CBC Radio Names New Host for Northern Ontario Afternoon Show

Posted on by Jon Ellis

CBC Radio One has named Jonathan Pinto the new host of the afternoon show that’s simulcast across its Thunder Bay and Sudbury regions.

Pinto will begin hosting “Up North” in early September, replacing Waubgeshig Rice, who left to pursue a writing career. “Up North” airs from 4 to 6 p.m. Eastern time/3 to 5 p.m. Central time on dozens of transmitters relaying CBQT (Thunder Bay) and CBCS (Sudbury) stretching from the Manitoba border to Hudson Bay to Lake Huron.

Pinto has been with the CBC for ten years and has worked on several regional shows in southern Ontario. In an interview that aired on the show Tuesday, Pinto acknowledged that he doesn’t have any northern Ontario connections but said he’s looking forward to exploring the region.

Though based in Sudbury, the show includes content from both listening regions and has occasionally been presented from Thunder Bay.

“Up North” began in 2014 when the CBC eliminated Thunder Bay’s local afternoon show as a result of budget cuts. Thunder Bay has retained its separate local morning show.