FULL-TIME FACULTY
Larry Cornies is
coordinator of the journalism print program, the journalism broadcast program and the postgraduate new media program. He has worked as a print and broadcast journalist in both Canada and the U.S., including as editor of The London Free Press and A-section page editor at The Globe and Mail. Larry has also taught journalism for more than 20 years at the University of Western Ontario, Ryerson University and Conestoga. In addition to his blog, he writes a weekly newspaper column. Larry earned his master’s degree in journalism at Western.
Christina Jonas has been a professor of journalism at Conestoga since 1998. She also worked at The Hamilton Spectator as a copy editor until December 2011, and continues to work as a freelance writer, with her work having appeared in newspapers across Canada. Previously she was the managing editor of a daily newspaper and a judge for The Canadian Press Ontario News Awards. She is a graduate of Conestoga’s journalism print program and has a bachelor of professional arts degree, majoring in communications, from Athabasca University.
ADJUNCT AND SESSIONAL FACULTY
David Chidley is a professional photographer covering Southwestern Ontario. Based near London, Ont., his region includes Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Stratford, Chatham, Sarnia, Windsor, Detroit and beyond. He has worked at daily newspapers in Toronto, Calgary and London, Ont., and freelances for a broad range of regular clients, most notably The Canadian Press. His news images can be found in newspapers, magazines and on websites across the country and around the world.
Business editor, deputy city editor, life editor, arts editor, business columnist, city columnist, humour columnist … Over the course of her 14 years at The Waterloo Region Record, Susan Chilton served in all of these roles. Depending on what section she was spearheading, from 1995 to 2009 Susan served as assignment editor, writing coach and mentor to up to 25 reporters and newsroom interns at a time. Susan is also currently a book editor, media-relations trainer and columnist for MOST Magazine.
Kim Denstedt worked for several years as a reporter, editor and freelance writer for weekly community newspapers in Ontario. She also owned and operated a public relations agency for several years, advising business on communications and media relations. She is a graduate of Ryerson University (Journalism) and is pursuing online graduate studies in Communications and Technology through the University of Alberta.
Tim Goebel graduated from Conestoga’s Radio and Television program in 1981. Since then, he’s worked at CKCO Television and radio stations in Guelph, Thunder Bay, Kitchener and London in a variety of capacities, including newscaster and program manager. He is also trying to tame 100 acres of bush by turning it into a productive, off-grid, self sustainable homestead. Tim also has a home studio where he records voiceover for radio and television commercials. He’s been at the college since 2000.
Bruce Langer is a copy editor with Postmedia Editorial Services in Hamilton, where he edits local, national, international and sports news articles for various Postmedia newspapers across Canada, including the Windsor Star, Regina Leader Post and Vancouver Sun. Before moving to Postmedia, he was a wire editor and evening supervising editor at the Sarnia (Ont.) Observer. He is a graduate of both Fanshawe College in London, Ont., and Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology in Ottawa.
Tom Nunn has more than three decades of experience in media, public affairs, business and issues management. His media background includes 20 years as a business writer, columnist and investigative journalist at five newspapers, plus a range of broadcast and social media freelance work. For the past 12 years he handled national media relations for one of Canada’s top publicly traded companies and currently runs his own consulting company, Tom Nunn Strategic Communications, based in Kitchener.
Ken Peters teaches Law and Ethics and Court and Council courses. He earned his Bachelor of Journalism degree at Carleton University in 1982 and has been employed as a full-time journalist for nearly 30 years, including the past 23 at the Hamilton Spectator, where he has covered numerous beats. Peters was at the centre of a Canadian press freedom debate in 2004, when he faced the risk of jail for refusing an Ontario superior court justice’s order to reveal a confidential source.
Scot Urquhart has spent more than 30 years working in broadcast news. He began as a part-time, weekend news reader at CHLO radio in St. Thomas, Ont. and six months later moved to CHCH Television in Hamilton as a news writer. Since 1981, he has worked at CHCH in various roles as a writer, reporter and producer. He has produced newscasts (News at Noon and CHCH News at 11 ), talk shows (The Bill Kelly Show) and lifestyle magazine shows (At Home). He also fronted a highly popular consumer news feature known as “Urked,” as well as writing and producing several investigative news reports; most notably on TARION and the Ontario New Home Warranty Program.
TECHNOLOGISTS
Brian Clemens is an award-winning 30-year veteran in television and radio broadcast engineering. A graduate of Conestoga College, he spent 20 years with CTV Southwestern Ontario and has worked worldwide in remote sports coverage, news and entertainment production, including six Olympic Games. He has also built and maintained radio stations for Corus Entertainment and worked in RIM’s multimedia department.
Chris Martin is a new-media specialist with more than seven years of experience designing and developing new-media solutions for clients such as 3M Canada, Harley Canada, Stihl, RIM and General Mills. His career in the marketing, advertising and media industries began after he graduated with honours from Fanshawe College’s multimedia design and production program, which he augmented with a diploma in Fanshawe College’s digital video post-production’s course. He has developed “end-to-end” skills in multimedia production.
Thom Smith is a Toronto native who has travelled to various and sundry locales in Ontario over the years. He has been involved in radio for more than 15 years, first as a producer and then as an engineer. Among the significant points in his career were the design and installation of new studios for Corus Entertainment in Cornwall, Ont. Thom has been a technologist with Conestoga College since 2008; he assists students and professors with managing the full spectrum of radio and audio-related technologies.
Michael Toll has over 12 years of experience working in the film and television industry. Michael graduated from the Media Arts program at Sheridan College and got his first job working as a sound engineer for CBC Radio. In 1999 he began working for Deluxe – Sound and Picture in Toronto in film and television post-production. Michael’s credits include major Hollywood films such as “Chicago” and “X-Men” and Television series such as “CSI Miami.” Before coming to Conestoga, Michael worked as a freelance production technician for commercial and corporate video production.
