TORONTO, 10 MARCH 2023 – CBC Toronto today announced Ismaila Alfa as the new host of CBC Radio One's Fresh Air, Ontario’s leading weekend morning radio program.

Known to Toronto audiences as the host of CBC Toronto’s Metro Morning, Alfa will bring his extensive knowledge of arts, music and community to a wider Ontario audience starting March 25, 2023. Fresh Air airs every Saturday and Sunday from 6 to 9 a.m. on CBC Radio One and CBC Listen .

“I'm excited that people across the entire province will have the chance to get to know Ismaila when he steps into the role of host of Fresh Air,” said Ruth Zowdu, Senior Managing Director of CBC Ontario. “He's warm and curious and he's had a wide range of life experiences, including writing plays, and writing and performing music among other things, that inform his interviews.”

A CBC Radio broadcaster and journalist since 2008, Alfa previously served as the host of CBC Radio One's Up to Speed, Winnipeg's afternoon news and current affairs program. As host of Metro Morning, Alfa guided Toronto listeners through the pandemic and the 2022 Toronto municipal election with compassion and steadfastness. The search for a new Metro Morning host will begin immediately.

Alfa was born in Zaria, Nigeria to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother. He was raised in Nigeria and Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he studied civil engineering at the University of Manitoba. A playwright and musical artist, he toured Canada and the United States as a hip-hop musician for nearly a decade. To Alfa, music has always been his way to connect with various communities and to hear their concerns.

"It's been an honour to serve Toronto audiences in the role of Metro Morning host and I am grateful to the Metro Morning team for everything we have achieved together," said Alfa. "My passion is deeply rooted in arts, culture, community and people. I’m looking forward to reaching new audiences as host of Fresh Air.”

Each Saturday and Sunday, CBC Radio One's Fresh Air brings listeners a showcase of voices, stories, events and ideas that make Ontario lively and interesting. For more information on Fresh Air, visit cbc.ca/freshair .

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About CBC/Radio-Canada:

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

Media contact:

Lama Alsafi, Senior Manager Communications, CBC Ontario

lama.alsafi@cbc.ca

343-550-4124