Mark Connolly to host #CAJ16 banquet

OTTAWA, March 28, 2016 /CNW/ - The Canadian Association of Journalists is pleased to announce that CBC Edmonton's Mark Connolly will MC the #CAJ16 conference banquet and 2015 CAJ Awards gala.

The banquet and gala are scheduled for a 7 p.m. start on May 28, the wrap-up to #CAJ16 being held at the Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel. Connolly is the latest in a long line of broadcasters in the communities where the CAJ has held conferences to step up to the MC's podium.

"We're thrilled Mark will be joining us to help celebrate and recognize the finalists and recipients of the 2015 CAJ Awards program," CAJ president Nick Taylor-Vaisey said. "The gala provides a great opportunity to tie off our two-day conference and show off the great journalism being produced in Canada."

Connolly is the host of Edmonton AM, heard weekdays on CBC Radio One in the Edmonton area. He grew up in the city, before snagging his first full-time broadcasting gig on a radio station in Fort McMurray as the voice of the Alberta Junior Hockey League Oil Barons. He joined the CBC in 1988 as a sportcaster, a position that evolved over the years to include a three-year stint as anchor of CBC News Edmonton.

Finalists for the 2015 CAJ Awards will be announced the week of April 4. Those who are named finalists are eligible for a 10 per cent discount on conference rates.

A ticket to the gala is included with a number of full-conference and one-day delegate fees. These fees start at $249 plus HST for CAJ members for the full weekend, and also include a Saturday plus gala option that starts at $145 plus HST. An unemployed / CAJ student member rate for the Saturday plus gala option starts at $90. These rates will rise on May 20. Standalone tickets to the gala are also available, at $55 apiece with all taxes and fees included. Registration is currently open.

The two-day conference is scheduled to run from Friday, May 27, to Saturday, May 28, at the Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel in Edmonton, Alta. The hotel will also offer a conference rate, starting at $110 a night plus taxes and fees.

Additional pieces of the #CAJ conference program are still being finalized and will be posted as they are confirmed.

The CAJ is Canada's largest national professional organization for journalists from all media, representing over 600 members across the country. The CAJ's primary roles are to provide public-interest advocacy and high-quality professional development for its members.

Registration questions can be sent to: [e-mail]

www.caj.ca/caj16 | www.facebook.com/CdnAssocJournalists | www.twitter.com/CAJ

SOURCE Canadian Association of Journalists

For further information: Nick Taylor-Vaisey, CAJ president, 647-968-2393, [e-mail]; Hugo Rodrigues, #CAJ16 conference chair, [e-mail]; Dale Bass, CAJ events committee chair, [e-mail]