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MARK CONNOLLY, HOST OF CBC RADIO'S EDMONTON AM, ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
MARK CONNOLLY, HOST OF CBC RADIO'S EDMONTON AM, ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

CBC

time30-07-2025

  • Sport
  • CBC

MARK CONNOLLY, HOST OF CBC RADIO'S EDMONTON AM, ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

After an exceptional 37-year career with CBC, Edmonton AM host Mark Connolly has announced his retirement. His final broadcast on CBC Radio's Edmonton morning show was today, Thursday, July 31. Connolly began his career with CBC in 1988 as a sports reporter, a role he held for more than two decades before transitioning to anchoring television news in 2010. He made the transition to radio in 2013, becoming host of Edmonton AM. For the past 12 years, he has served as a trusted voice and champion for the Edmonton community. During his career, he also played a key role in CBC Sports' programming, covering 12 Olympic Games and reporting from major sporting events around the world. "My 36-plus years at CBC have given me more opportunity than I ever dreamed of,' Connolly said. 'Going to the Olympic Games was a thrill and the chance to travel the world while doing a job I loved. And hosting Edmonton AM has been such a pleasure to share my love of our city while hearing from so many interesting people. I look forward to hyping our city in my semi-retirement." Connolly's connection to CBC goes back to his teenage years when he worked as a janitor at the local station. That early exposure sparked a passion for broadcasting that led him to study at NAIT before taking on play-by-play duties with the AJHL's Fort McMurray Oil Barons. He later worked in private radio in Fort McMurray, Red Deer and Edmonton before joining CBC. Known for his deep knowledge of the city, journalistic integrity and warm on-air presence, Connolly has become a listener favourite across the province. Off the air, he has also been a regular host and speaker at community events throughout Alberta. 'I've always appreciated Mark's passionate support of Edmonton and northern Alberta,' said Stephanie Coombs, director of journalism and programming for CBC Edmonton. 'Whether he was covering the Olympics, interviewing guests on Edmonton AM or meeting people at community events or live broadcasts, it was always clear that this place, and its people, holds a very special place in his heart. I know that our listeners felt that with Mark and it's why he connected so well with them.' In addition to his broadcasting accomplishments, Connolly has been a mentor and leader in the newsroom, helping colleagues sharpen their storytelling and presentation skills. He has also played a key role in fostering CBC Edmonton's workplace culture, contributing to mentorship programs, social events and staff celebrations. 'Working with Mark has never felt like a job because we're co-workers and friends,' said Edmonton AM traffic and weather reporter Tara McCarthy. 'He has such a wealth of knowledge about Edmonton because it's the city he knows and loves. He's incredibly generous, kind and curious — which is why he's been the perfect host for Edmonton AM all these years. I wish him the absolute best in retirement, but it's extremely obvious how much the listeners, our morning team and all his CBC colleagues will miss him.' For Connolly, the time is right to retire. 'I think I'm ready to move on to the next thing — and not wake up at 3:45 in the morning.' -30- About CBC/Radio-Canada CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada's trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages: Dëne Sųłıné, Dene Kǝdǝ́, Dene Zhatıé, Eastern Cree, Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun and Tłı̨chǫ. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

RCMP push back on province's claims about police force in Alberta Next video
RCMP push back on province's claims about police force in Alberta Next video

CBC

time25-07-2025

  • Politics
  • CBC

RCMP push back on province's claims about police force in Alberta Next video

Social Sharing The commanding officer of the Alberta RCMP says the province's Alberta Next panel is sharing information about the federal agency that is untrue. In an interview Thursday morning on CBC's Edmonton AM, Trevor Daroux, RCMP deputy commissioner, said a leaked letter from RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme last week to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to debunk misconceptions about the agency is "very important." Daroux says the letter emphasizes the RCMP's commitment to continue "contract policing" in municipalities beyond an expiration date of 2032. He said switching between police services is so intricate, he can't foresee many places swapping agencies voluntarily. "It's complex and it's difficult in municipalities, let alone in a region like in Alberta," Daroux said. "I believe the RCMP will be here to stay for a long time." The Alberta government recently began a series of public town halls with the 16-member Alberta Next panel, asking participants to consider Alberta's relationship with the federal government. Chaired by the premier, the panel plays a series of videos about the possibilities of an expanded provincial police service, a provincial tax collection agency, an Alberta pension plan, and other topics. The policing video says Ottawa isn't providing the number of RCMP officers it promised, and "officers are often moved across the country at a moment's notice." Alberta RCMP push back The video says the federal government chooses the RCMP's policing priorities. It also says officers who don't speak French won't qualify for senior posts. And it says the province needs to be prepared, should the federal government decide the RCMP should end local policing when contracts with the territories and eight provinces expire in 2032. On Edmonton AM, Daroux said RCMP are legally obligated to set local policing priorities in concert with the provinces. Detachment commanders set priorities together with communities, he said. He said recruitment is a challenge for policing agencies across North America, not just the RCMP. He pointed to agencies offering signing bonuses to new officers as a recruitment tool, which he'd never seen in his 37-year career. Although the RCMP encourage employees to learn more languages, leadership roles in Alberta are English-speaking positions, Daroux said. He added that he's mystified by the assertion that RCMP officers are shunted between communities across the country against their will. "We hear it when we when we're recruiting people — 'I don't want to move without being told,' " Daroux said. "That doesn't happen in the RCMP. In fact, if individuals want to stay in a community, and the community wants them to stay there, they can stay as long as they want." Caught in the middle Rural Municipalities of Alberta president Kara Westerlund says none of the war of words about the Alberta RCMP is helping improve police services and safety in the province's small towns and counties. "These are men and women that are putting their lives at risk every single day," she said. "And to be drug into this political back and forth, you know, it's extremely disheartening." RCMP sergeants in Brazeau County, where Westerlund is a councillor, attend council meetings to get feedback, and make changes in response to council's concerns, she said. In her 15 years on council, she's never known of an RCMP officer forced to move to another community, she said. Westerlund said it's important for anyone starting conversations about policing changes to present accurate information. "We don't have a policing problem in this province," she said. "We have a judicial problem." Westerlund has previously said the province's announcement of a new provincial police service consisting of some sheriffs came without warning. Rural municipal leaders have unanswered questions about who will oversee and discipline those sheriffs-turned-officers, and how much any transition to provincial police will cost municipalities and residents long term. She's advocating for any policing bills to the public to be a separate requisition from property taxes, for transparency. Minister Ellis declined an interview request on Thursday. In a statement, his press secretary, Arthur Green, said RCMP Commissioner Duheme has said the force ought to focus more on international threats and federal policing. RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme talks with Power & Politics about the arrests made in Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing, drug decriminalization and what needs to change within the RCMP to prepare it for future challenges. Green also pointed to a federal government white paper released last March that says, "The federal government should be committed to working closely with provinces to support a transition away from contract policing, while maintaining strong interoperability with federal policing." Green said Alberta cannot wait until 2032 to begin planning, should the RCMP's mandate change. He said the RCMP has previously said senior organizational posts in Ottawa require bilingual candidates. And that high employee vacancy rates in some Alberta communities policed by the RCMP have led to service gaps that undermine public confidence. "Alberta's government has raised these concerns repeatedly, and while we appreciate efforts to improve recruitment and retention, the pace of progress has not matched the urgency of the issue," Green wrote.

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