• Peter Viner has retired from CanWest MediaWorks, ending 33 years with the TV and print giant and its parent CanWest Global Communications. Viner, 61, oversaw the media conglomerate’s broadcast and publishing properties, which include Global Television, the CH channels, eight specialty channels, the National Post, and daily and weekly newspapers across the country. A replacement is not being sought at this time. He will continue to serve as an advisor for CanWest.

• Samantha Traub and Amanda Mathieson have joined Temple Street Productions (Queer as Folk, Canada’s Next Top Model) as VP of business and legal affairs and VP of finance, respectively. Traub is a former associate at the Toronto law firm Goodmans, while Mathieson was previously the international controller for William F White.

• Andrew Cochran is the new regional director for CBC Television in the Maritimes, replacing recent retiree Ron Crocker.

• Cookie Jar Entertainment has hired Melissa Wolfe as its director of development, posting the indie animation vet to its L.A. office, where she will report to SVP Anne Austen. Wolfe was previously with Frederator Studios, a New York- and Burbank-based animation house (The Fairly OddParents) affiliated with Nickelodeon, where she was programming director for the Channel Frederator podcast. Wolfe also associate produced the Nicktoons Network Animation Festival in 2005 and 2006.

• CTVglobemedia has promoted veteran news director Richard Gray to head of news for its A-Channel stations. Gray, who was station manager at A-Channel Vancouver Island, will oversee local newsrooms for the group in Barrie, Ottawa, London, Wingham, Windsor and Vancouver Island, in addition to Brandon, MB’s CKX station. He will be based out of Vancouver Island.