OTTAWA – The Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) announced today it has named Christa Dickenson (above) as its new president and CEO, effective Sept. 12, 2022.
The announcement comes a few months after Colette Watson was named president of Rogers Sports and Media. Watson was CPAC’s president from April 2019 to January 2022, according to her LinkedIn page.
Dickenson is coming to her new role at CPAC from Telefilm Canada where she is executive director and CEO.
“As CPAC celebrates its 30th anniversary on the airwaves this year, Dickenson will work with CPAC’s staff and board on the vision for the next decade of bringing viewers a unique window on parliamentary, political and public affairs in Canada and abroad,” a CPAC press release says.
“I believe that the role CPAC plays today is even more critical in bringing the voice of democracy to Canadians. It has never been more relevant in this time of accelerated disinformation,” Dickenson said, in the release.
Dickenson, who has 30 years of experience in film, cable television, interactive digital media, technology and telecommunications, “brings to CPAC a proven track record of engaging and collaborating across private, not-for-profit and public sectors,” the release says.
“With a prolific business acumen, her strong sense of mission has been instrumental to the success of Telefilm Canada, Interactive Ontario, Rogers, CTV News, and CPAC – where she worked early in her career.”
Dickenson’s work is well recognized. She was nominated for the APEX 2022 Leadership Excellence Award in public service and was named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s 20 Most Powerful Women in Global Entertainment last fall.
“The credibility and relationships Christa has established through years of experience working with the federal government will prove invaluable as she leads the organization forward and continues to showcase CPAC as the voice of democracy in Canada,” said Peter Johnson, chair of CPAC’s board. “We are thrilled that CPAC will benefit from her energy, drive and collaborative spirit.”
“The channel’s objective and unfiltered coverage enticed me at the beginning of my career and I am incredibly excited to return nearly three decades later to assume its leadership,” Dickenson said. “It is with great honour that I rejoin the hard-working and dedicated team at CPAC.”
Photo provided by CPAC. Photo credit: Helen Tansey.
