CCR People

Diana Cafazzo and Sandra Richmond have joined the entertainment law firm headed by Stephen Stohn and Roy Hay. The firm, now called Stohn Hay Cafazzo Dembroski Richmond, is expanding to other practice areas. The two newest members of the law firm previously worked for McMillan Binch LLP. Marit Stiles has been appointed as director of research at the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA). She will be responsible for directing all aspects of the research department, including overseeing the compilation of statistical research to support the organization’s collective bargaining and public policy objectives. She will also provide information and counsel to ACTRA’s lead negotiators and negotiating committees during collective bargaining. She spent the last six years as a researcher for the Ontario New Democratic Party caucus. An executive shakeup at Alliance Atlantis Communications following the departure of Laura Michalchyshyn (CCR, Jan. 14/05) sees Erica Benson removed as VP of programming for Life Network and Discovery Health Channel. She had been in the position for three years. Karen Gelbart, who was VP in charge of Fine Living and the Food Network, takes on the added responsibility of HGTV Canada. Vanessa Case, who was previously responsible for HGTV, will oversee the Life Network and the National Geographic Channel. Jody Read, who was VP of acquisitions for Alliance Atlantis’ factual channels, such as its BBC digital channels, is now VP of programming for Discovery Health Channel, BBC Kids and BBC Canada. Cindy Witten, who was VP of production for the BBC and factual channels, becomes VP of programming for the History Channel. John Gill, who was senior VP of the group’s factual channels, has been named senior VP in charge of programming for the company’s dramatic channels, including the Independent Film Channel (IFC) and Showcase. Emily Morgan, who was director of programming for Showcase Action and Showcase Diva, is now VP of programming for those channels as well as the IFC. Julien Lavoie has left the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, where he was manager of communications, to join the Media Awareness Network. He will be responsible for the communications at the non-profit organization. Don Easter has been named as VP of international operations at BBM Canada, and Ron Bremner has been appointed as VP of client services. Easter will also assume the role of VP of television, and Bremner of VP of radio. Easter joined BBM Canada in 1996 as VP of radio, and Bremner was appointed as VP of television in 1996. The newly formed, 13-member board of directors for the World Congress of History Producers includes Nima Abu-Wardeh (producer/presenter with BBC News/M Zone Productions), Daniela Bagliani (program acquisitions manager, documentary, RTI, Italy), Taylor Downing (Flashback Television executive producer), Christoph Jorg (ARTE France commissioning editor), Elizabeth Klink (researcher), Tom Koch (WGBH International director), Daniel Korn (3BM Television managing director), Tom Perlmutter (National Film Board of Canada, English Program director general), Ralf-Peter Piechowiak (ZDF German Television executive producer of contemporary history), Jody Sheff (Thirteen/WNET executive producer of history and features), Meg Villarreal (U.S. Independents Inc. director general), Cindy Witten (Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting VP for the History Channel) and Piero Corsini (commissioning editor at RAI Educational). The formation of the board was announced at the 2004 World Congress of History Producers held in Toronto (CCR, Nov. 8/04). Ken MacDonald has been appointed as VP of programming for Discovery Channel. He replaces Jeff Offman, who has joined Discovery’s operations in the United Kingdom. MacDonald takes over responsibility for the strategic direction for Discovery along with digital specialty services Animal Planet, Discovery Civilization Channel and CTV Travel. He vacates his former position as executive producer for Discovery’s in-house programming, a position he has held since January 2004. Yves Dion has been named as president of TVA Films. He replaces Pierre Lampron, who has been promoted to a VP position at parent company Quebecor Media. As well, Jean-François Richard becomes the new VP of advertising convergence at Quebecor.Rick Landry has been promoted to the position of tech support manager at Winnipeg-based OMT Inc. He joined the company at the beginning of 2004 as a technical support technician. Prior to that, he spent nine years as station engineer at CKLQ/STAR FM in Brandon MB. Kathryn Emslie will be the acting executive director of the Canadian Film Centre until a replacement is found for Wayne Clarkson, who has moved to Telefilm Canada as its executive director (CCR, Dec. 6/04). She will continue her duties as director of film and TV programs at the center. Named to the board of directors of the Radio Marketing Bureau are new chair Patrick Grierson, and vice-chairs Lesley Conway-Kelley and Tom Manton. Grierson works at Canadian Broadcast Sales, and Conway-Kelley with CHUM Radio Sales, and Manton with Newcap Broadcasting. The organization’s strategic planning committee is made up of John Hayes, Corus Radio Group; Elmer Hildebrand (treasurer) Golden West Broadcasting Ltd; Mark Maheu, Newcap Broadcasting; Gary Miles, Rogers Radio; Luc Sabbatini, Groupe Radio Astral; Paul Ski, CHUM Radio, and Gary Slaight, Standard Broadcasting. The remaining members of the board are Jim Blundell, CHUM Radio; Glenn Chalmers, Standard Radio Inc.; Victor Dann (past chair), Rogers Media; Ron Hutchinson, Integrated Media Sales; Gerry Siemens, Pattison Radio; Dick Sienko, Target Broadcast Sales; Chris Sisam, Corus Radio Group; Ross Tirrell, Rawlco Radio; and John Harding, president of the Radio Marketing Bureau. Louise Lantagne and Henry Kowalski are new members of board of directors of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. Lantagne is vice-chair of cinema and Kowalski as broadcast journalist representative. Suzanne Sheaves has been appointed to board of Telefilm Canada by Canadian Heritage minister Liza Frulla.

CCR People

Broadcast | January 28, 2005

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