Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Novak moved to Toronto at age 20 and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in film and television at York University.
"[1] While working as a producer/editor for First Choice, Novak produced a series of comedy videos with voice actor Ron Rubin.
In 1986 Novak directed and edited comedy segments for a CBC Television summer series called It's Only Rock & Roll.
Another sketch Novak directed featured Second City's Dana Andersen and Bob Bainbourough as Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
The Globe and Mail columnist John Haslett Cuff called The Newsroom "the hippest and most hilarious show the CBC or any network has produced,"[4] and other critics credited Novak's contributions to the structure and pacing as being a significant part of their success.
Responsible for the company's non-scripted television shows, branded entertainment, and factual programming, Novak developed and sold the concept for a series called Recipe to Riches, which combined the supply chain of a major food manufacturer and store chain, Loblaw, with a reality TV concept.
The series aired on Shaw Media's Global TV and Food Network Canada,[10] and then on CBC Television.