CBC host Ismaila Alfa leaving ‘Metro Morning’

CBC Radio’s Ismaila Alfa is leaving “Metro Morning” to host a weekend show after three years. The presenter says he is making the move for a better work and life balance, and the CBC says they are still looking for his replacement.

CBC announced the news Friday, saying Alfa will be the new host of Radio One’s “Fresh Air,” starting on March 25.

“(I am making this move for) a number of very selfish reasons,” Alfa said on Friday speaking on “Metro Morning” as a guest.

“I think that these past two and a half three years it’s been a wild ride for all of us. It had me rethink the order priorities in my life,” he explained.

“I love my kids. I’m a single dad and that’s actually my top job, doing this will improve my work-life balance.”

Chuck Thompson, CBC’s Head of Public Affairs, confirmed that they do not yet have a replacement for Alfa.

“He wants to have more time to be with his family; moving to ‘Fresh Air’ will make it easier for that to happen,” he told the Star.

“We will now begin the search for a new host.”

Nigeria-born, Winnipeg-raised Alfa has been hosting “Metro Morning” since the summer of 2020.

“Alfa guided Toronto listeners through the pandemic and the 2022 Toronto municipal election with compassion and steadfastness as the host of ‘Metro Morning,’” read a statement from the CBC.

“Metro Morning” aires weekdays 5:30 – 8:30 a.m. in Toronto.

“I love arts and science and ‘Fresh Air’ gives a bit more room for some of those science conversations,” Alfa said on his farewell show.

“I have access to the whole province with this program. So I’m really looking forward to that,” he said.

Some of his followers shared Alfa’s excitement on the move on social media, while others questioned whether this was a demotion for the journalist.

Alfa has been with the CBC since 2008 and previous to Metro Morning, he hosted CBC Radio One’s “Up to Speed,” Winnipeg’s afternoon news and current affairs program.

Also a playwright and musical artist, Alfa toured Canada and the United States as a hip-hop musician for nearly a decade, the CBC said.