The former CEO of Sun Gilles Carignan becomes the new head of information and programming at the Radio-Canada station in Quebec. He thus replaces Caroline Gaudreault who had left her post at the beginning of the year after the revelations of a “toxic” work climate within the station.
“Gilles is a reference in information. He knows our region and its challenges perfectly. We found in him a journalistic rigor and a strategic vision for the future. I am convinced that he will be able to support and grow the members of our team,” said the station’s regional director, Julie Lemieux, announcing the news in a press release on Wednesday.
A graduate of Laval University with a Bachelor of Arts, Gilles Carignan spent 27 years in daily employment The sun. He held various key positions there such as journalist, desk manager, editor-in-chief, deputy editor and then general manager, a role he left at the end of 2021.
“I am very proud to continue to inform the greater Quebec City region, now with the Radio-Canada team, whose quest for excellence I share. The current success of this newsroom, on all platforms, demonstrates the value that the public places on quality, credible and reliable information. With the Quebec team, I would like to make sure, in this constantly changing environment, that we always meet this expectation,” commented the man who will officially take office on July 11.
“Toxic” work environment
Gilles Carignan succeeds Caroline Gaudreault who left her post in January, a year after The sun had revealed the existence of a “toxic” work climate within the team for several years. Many employees and ex-employees had testified to having been victims of degrading, denigrating and humiliating remarks.
Several station executives were targeted by these allegations, including Caroline Gaudreault and Véronique Lessard, who also resigned from her position as regional director of the station last year. The latter was replaced by Julie Lemieux in February.
Faced with these tense labor relations, Radio-Canada initiated a conciliation process in agreement with the union in the spring of 2021. The conciliator’s report, tabled a few days after Ms. Lessard’s resignation, reported on several problems within the station management.
In all, 27 recommendations were made and Radio-Canada has undertaken to implement all of those for which it is responsible.