Month: June 2016

Former Toronto Star Editor “Forced” to Pen Self-Defence On Newsroom Tragedy

June 27, 2016

Former Toronto Star editor Jon Filson broke his silence today on the suicide of Star reporter Raveena Aulakh.
The end of Filson’s relationship with Aulakh was cited in her note, and an article by Toronto Star’s public editor Kathy English said Aulakh was “clearly heartbroken” because the relationship had “ended recently.” English also wrote that Aulakh alleged an “improper relationship between Filson and his boss, managing editor Jane Davenport.”
After Raveena Aulakh’s death, the Toronto Star’s union called for an external investigation. But, in a memo to its staff, the paper resisted, saying they have conducted two of their own investigations. According to the memo, the second investigation found that “Raveena’s immediate manager provided  outstanding and exceptional levels of support and assistance to Raveena”
Filson’s response came in the form of a personal essay titled Private Lives, posted on the Walrus‘s website, which previously ran a piece on Aulakh’s death by editor Jon Kay titled Show Us The Suicide Note.
In the essay, Filson said he was “forced” to write the explanation to clear up misconceptions. He also said two reporters contacted him for comment. CANADALAND is among the two but we have not heard back.
In clearing up perceived misconceptions about Aulakh’s death. Filson makes a number of points which arguably shift the blame from his shoulders. These include:
* Filson wrote that while he was married when the relationship began, so was Raveena Aulakh.
* In an apparent reference to the notion that Filson was the one to end his relationship with Aulakh, Filson wrote that she “dropped” him many times.
 * Filson said he was never Aulakh’s boss and twice mentioned that they were close to each other in age.
* Filson rejected that there is a “simple explanation” to Aulakh’s death, writing that he doubts any mental health expert would say it’s as simple as “an admittedly terrible break-up.”
* Filson pointed to the death of Aulakh’s grandparents and to her mental health.
* Filson wrote that he helped Aulakh find a therapist and urged her to keep seeing him.
* Filson acknowledged that Aulakh, in her note, asked not to be written about following her death, but didn’t say why he chose to go against her wishes.
In his concluding paragraph, Filson wrote that “these have been the worst days of my life” and said, “I don’t know what I will do now.”
The piece ends with a link to his LinkedIn profile, which contains his resume.
Earlier in the piece, Filson wrote, “Raveena deserved better.”
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editor@canadalandshow.com

Stop Laughing At Us, Says CBC Comedy Site

June 27, 2016

Last week the CBC put its widely derided comedy portal Punchline out of its misery and rebranded it as CBC Comedy. They were very excited about this.

Our beloved Punchline is all grown up! We’re so pumped to unveil our sleeker, sexier site, now called CBC Comedy! https://t.co/U3s16bhyCF
— CBC Comedy (@CBCComedy) June 23, 2016

Readers were quick to note that the site is still not funny.

@CBCComedy if only yall put as much effort into having funny content as you do with your sexy site
— Brandon Trainor (@BTrainLD) June 24, 2016

A pack of jackals from the National Post took particular pleasure in making fun of the site.

It still appears to be bad. https://t.co/MNr5amr5Ak
— Jen Gerson (@jengerson) June 24, 2016

The new CBC Comedy: where unfunny Something Awful forum content from 1997 is reposted 19 years later. pic.twitter.com/5aamY3pcAQ
— Sean D. B. Craig (@sdbcraig) June 24, 2016

“No, seriously. It’s comedy. It’s right there in the name.” https://t.co/nu9lJFuAHt
— Chris Selley (@cselley) June 24, 2016

This seems to have hurt the feelings of the CBC Comedy team.
The site’s editor sent private messages to her critics, letting them know it’s not nice to make fun.

And that’s how we work things out in Canada.
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@CANADALAND

Toronto Star Memo on Investigation into Death of Raveena Aulakh

June 15, 2016

CANADALAND has obtained a memo presenting Toronto Star staff with the findings of management’s investigation into the death of Raveena Aulakh. Here is the memo sent to all staff.

What I Learned From Being in a Focus Group Led by Bruce Anderson

June 15, 2016

I know the oil industry wants to be thought of as innovative growth entrepreneurs, not out of guesswork, although that wouldn’t be terribly difficult, but because they told me so.

Court Documents Shed Light on Brewing Legal Battle Over Sexual Harassment at Global B.C.

June 10, 2016

A makeup artist who worked at Global News British Columbia is alleging sexual harassment in the workplace by anchor Chris Gailus, according to documents obtained by CANADALAND. Dawne Koke is also claiming the Canadian Human Rights Commission wrongfully tossed discrimination and retaliation complaints over the alleged sexual harassment she suffered at the station in the seven-year period between 2006 and 2013.

Toronto Star’s Managing Editor Leaves the Newsroom: Memo

June 6, 2016

CANADALAND has obtained a memo outlining the departure of Jane Davenport, the Toronto Star’s managing editor, from the newsroom. Here is the full memo sent to the editorial department:
From: “Cooke, Michael”
Date: Monday, June 6, 2016 at 2:16 PM
To: EDT
Cc: “Holland, David”, “Honderich, John”, “Bower, Alan”
Subject: Jane
At her request, Jane Davenport, our Managing Editor, will move to a new role outside the newsroom and within Torstar, effective immediately.
Our newsroom’s loss is somewhat softened by Torstar ‘s gain as Jane will no doubt make a considerable contribution in her new job.
During Jane’s tenure as Managing Editor she has helped energize our journalism and she has been in a relentless pursuit of the Star’s trifecta of major story-types : investigations, exclusives, and actions.
On a personal note, I shall miss being alongside her intelligence, enthusiasm, energy and her extraordinary work ethic.
I hope to be able to make an announcement later this week regarding Jane’s successor.
Sincerely,
Michael
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editor@canadalandshow.com