CBC names new host

CBC Prince Edward Island will have a distinctly Toronto feel when its two new hosts take to the airwaves later this year.

Tuesday, the network announced Louise Martin, a former host at CBC News Network, will replace Bruce Rainnie as the anchor of Compass. Meteorologist Jay Scotland is believed to be the replacement for Kevin “Boomer” Gallant, who was a household name across the province after spending 31 years on the air with the CBC.

Both Martin and Scotland will relocate to Prince Edward Island.

Network officials pored over hundreds of applications, including many from the Island, but finally decided on the Toronto anchors.

Martin began her broadcasting career in Brandon, Man., where she hosted radio news and television news and was a weather presenter. She has also worked in Alberta.

In 2002, Martin moved to Toronto where she covered business for CBC for more than eight years. According to the CBC’s website, Martin was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and immigrated to Canada in 1981. She now calls Toronto home. While Martin may be a relatively unknown for Prince Edward Island viewers, Scotland’s weather forecasts were part of the CBC News Network before he took on a role as meteorologist for CBC Toronto. Born in Hamilton and raised in the small town of Dunnville, Ont., Scotland started his career in radio in Kingston, Ont.

He was asked to cover a few shifts at CBC’s affiliate, CKWSTV in Kingston. He then worked in Peterborough before jumping to CBC News Network’s morning show.

He now works for CBC’s supper hour show in Toronto. CBC News: Compass has been without a full-time host since Rainnie, along with Gallant, left the show in late April. Rainnie had been host of the show for 13 years. Hundreds of Islanders turned out to say goodbye to the hosts during a farewell event at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown.

To date, Sara Fraser has been filling in as host while the CBC hunted for permanent replacements.