It all started when...
Born in Hamilton, Ontario, I grew up in Burlington, attended Nelson High School and graduated an Ontario Scholar. While studying broadcast journalism, I wrote newscasts and covered new stories at CKOC Radio Hamilton (Oldies 1150), interned in Ottawa as a writer with the federal government department of Energy, Mines and Resources, and joined the Good News Team at CFRB Radio Toronto, where I worked with such broadcast legends as Gordon Sinclair and Betty Kennedy.
“Never will I forget paddling down the Don River in a canoe during a transit strike and reporting in live to traffic reporter Henry Shannon in his Twin Comanche. ”
After two years as a reporter and weather presenter at CKVR TV Barrie (CTV2), I moved to CHCH-TV Hamilton. There I worked as a general assignment reporter, beat reporter covering civic affairs, education, entertainment and weather, followed by special events correspondent, anchor and host/reporter of the weekly current events show, Straight Talk. While at CHCH, I won many awards and honours for my work in the community and built a reputation as a news personality with integrity and compassion.
Following a restructuring and downsizing at CHCH, I launched “Always Good News” at CTS (YES TV) with my husband/producer/director Dave Wilson.
Today I am a free-lance broadcaster, event host/M.C./speaker, media consultant and part-time Media Studies instructor at Mohawk College, where I try to inspire a new generation of journalists to find opportunity in challenge and follow their hearts to make positive change.
I also spend my time serving as a board/committee member for such organizations as Famous People Players, Elizabeth’s Concert of Hope, St. Joseph’s Health Care’s Mental Health Services and International Outreach Programs, working with the Kidney Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, McMaster Children’s Hospital, the YMCA’s Peace Medal program, and Chairing the 2011 Hamilton United Way Campaign, and the M.S. Carnation Campaign. I have brought media profile and publicity to these organizations and assisted in image building and fundraising - needless to say giving back is important to me!
AWARDS
It was the honour of a lifetime to be inducted into the Order of Ontario in 2012. I am a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow, recipient of Zonta’s Founder’s Award, Sertoma’s Service to Mankind Award, the Ontario Association of Broadcasters Howard Caine Memorial Award, CanWest Global’s Spirit of the Community Award, Hamilton Fire Department’s Silver Helmut Award, the ALS Society of Canada’s Public Awareness Award and Hamilton Health Science’s Cornerstone Award for 17 years of co-hosting the McMaster Children’s Hospital Celebration Broadcast.
