sound – Abbey Engel
Jessica Dickie has joined the morning show at Ocean 100 (CHTN-FM) Charlottetown as a co-host, alongside Darcy Campbell and Scott Chapman. Dickie, also known as “Jess on the East Coast” is a popular PEI content creators.
Tamara Munroe is the new Sales Manager for Stingray’s Rewind 89.3 (CIJK-FM) Kentville, NS. Munroe has been a Media Sales Strategist with Stingray Halifax since 2017. She succeeds Karen Corey, who has retired after nearly a decade with the company. Corey was previously GSM of MBS’ AVR (CKEN-FM) and Magic 94.9 (CKWM-FM) from 1987-2007.
Matthew Di Nicolantonio has parted ways with The Weather Network after six years. Di Nicolantonio had been a video presenter and content creator with the channel since 2019.
Ellis Jacob, the longtime President & CEO of Cineplex, will retire from the company on Dec. 31, 2026. In the interim, Jacob will continue to lead Cineplex and assist the transition to a new leadership structure. Involved in the theatre business since 1987, the Galaxy Entertainment founder assumed the role of President & CEO of Cineplex Galaxy in 2003. Jacob was the recent recipient of the Canadian Academy Tribute Award at the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards.
Joel Bradley has been promoted to President of Atomic Cartoons, the animation arm of Thunderbird Entertainment Group. Bradley will report to Jennifer Twiner McCarron, who will continue to serve as CEO of Atomic and Thunderbird Entertainment, as well as Chair of Thunderbird’s Board of Directors. In his new role, Bradley will lead the business development and production departments across Atomic and continue to be responsible for day-to-day operations, overseeing a team of close to 1,000 creative and production staff. Bradley first joined Atomic in 2013 from Pixar Canada as a production coordinator.
Marlo Miazga is departing Sphere Media as President and Executive Producer, Unscripted and Kids and Family. Miazga was initially with Bristow Global Media (BGM) as Head of Content and Production and then CEO, before Sphere Media acquired BGM in 2020 when she took on the role of President of English Unscripted, Documentaries and Kids & Family. The Kids & Family division will continue to be overseen by Judith Beauchemin, Executive Vice President, Operations.
Insight Productions has announced a series of internal promotions that see Top Chef Canada showrunner Eric Abboud appointed Senior Vice President. The changes additionally bump 20-year Insight veteran Tanya Low to Chief Development Officer and Jessica Brunton (also a 20-year employee) to Chief Production Officer. On the business side, Alex Kitz and Greg Milo have been elevated to Chief Business Officer and Director of Operations, respectively. Read more here.
Anita Damiani has been appointed National Director, Feature Films – French Market for a five-year term at Telefilm. Damiani has held various positions at Telefilm over the last 19 years, across distribution and marketing, as well as serving as regional director of funding for feature film projects for Quebec’s French-language market. She succeeds outgoing National Director Marie-France Godbout.
Adnaan Wasey has been appointed the City of Calgary’s new Film Commissioner. Born in Toronto and currently residing in New York City, the Emmy-winning producer brings over two decades of leadership in the media and non-profit sectors, including roles at PBS, Disney, The New York Times and The Gotham.
Kristy Fletcher has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS). She’ll also continue in her role as president of MusicCounts.
Jean Charest, former Premier of Québec and Deputy Prime Minister, has been nominated for election to Stingray’s Board of Directors at its upcoming Annual General Meeting on Aug. 6. François-Charles Sirois, a co-founder of Stingray and a director since 2007, will not stand for re-election. Charest is a partner and strategic advisor at the law firm Therrien Couture Joli-Coeur L.L.P and serves on the boards of The Rideau Hall Foundation, Ondine Biomedical, Historica Canada, and is Chairman of the Advisory Board for Dunham House.
Bill Roberts has been named Chair of The Board of Trustees of WPBS-TV, the PBS affiliate serving Northern New York and Eastern Ontario. Roberts has served as a director since 2019. From 2000-12, he was President and CEO of VisionTV, in addition to almost a decade as Senior Director General of TVOntario (1988–96). He’s also served in senior leadership roles with the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) and the CRTC.
