A former Toronto radio show co-host continued her testimony in a human rights tribunal hearing on Tuesday, alleging executives and management at Corus Entertainment failed to take action when concerns with “bullying” and “disrespect” were raised. 

Jennifer Valentyne, former co-host of Q107’s Derringer in the Morning, said executives were receptive to her complaints when issues were raised in 2018 and promised to make changes. 

But instead, she said, decisions were made behind closed doors that led to her being removed from the show against her wishes and moved to Global News’ morning show instead. 

“I felt like I was being punished for speaking out,” said Valentyne during questioning by her lawyer Lisa Stam. 

The hearing at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal comes after the popular rock station radio show was put on hiatus in May 2022. At the time, Corus Entertainment said it was pulling the show off the air amid an external ethics and conduct review.

In an emailed statement, Corus Entertainment Inc. told CBC Toronto it engaged an independent third party to investigate the complaints when they took place and implemented all the recommendations from the investigator.

“Ms. Valentyne chose not to participate in that process,” the company said. “We take all workplace and conduct concerns seriously.”

Corus Entertainment Inc. said out of respect for the ongoing tribunal, it wouldn’t comment on the particulars of Valentyne’s allegations.

Management said ‘deal with them directly’ in secret recording

The tribunal heard part of a recorded conversation between former Q107 program director Tammy Cole and Valentyne, who said the recording was made without Cole’s knowledge. 

In the recording, Valentyne shares her ongoing struggles, to which Cole says she should “deal with them (Valentyne’s co-hosts) directly.”

“Can I talk to him directly? I’m scared of him, terrified of him,” said Valentyne in the recording from 2018. 

Valentyne alleged in the recording that “a lineup of women had issues with [Derringer]” due to treatment that “in this day and age [women] shouldn’t have to deal with.”

Cole said in the recording that Derringer won’t change and encouraged her to speak with human resources – something Valentyne said she did not do for fear of being seen as the “complaining” woman. Instead, Valentyne opted to speak with management instead. 

Poster for 'Derringer in the Morning' show, where three men are standing together smilingValentyne alleges her co-hosts Ryan Parker, Johnny Garbutt and John Derringer (pictured) engaged in ‘guy talk’ — which she says included showing pornographic videos, discussing women’s breasts or attractiveness and calling women names, such as ‘cows.’ (Q107/Corus Entertainment)Management wanted Valentyne out of her position, she alleges

During a day-long inquiry into her experiences at Corus, Valentyne said she spoke with several executives, including former vice-president of news, radio and station operations Troy Reeb, former COO Barb Williams, former director of communications Rishma Govani, and even former Corus CEO Doug Murphy. 

Williams left Corus Entertainment in October 2018 and began working at the CBC as executive vice-president in May 2019. 

Valentyne said in her testimony Tuesday that Reeb was “visibly upset” when he heard about her experiences in 2018 and said he “couldn’t believe it was still happening.” 

She also said Reeb confided in her that Derringer’s contract wasn’t in talks to be extended after 2019 and that discussions were being had to change the show to Parker and Valentyne in the Morning.

Valentyne went on to say Reeb shared he was sick of Derringer’s “big salary and sick of his abuse.” 

A sign saying "corus" is seen outside of a glass building.The hearing at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal comes after the popular rock station radio show was put on hiatus in May 2022. At the time, Corus Entertainment said it was pulling the show off the air amid an external ethics and conduct review. (Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press)

Valentyne said she also privately confided in Govani, only to be told that Derringer “would never be let go” by the company. 

She said in her testimony that Govani spoke to her again a few days later about a management meeting about the issues being raised, where she had allegedly advocated for Valentyne to be taken “out of that room” or they might “have a lawsuit on their hands.”

Valentyne told the tribunal that it was hurtful to hear management wanted to move her away from a job she wanted to continue, instead of moving Derringer or asking him to take anger management classes. 

Valentyne said Reeb pulled her aside for a meeting in December 2018 to tell her she was being moved to the Global News morning television show. 

Despite voicing concerns with moving to that team and wanting to stay in radio, Valentyne alleged that Reeb leaned over the table, held her hand and said, “If you don’t move, there will be a problem.”

“He wasn’t asking me to move, he was telling me,” she said, adding she felt she had no choice but to accept the change. 

Her new role at Global News was better, but not by much, said Valentyne in her testimony, adding she received less than 24 hours to sign her new contract, often had to work 14 hour days and that she did not have the adequate staff to support in the production of her segments. 

Valentyne and her lawyers are scheduled to continue presenting their case until Oct. 22, while the respondent Corus Entertainment is expected to present in February, according to the Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada. 

Valentyne’s former co-hosts Ryan Parker, Johnny Garbutt, John Derringer and executives at the time are all named as witnesses in the respondent’s case, according to the Human Rights Tribunal documents.