Ralph Benmergui
Encyclopedia
Raphael Benmergui (born 1955) is a Canadian
television and radio personality and political advisor. Most recently a morning host on JAZZ.FM91
, he left the station on November 26, 2010, and currently holds the position of director of communications for Glen Murray, Minister of Research and Innovation.
Born in Tangier
, Morocco
, but raised in Toronto
, Benmergui studied journalism at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, where he was news director and program producer at the university's radio station. The CBC offered Benmergui a research job in Winnipeg
. From there, he went on to produce current affairs documentaries and was named host of Nightlines
, a late-night music show on CBC Stereo.
Back in Toronto, Benmergui hosted Prime Time
, a nightly one-hour entertainment program on CBC Radio
. He later moved on to co-host CBC Television
's Midday
with Valerie Pringle
, and also later hosted the variety show Friday Night! with Ralph Benmergui and the talk show Benmergui Live
.
He has won a prestigious Japan Prize for Best International Youth Programming, a Yorkton Film Festival prize for Best Youth Programming, and has been the recipient of five Gemini Award
nominations.
Benmergui produced Stuart McLean
's Christmas special and the children's quiz show SmartAsk
for CBC television, and for Vision TV
he produced five episodes of a series called Seekers, chronicling the experience of five people on journey to find their spirituality, and Ralph Benmergui: My Israel, taking a critical and bipartisan look at the issues and landscape of Israel
. He has also hosted three specials, entitled Seriously Funny in Canada and Punchlines in the Sand in the US, where three comics comment on and explore serious issues of the day through comedy.
In 2009, Benmergui joined the Green Party of Canada
as a strategic communications advisor.
He is married to Cortney Pasternak, a former television journalist who was the Liberal candidate for Parkdale High Park in Ontario's 2011 election. . They have two children.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
television and radio personality and political advisor. Most recently a morning host on JAZZ.FM91
CJRT-FM
CJRT-FM is a Canadian public radio station, which broadcasts at 91.1 on the FM dial in Toronto, Ontario. CJRT currently operates as JAZZ.FM91.The station transmits at a strength of 40,000 watts; as its transmitter facilities are at the CN Tower...
, he left the station on November 26, 2010, and currently holds the position of director of communications for Glen Murray, Minister of Research and Innovation.
Born in Tangier
Tangier
Tangier, also Tangiers is a city in northern Morocco with a population of about 700,000 . It lies on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, but raised in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Benmergui studied journalism at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, where he was news director and program producer at the university's radio station. The CBC offered Benmergui a research job in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
. From there, he went on to produce current affairs documentaries and was named host of Nightlines
Nightlines
Nightlines was a Canadian radio series, which aired on CBC Stereo from 1982 to 1997. The show, which aired on Friday and Saturday nights, profiled independent and alternative music.The show's original host was Ron Robinson...
, a late-night music show on CBC Stereo.
Back in Toronto, Benmergui hosted Prime Time
Prime Time (radio program)
Prime Time was a Canadian radio series, which aired on CBC Radio in the 1980s and 1990s. The program, hosted first by Ralph Benmergui , then by Geoff Pevere , was a pop culture newsmagazine, covering programming and issues in television, radio, popular music, film and media criticism.Prime Time...
, a nightly one-hour entertainment program on CBC Radio
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
. He later moved on to co-host CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
's Midday
Midday (TV series)
Midday can refer to:*Midday *Midday *Midday...
with Valerie Pringle
Valerie Pringle
Valerie Pringle, CM is a Canadian television host and journalist.Pringle began her career in broadcasting as a summer student with Toronto radio station CFRB in 1973, and became a fulltime reporter for the station the following year...
, and also later hosted the variety show Friday Night! with Ralph Benmergui and the talk show Benmergui Live
Benmergui Live
Benmergui Live was a Canadian television talk show, which aired daily on CBC Newsworld in the 1990s.Hosted by Ralph Benmergui, the series featured celebrity guests and studio audience participants discussing a political or social issue. The series was filmed live in the atrium of the Canadian...
.
He has won a prestigious Japan Prize for Best International Youth Programming, a Yorkton Film Festival prize for Best Youth Programming, and has been the recipient of five Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
nominations.
Benmergui produced Stuart McLean
Stuart McLean
Andrew Stuart McLean is a Canadian radio broadcaster, humourist and author, best known as the host of the CBC Radio programme The Vinyl Cafe. He is often described as a "story-telling comic", though he has written many serious stories...
's Christmas special and the children's quiz show SmartAsk
SmartAsk
SmartAsk is a Canadian quiz show which ran for three seasons on CBC Television. The show was taped in front of a live audience, with the players sitting on a tiered set...
for CBC television, and for Vision TV
Vision TV
VisionTV is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel that broadcasts multi-faith, multicultural, and general entertainment programming aimed at the 45 and over demographic....
he produced five episodes of a series called Seekers, chronicling the experience of five people on journey to find their spirituality, and Ralph Benmergui: My Israel, taking a critical and bipartisan look at the issues and landscape of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. He has also hosted three specials, entitled Seriously Funny in Canada and Punchlines in the Sand in the US, where three comics comment on and explore serious issues of the day through comedy.
In 2009, Benmergui joined the Green Party of Canada
Green Party of Canada
The Green Party of Canada is a Canadian federal political party founded in 1983 with 10,000–12,000 registered members as of October 2008. The Greens advance a broad multi-issue political platform that reflects its core values of ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and...
as a strategic communications advisor.
He is married to Cortney Pasternak, a former television journalist who was the Liberal candidate for Parkdale High Park in Ontario's 2011 election. . They have two children.