CJOH-DT

CJOH-TV Channel 13 signed on the air at 12:00 p.m. on March 12. Temporary studios were located at the D. Kemp Edwards lumber yard at Bayswater Avenue and Somerset Street. In September, CJOH moved to its now completed studio and office complex at 1500 Merivale Road. The studios officially opened on October 21. The transmitter and 600 foot tower were located near Hazeldean, about 11 miles from Ottawa.

Stuart Griffiths as general manager was credited with the foresight in establishing CJOH-TV as a production-oriented entity. He had originally helped to put CBLT on the air in Toronto, and had been working in the United Kingdom for Granada as the program controller. His motto – “I want to be known as a program maker and not just a program taker.” As a result, CJOH-TV became a major producer of programs, not only for the station’s consumption but also for other stations and the networks.

Engineers Sandy Day and Austin Reeve helped develop the plans for CJOH in a small second floor office on Sparks Street. As was the custom of the time, an attempt was made to keep all suppliers in the Commonwealth. Most equipment for the station was supplied either by Northern Electric or Canadian Marconi. Some of the main components, transmitter and cameras came from England. Sandy Cameron joined the team on February 2 and spent most of the month helping Roy Baker assemble the transmitter.

When it came to news, CJOH-TV featured a two-man anchor desk featuring Charles Lynch and Peter Stursberg. Early CJOH programs included Saturday Date (teen dance party), Platform (political analysis), Uncle Chichimus (children’s show), Dear Jackie (morning cooking, etc. program), Miss Helen (pre-school), Willy & Floyd (children’s comedy), and Dear Charlotte (with Charlotte Whitton, future mayor). CJOH-TV was among the stations that formed the national co-op that would be known as the CTV Television Network.

The station had a mandate for intense community service and usually did several remote broadcasts a week using a 3-camera mobile and a portable microwave. The first remote took place on CJOH’s first weekend on the air and featured the broadcast of a hockey game from the Hull Arena. The old GE switcher burst into flames and the crew had to switch the game with a patch cord. 

Les Lye joined CJOH when it signed on the air.

Peter Jennings joined CJOH News around this time. He had worked at CFJR radio in Brockville and started his time at CJOH hosting the teen program, Dance Party.
(He later went on to be a foreign correspondent for ABC in New York and then took up duties as the ABC news anchorman)

In November CJOH-TV introduced and originated the first CTV National News with Baden Langdon and Ab Douglas. The broadcast would later have Harvey Kirck in Toronto and Ab Douglas in Ottawa.

The Emard Family acquired CJSS Radio & Television in Cornwall in 1961. Now in 1963, that family sold CJSS-TV to Bushnell TV Co. Ltd., owner of CJOH-TV. The family retained the Cornwall radio stations. CJSS-TV left the air as a local, Cornwall station and became a full-time rebroadcaster of Bushnell’s CJOH-TV in Ottawa – a CTV affiliate. CJSS became Canada’s first TV station to cease local operation and become a rebroadcaster of another station. The call letters would change to CJOH-TV-1, serving the Seaway Valley from its transmitter at Lancaster. The Cornwall transmitter was operating at this time with 260,000 watts video and 140,000 watts audio, on channel 8. CJOH now served “Ottawa and The Seaway”. 

CJOH – TV added colour facilities and a mobile colour production unit, which was the first of its kind in Canada.

Due to its excellent production facilities, CJOH-TV was used for many “outside” productions. Notably the “Galloping Gourmet” series with Graham Kerr which finally ran in Canada on the CBC after CTV affiliates turned it down. “Question Period” a political panel program, was produced for CTV over many years. “Kreskin” (the mentalist) was also produced for CTV over a four-year period. Produced for local consumption and syndication nationally were, “Country Way”, Family Brown Country” “Joys of Collecting”.

CJOH now had a policy of longer film passages with fewer interruptions for commercials – the station would now group ads in blocks of 3 or 4 at one time.

Stuart W. Griffiths, executive vice president and managing director of Bushnell TV Co. Ltd., announced the appointment of A.G. (Sandy) Day to the position of vice president of engineering. He had been director of engineering and was succeeded in that post by Austin L. Reeve. Joseph Allen, former accounting manager was named comptroller. John Farmer became assistant secretary of Bushnell.

It was noted that Famous Players Canadian Corp. had a small, indirect equity interest in CJOH.

W.O. (Bill) Morrison was vice president of sales. Patric MacAdam was director of promotions and public relations.

CJOH offered a public affairs show to Judy LaMarsh, former Secretary of State, who resigned from cabinet following the Liberal leadership campaign. She accepted the offer.

Ernie Bushnell stepped down as president to be chairman. Stuart Griffiths became president but also held on to his old position of vice president and managing director. Roy Faibish, executive assistant to Griffiths, became vice president. Patrick Watson was named vice president in charge of programming and Laurier Lapierre became manager of program development. The last three people had all been associated with CBC-TV’s ill-fated program, “This Hour Has Seven Days”.

Robert H. Quinn left Radio-Television Representatives for the new sales arm of CJOH-TV – Canadian Television Sales Ltd.

Bushnell TV Co. Ltd. became publicly traded Bushnell Communications Ltd. in July. Over the next few years, Bushnell bought Telecable Laurention Inc. Hull, Rockland Cable TV Yorkville Studio Centre in Toronto and an interest in Skyline Cable in Ottawa.

CJOH applied for a rebroadcast transmitter in the Belleville area on channel 6 with 55,500 watts video and 9,670 watts audio and antenna height of 671 feet. James Russell Scott and L.M. Nichols produced competing applications. On October 29, the CRTC announced its intention to approve the CJOH application once CBLT Toronto had vacated channel 6.

Early in the year, a large number of Bushnell shares were purchased by Western Broadcast Holdings without CRTC approval. The share purchases continued through 1973 until WBH had a 52% holding.

CBLT Toronto moved from channel 6 to channel 5 – so on September 13, CJOH-TV was licensed to operate a transmitter at Deseronto on channel 6. CJOH-TV-3 began providing CTV service to the Belleville-Kingston area on September 27, from a transmitter on Mount Carmel in Prince Edward County. Power was
55,000 watts video, 9,670 watts audio, with antenna height of 671 feet.

It should be noted that the changes to channels 5 and 6 in Southern Ontario were organized in 1968. CBLT Toronto would move from channel 6 to 5 with new channel 6 assignments going to the London-Kitchener and Belleville-Kingston areas.

Max Keeping became a news anchor at CJOH in December. Charlie Greenwell joined CJOH as a reporter.

Brian Smith joined CJOH as a sportscaster.

On March 15, the CRTC approved the sale of the 52% of Bushnell held by Western to Standard Broadcasting Co. Ltd. Certain minority Bushnell shareholders appealed this decision to the Federal Court of Appeal. Following the court’s decision, the CRTC announced December 19 that the sale to Standard could go ahead. Standard had already taken over management of the station on April 28.

Programs that were produced from 1975 to the 1990s included “Denim Blues”, “Home Grown Cafe”, “Marie Soleil”, “Sunday Edition”, “You Can’t Do That On Television”, “In Our Hands”, “Regional Contact”, “Sports Flash Back”, “Bang Bang You’re Alive”, all for local consumption and “Shh, It’s the News” for Global.

Peter Emmerson joined CJOH to do weather.

When Standard Broadcasting acquired ownership of CJOH-TV, Jack Ruttle was appointed Vice-President and General Manager of the station.

Standard acquired 232,825 common shares of Bushnell. This boosted Standard’s interest from 52.1 to 65.6%.

Standard Broadcasting purchased additional shares of Bushnell Communications to own 98.5% of Bushnell.

In 1977, Jack Ruttle left CJOH to become Vice-President of anoither CTV affiliate, CFCN-TV Calgary.

Peter Emmerson left CJOH-TV.

Ed Billo of CJOH-TV was named to the board of directors of parent Bushnell Communications.

On July 31, Bushnell Communications amalgamated with CJOH Broadcasting Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Bushnell and 448704 Ontario Ltd., a Standard Broadcasting Corp. Ltd. subsidiary. Bushnell Communications became a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard on August 31, 19

John Beveridge was CJOH’s programming manager.

On the air: Max Keeping (news anchor), Brian Smith (sports), Michael O’Byrne and Terry Marcotte – both are reporters and both were new to CJOH this year.

E. J. (Ed) Billo was promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer of Bushnell Communications.

CTV’s national reporter Peter Lloyd joined CJOH-TV to cover the capital scene.

Standard Broadcasting opened an AM radio station in Ottawa – CJSB. Studios and offices were adjacent to CJOH-TV (1500 Merivale) at 1504 Merivale Road.

E.J. (Ted) Billo, Bushnell Communications, was named a vice president of parent company, Standard Broadcasting.

On January 11, the CRTC renewed CJOH-TV’s licence until September 30, 1985.

Brian Smith was doing sports at CJOH.

Nancy Wilson joined CJOH News from Global.

Al McKay was promoted to station manager.

Slaight Communications (J. Allan Slaight) purchased Standard Broadcasting from Argus Corp. (Conrad Black). The sale was announced March 29 and approved by the CRTC in November.

Max Keeping and Leigh Chapple were news anchors. J.J. Clarke joined for weather from CKOY-AM. Brian Smith handled sports.

With the change of ownership of Standard Broadcasting, Ted Billo was no longer president and general manager of CJOH. Sales manager Dic Lucas was also gone, as was Larry Nichols, the president of Standard.

Vincent Pons was named vice president and general sales manager of CJOH.

Gail Morrell came from CFCF-TV Montreal to become Director of Advertising and Promotion for CJOH-TV

Stuart W. Griffiths died November 7 at age 68. He was CJOH-TV’s first manager when it went on the air in 1961.

The founder of CJOH-TV, Ernest (Ernie) Leslie Bushnell died on April 30. He was 86. Long before CJOH-TV, Ernie sang in a quartet on KDKA Pittsburgh, and managed CFRB and then CKNC (both Toronto). In November of 1933, he was hired to be program director at the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission, which became the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation three years later. As head of the CBC’s English-language broadcasting, he oversaw the launch of CBLT in 1952. In 1958, after the resignation of A. Davidson Dunton as chairman, the CBC was re-organized with J. Alphonse Ouimet as president and Bushnell as vice president. At the end of 1959, he left the CBC to prepare his successful bid for Ottawa’s second television station. CJOH-TV went on the air in 1961 and Bushnell Communications grew to include CJSS-TV Cornwall (which became a satellite of CJOH), a rebroadcast transmitter in Prince Edward County, cable television and other interests. The company was purchased by Standard Broadcasting in 1975.

Bryn Mathews was general manager.

Reporter Jennifer Reid left CJOH for CFPL-TV in London.

On April 8, the CRTC approved the purchase of CJOH by Nation’s Capital Television Inc. (Baton Broadcasting Inc.). The deal was announced July 13, 1987 and the transfer took place May 5, 1988.

Al MacKay was appointed vice-president and station manager of CJOH-TV. He had been station manager since 1984. Max Keeping was appointed v. p. for news and public affairs. He had been director of news and public affairs since 1972.

Kathie Donovan was part of the weather team now.

After six years as a reporter and weekend anchor/producer at CJOH, James O’Connell left for Global-TV.

CJOH station manager Al MacKay added vice president to his title. Max Keeping was now vice president of news and public affairs.

Mike Duffy left CBC Television News for CJOH where he will have his own program, “Mike Duffy, Sunday Edition”.

Max Keeping became vice president of news and public affairs at CJOH. His background included serving as Parliament Hill reporter for CTV News. Al MacKay was named to the role of vice president and station manager.

Gail Morrell left CJOH-TV to become VP Corporate Communications at the CTV Network.

Carol Anne Meehan was now a news anchor. In October, reporter Peter Van Dusen left for CBOT-TV and Joanne Schnurr joined as a reporter.

Carolyn Waldo joined the sports department.

Bryn Matthews was appointed president and CEO and John Beveridge was named vice president of programming.

Anchors: Max Keeping, Carol Anne Meehan, Leigh Chapple. Weather: J.J. Clarke, Kathie Donovan. Sports: Carolyn Waldo, Brian Smith.

Charles Lynch died July 21. He was 74.

On September 1, Nation’s Capital Television Inc. amalgamated with CFTO-TV Ltd., South Western Ontario Broadcasting Inc. and Mid-Canada Communications (Canada) Corp. to become BBS Ontario Inc.

Leanne Cusack was now a news anchor at CJOH.

Sportscaster Brian Smith is shot and killed in the station parking lot August 2. He was 54.

Bill Swaffeld, a producer and director at CJOH-TV for 22 years, passed away at age 62. Heart problems forced him to retire in 1982.

On August 28, the CRTC approved CJOH’s application for a re-broadcaster in Pembroke on channel 47 with 253,000 watts video. The new transmitter will provide CTV programming to the Pembroke area as co-owned CHRO planed to go independent. CHRO was also given permission to open a re-broadcaster in Ottawa on channel 43 with 231,000 watts video.

In September, it was announced that Baton & Electrohome would merge. This would give Baton 42.9% of CTV Television Network Ltd. Electrohome’s share of CTV was 14.3%.

By 1996, CJOH-TV was only providing nightly newscasts at 6:00 pm and 11:30 pm, “Midday News” at noon and “Regional Contact” for Saturdays at 6:30 pm and some news specials.

Reporter Anna-Karina Tabunar joined CJOH.

George Lund was named vice president of Baton’s Ontario stations. He had headed the company’s Mid-Canada group in Northern Ontario.

Baton cut 154 jobs as part of a restructuring of its Ontario operations.

On February 25, the Baton-Electrohome alliance announced a deal with CHUM Ltd., involving the swapping of some TV stations, to give Baton control of CTV. Baton would get CHUM’s 14.3% interest in CTV for $10 million. Baton will swap CFPL-TV London, CKNX-TV Wingham, CHWI-TV Wheatley and CHRO-TV Pembroke/Ottawa for CHUM’s Atlantic Television Network (CJCH-TV Halifax, CJCB-TV Sydney, CKCW-TV Moncton/Charlottetown and CKLT-TV Saint John/Fredericton). ATV is a CTV affiliate. Baton also gets CHUM’s Atlantic Satellite Network. Baton holds 57% of CTV. The next largest shareholder is Western International Communications with 28.6%. The CRTC approved this deal and the one involving Baton and Electrohome on August 28, 1997.

On September 24, the CRTC approved a power increase for CJOH’s Pembroke transmitter, from 253,000 to 259,000 watts video ERP. 

Reporter Natalie van den Bosch joined the CJOH news team. 

CJOH President and General Manager Bryn Matthews, after 35 years, retired at the end of March. He was succeeded by general sales manager Vince Ponds. 

Mid-day “Newsline” anchor Ron Wilson was laid off. 

Kathie Donovan and Joel Haslam were program hosts. Corey Ginther joined CJOH Sports in October.

Al MacKay, a former general manager at CJOH-TV and an industry consultant, was now interim general manager at the station.

After purchasing the CTV Television Network, Baton Broadcasting Inc. changed its name to CTV Inc. The name change was effective December 21.

Pioneering TV Producer Marion Dunn passed away in Kingston at 73. Dunn spent about 10 years working for the CBC, mostly in Toronto and about 10 more at CJOH-TV.

CTV cut 131 full-time jobs (199 people and 12 vacant positions), about 6% of its workforce. Most were from local stations, including CJOH, CKCO, CFRN and CFCN-5 (Lethbridge). About 65% were in management, administrative, and operations.

Former CJOH sportscaster Bill Patterson died in September.

Pioneering TV Producer Marion Dunn passed away at age 73. Dunn had spent about ten years working for the CBC, mostly in Toronto, and about 10 more at CJOH-TV.

Rumours had many of the big media companies eyeing CTV.

In a surprise move, late in February, BCE (Canada telephone giant) through its subsidiary BCE Media, proposed to purchase CTV Inc. for $ 2.3 billion, the largest transaction in Canadian broadcasting.

Later in March the CTV board approved the deal, which required CRTC approval.

In June BCE submitted their brief to the CRTC with the largest “benefits package” ever presented to the regulative body. The benefits, money allocated over the proposed seven year licence term, were almost entirely to be spent on new Canadian programming. Ivan Fecan agreed to stay with the network under BCE ownership.

The CRTC hearing was held in September and was approved on December 7th.

Kimothy Walker was now anchoring some newscasts.

On-Air – News Anchors: Leigh Chapple, Max Keeping, Carol Anne Meehan, Michael O’Byrne, Leanne Cusack, Kimothy Walker. Sports: Terry Marcotte, Corey Ginther, Carolyn Waldo. Weather – J.J. Clarke, Eric Longley. Hosts: Kathie Donovan, Joel Haslam. Reporters: Paul Brent, John Ruttle, Norman Fetterley, Charlie Greenwell, Derek Miller, Joanne Schnurr, Natalie van den Bosch, Kim Brunhuber, Anna-Karina Tabunar.

Former CJOH anchor and CTV reporter Dave Rinn died at age 55.

On October 3rd, CJOH-TV was rebranded as CTV Ottawa.

On July 21, the CRTC approved an application for ownership restructuring by Bell Globemedia (BGM), parent company of CTV, stemming from a deal in December 2005 that saw two new investors added to the company. Thomson family’s Woodbridge Co. Ltd. increased its stake in BGM to 40 per cent from 31.5 per cent, while BCE Inc. reduced its holding to 20 per cent from 68.5 per cent. Two other investors were added to the deal, including Torstar Corp. and Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, each with 20 per cent.

On December 14th, it was announced that effective January 2007, Bell Globemedia would be renamed CTVglobemedia Inc.

On May 15th, the CRTC announced a one-year licence renewal, effective September 1st 2009, for all of CTVglobemedia’s Over-The-Air stations, including CJOH-TV, “to give these broadcasters some flexibility during the current period of economic uncertainty.” Group-based licence renewals would then be addressed in the spring of 2010. The Commission also stated that it recognized the impracticability of imposing any conditions relative to 1-1 ratios between Canadian and non-Canadian programming in the ensuing year, given the programming commitments that were already in place.

The Commission would however continu

CTV Ottawa saw its newsroom gutted by fire on February 7, with damage estimated at more than $2.5 million. Vice President/General Manager Louis Douville said that while stock news footage, some archival footage, personal items, cameras and other vital equipment were lost, thousands of historical broadcasts were safe. Anchor Max Keeping, 67, lost many of the mementoes, awards, photos and personal items he’d collected over 37 years in broadcasting. 30-year CTV Ottawa veteran Mark Leighton, the building supervisor, earned a standing ovation from staffers for his help in limiting the destruction. He was the first employee to arrive at the fire CTV Ottawa broadcast its newscast from a satellite truck outside the building the night of the fire and then moved in with /A Ottawa in the Byward Market.

Max Keeping, the anchor at CTV Ottawa, announced that his retirement would take effect March 31 after 51 years in journalism – and nearly 40 years at CJOH. Succeeding him would be CTV reporter Graham Richardson, who would work alongside Keeping’s long-time co-anchor, Carol Anne Meehan.

It was announced that CTV Ottawa would not be returning to its fire-ravaged Merivale Road location but instead would remain, until a new building was found, in the Byward Market at /A Channel. The fire at CTV Ottawa proved too devastating to repair.

On August 12, the CRTC approved the application by CTVglobemedia Inc., on behalf of its subsidiary CTV Television Inc. to amend the broadcasting licence for the television programming undertaking CJOH-TV Ottawa in order to add a digital transmitter in Ottawa. The new transmitter would operate from the existing CJOH-TV tower on channel 13 with an average effective radiated power of 10,000 watts (maximum ERP of 19,000 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 373.4 metres).

CTV Ottawa News Director Scott Hannant announced he would be leaving that job effective August 27. Hannant was promoted to News Director at CJOH-TV in October of 2002 after serving as Executive Producer since 1994 and, before that, as Senior Producer of Sunday Edition with Mike Duffy.

On October 7, the CRTC denied an application by CTVglobemedia Inc., on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary CTV Television Inc., to reduce the overall minimum level of Canadian programming broadcast by its conventional television stations from 60% to 55%.

Peter Angione was the new CTV Ottawa News Director. He had held the same position at sister station /A Ottawa. Angione had held that position since October of 2005, promoted upward from Senior News Producer. He had worked in broadcast newsrooms at Halifax, Barrie and Edmonton before moving to Ottawa in May 2004. 

Robert Edgley became director of engineering, IT and building maintenance at CTV Ottawa, succeeding Art Clarke, the manager, engineering and IT, who retired at 49. Edgley would direct the CTV Ottawa, /A Ottawa and CHUM Radio Ottawa engineering teams and the building/security team. He joined Baton Broadcasting (now CTV) in 1991.

On March 12, CTV Ottawa celebrated its 50th year in broadcasting. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and city council, even proclaimed a CTV Ottawa Day.

On March 7, the CRTC approved an application by BCE Inc. on behalf of CTVglobemedia Inc., for authority to change the effective control of CTVgm’s licensed broadcasting subsidiaries to BCE. The Commission concluded that the transaction would be beneficial to the Canadian broadcasting system by ensuring the long-term stability of a significant Canadian television network and advancing the Commission’s objective of providing relevant high-quality Canadian programming to Canadians through conventional and new media distribution channels. BCE was a public corporation and controlled by its board of directors. Before this approval, BCE held 15% of the voting interest in the capital of CTVgm. The other shareholders were 1565117 Ontario Limited (a corporation ultimately controlled by Mr. David Kenneth R. Thomson) (40% of the voting interest), Ontario Teacher’s Plan Board (25% of the voting interest) and Torstar Corporation (20% of the voting interest). Under the transaction agreement dated September 10, 2010, BCE would acquire the remaining 85% of the voting interest in the capital of CTVgm and would therefore exercise effective control.

On March 12th, CJOH-TV celebrated its 50th Anniversary in broadcasting, and produced a video to mark the occasion.*

On March 15, CTV Inc., CTV Corp., CTV Limited and CTVglobemedia Inc. amalgamated to continue as CTV Inc.

On March 29, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for a number of conventional television and transitional digital television stations until August 31, 2011. The CRTC noted that it did not intend to renew authorizations for full-power analog transmitters operating in the mandatory markets or on channels 52 to 69 outside the mandatory markets beyond August 31, 2011. By that time, the Commission expected licensees to have the necessary authority to broadcast in digital.

BCE Inc. announced on April 1 that it had completed its acquisition of CTV and that it had launched Bell Media (replacing CTVglobemedia), a new business unit that would make CTV programs and other Bell content available on smartphones and computers as well as traditional television. In addition to CTV and its television stations, Bell Media now also operated 29 specialty channels, 33 radio stations, Dome Productions, a mobile broadcast facilities provider, and dozens of high-traffic news, sports and entertainment websites, including the Sympatico.ca portal.

On July 27, the CRTC renewed the licences of CJOH-DT Ottawa and its transmitters CJOH-TV-6 Deseronto, CJOH-TV-8 Cornwall (formerly CJOH-TV-8 Lancaster), and CJOH-TV-47 Pembroke, until August 31, 2016.

The deadline for the conversion of analog television to digital in mandatory markets was August 31. CJOH-TV made the change on that date. The analog services of CJOH stopped on channel 13, and the digital services of CJOH-DT started up on the same channel. The virtual channel was 13.1.

The CRTC approved a change to the ownership of Bell Media Inc., from BCE Inc. to Bell Canada. This transaction would not affect effective control of Bell Media Inc. and of its licensed broadcasting subsidiaries, which continued to be exercised by BCE Inc. Bell Media Inc. held, directly and through its licensed broadcasting subsidiaries, various radio and television programming undertakings as well as specialty and pay-per-view television services.

J.R. Ello was named promotions manger at Bell Media Ottawa. He would be responsible for all promotional and community relations activity for Majic 100, 93.9 BOB FM, CFRA, Team 1200, CTV Ottawa and CTV Two Ottawa. Louis Douville moved from CTV Ottawa to become VP and general manager at CTV Montreal.

Sixteen Bell Media Ottawa staffers, on-air and a manager, were let go in what was described as a corporate restructuring at CTV Ottawa, CFRA, Majic 100, Bob FM and Team 1200. Among those dismissed were CFRA talk show Host Michael Harris and reporter Gord McDougall; Team 1200’s Jim Jerome, Phil Melanson and Mike Sutherland; Majic 100’s Steve Boynton; BOB FM’s Tina Sapp; marketing director for Bell Media Radio Ottawa and CTV Two Ottawa Al Macartney; and CTV Ottawa’s promotion manager, Brent Corbeil.

CTV Ottawa late night anchor Leigh Chapple ended her 36-year career with the station at the beginning of May. The Ottawa-born broadcaster began her career at CJOH-TV (CTV Ottawa) as news anchor Max Keeping’s personal assistant, then became a Reporter.

Brent Corbeil, who had been CTV Ottawa’s Promotion Manager from March of 2003 through February of this year, was now boom 99.7’s (Ottawa) new morning co-host.

CTV Ottawa News Director Peter Angione left to take up the same position on an interim basis at CTV Vancouver.

There was another major lay-off at Bell Media Ottawa. Among those let go were CTV Ottawa weatherman Eric Longley and sports anchor Corey Ginther. CTV Producer Jeff Stamp and an editorial assistant were also let go. Last year at this time, CTV Ottawa laid off a number of camera operators, video editors and production staff.

Leigh Chapple passed away at age 58. The former CJOH news anchor retired in May of 2012 after more than three decades with the station.

Former CTV Ottawa news anchor Max Keeping passed away at age 73. He anchored the CJOH-TV 6 p.m. news for 38 years before retiring in 2010. Max was very involved in the community and established a foundation in his name. Keeping was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame, was a member of the Order of Canada, and a member of the Order of Ontario.

In the latest round of job reductions at Bell Media, CTV Ottawa news anchor Carol Anne Meehan (27-year veteran) and sports reporter Carolyn Waldo (25-year vet), were among the casualties. CTV Morning Live reporter Lois Lee was also cut. Others included engineers, producers and several sales people.

Ottawa’s mayor put forward a motion asking that the pedestrian walkway over the Queensway from the baseball stadium to the train station be called the Max Keeping Memorial Bridge. The long-time CTV Ottawa news anchor was a champion for children’s health, and raised millions of dollars for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

When the CJOH-DT licence was renewed in May, CJOH‐TV‐8 Cornwall was removed from the licence at the request of Bell Media. The existing licence would expire August 31, 2017.

It was announced in June that CTV Ottawa would begin airing a 5:00 p.m. weekday newscast in the fall. This move was being made by all CTV stations not already airing news in this time period.

Bill Luxton passed away July 13 at the age of 92. He started his career as a junior radio announcer in Port Arthur, and was later accepted to Lorne Greene’s Academy of Radio Arts. That led to work with CKWS Kingston. When CJOH Ottawa started up in 1961, Bill was called for an audition. He would go on to work with the station for 27 years as a host and actor. Luxton played Uncle Willy on the children’s show Willy and Floyd, which ran on the station for 22 years (Floyd was played by Les Lye). He also served as the station’s announcer, hosted the daily magazine show, among other roles.

On July 30, the CRTC gave Bell Media permission to delete 28 analog rebroadcasting transmitters across the country. Bell stated the transmitters did not generate any incremental revenue and generally attracted little to no added viewership. The following CJOH-DT transmitters would be shut down: CJOH-TV-47 Pembroke on May 2, 2020, and CJOH-TV-6 Deseronto, on October 9, 2020.