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press release: Pat Ellingson Announces Retirement from TVO

Pat Ellingson, TVO’s long-serving Creative Head of Children’s and Parents’ Media, is retiring effectiveAugust 31, 2015.

Pat joined TVO in August 1995 to help start up TVO’s venture into live current affairs programming, Studio 2. In 1998, she was named Creative Head of Children’s Programming.

Working with some of Canada’s most notable producers, Pat consistently delivers thought-provoking and engaging content linked to the Ontario school curriculum. Her international co-productions have included Dino Dan, The Mysteries of Alfred Hedgehog, Wild Kratts, Annedroids, This is Daniel Cook, and Peep and the Big Wide World. TVO’s in-house productions she fostered include Gisèle’s Big Backyard, Reading Rangers, Super Citizens and Tumbletown Tales.

Over the past two decades, Pat and her team have made TVO the most trusted media brand for children in Canada today. Pat was responsible for the convergence of TVO’s new media and children’s television. She rebuilt the tvokids.com website, helping make it one of the most popular kids’ online destinations in Canada.

She has won multiple awards across all platforms including Canadian Screen Awards for best interactive, best pre-school, and best children’s and youth programming. Under Pat’s watch, TVOKids has been voted best family channel by City Parent 14 years in a row. TVOKids.com was named Exceptional Website for Children from the American Public Library Association. She also spearheaded multiple formal research projects on TVOKids games that highlight the positive impact of well-produced educational content on young children. In 2009, Pat received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Youth Media Alliance in recognition of her incredible career in children’s broadcasting.

Pat will be staying with TVO until the end of August to transition her responsibilities. Going forward, TVO’s Digital Education Division will have a new structure.

Effective immediately, Marney Malabar, who previously oversaw TVO’s school-aged programming block, The Space, will be the Director, Kids TV. This role will oversee in-house production, co-production and acquisition of children’s television.

Marie McCann will continue to be the creative spark behind GBB and our pre-school kids television production.

Jessica McLaughlin will be the new Director, Kids Online responsible for tvokids.com.

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