Long-time TVO children’s programming exec Pat Ellingson is retiring from a 20-year career at the Canadian provincial pubcaster on Aug. 31.

Having joined TVO in 1995, she was promoted to creative head of children’s programming in 1998. Along with building the educational brand, she was responsible for rebuilding tvokids.com and leading the move to multiplatform production for TVOKids.

Her international coproductions include Dino Dan, The Mysteries of Alfred Hedgehog, Wild Kratts, Annedroids, This is Daniel Cook and Peep and the Big Wide World. In-house productions created under her stewardship include Gisèle’s Big Backyard, Reading Rangers, Super Citizens and Tumbletown Tales.

With Ellingson’s retirement, TVOKids’ digital education department will have a new structure.

Effective immediately, Marney Malabar will be director of kids TV, overseeing in-house production, co-productions and acquisition of children’s television. Marie McCann will continue to oversee Gisèle’s Big Backyard and preschool television production.

TVOKids is set to begin the process of hiring someone to oversee The Space, Reading Rangers and other school age in-house productions.

Jessica McLaughlin is the new director of kids online. She will be responsible for tvokids.com, as well as the K-6 Math Suite content.

Ellingson has been instrumental in shaping TVOKids into an educational juggernaut. In 2009, she received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Youth Media Alliance in recognition of her career in children’s broadcasting.

– From Kidscreen