This page reads more like a history lesson, I can’t believe the old photos, especially the black and white. But it is a part of who I am, or at least, who I was.
I’ve been a regular columnist for The National Post, and have written for Readers Digest, MacLeans Magazine, The New York Times, and have been syndicated by the New York Times Special Features. Thanks for checking me out.
My career in television began at the age of 16 when I snagged a reporting job on the local CBC station in Sydney, Nova Scotia after challenging a radio reporter during an interview for my high school. He cut me off before I had a chance to promote a hot band called Killer Egg. And I let him have it. The manager Max Quinton, came out and hired me on the spot.
During my school years at the wonderful Holy Angels High in Sydney, Nova Scotia, I became well known as a debater with a sarcastic wit, and by the time I left high school was an award winning, undefeated debater, as well as President of the Student Council, Student of the Year, and Recipient of the Birk’s Medal for Leadership. Wonder how I pulled that off? I was definitely smarter as a teenager, or maybe just more strategic!
In their promotional material, CBC Toronto wrote in 1982ish that I was the most widely watched news anchor in the history of CBLT-TV News (CBC Toronto). And that I took programming ratings to their highest levels. That was a loong time ago..
I have countless years of experience as a Broadcaster: TV News Anchor, Host, Interviewer, Reporter, Analyst, Writer, Story Editor and Public Speaker. I also had a few acting gigs, and I’m possibly the worlds worst actor and a pretty bad public speaker as well. I’m terrified in front of a crowd..just a heads up…
Reporter/Anchor
Host/Senior Editor
Host/TV Presenter
Keynote speaker (scared)
Actress (bad)
Writer
Reporter/Anchor
I started my career at CJCB TV in Sydney Nova Scotia, where I was hired by operations manager Bill Holmes as a secretary, to get your foot in the door’, he said. What a great guy! He pushed me on the air wherever he could, as the first female weather girl, on a live cooking show (I was a disaster), and on a daytime talk show (not my thing). That’s’s the way it was back then when women were trying to break into anchoring the tv news. Months later, I was hired as a story editor at CBC Halifax and quickly became the 6 o’clock tv anchor, the first female anchor at that station Four years later, I was hired by CBC Toronto, as their 6 o’clock TV news reader.
I also did the 11 pm news show ‘Newsfinal’. During my time with CBC Toronto, I hosted national and local election coverage, news specials and did regular consumer and business interviews. The camera never scared me like a live audience does.
I left CBLT in 1984 to have my first son and live in a horse breeding farm with my late husband John Sikura, surfacing from time to time to do various TV Shows including the National Business Report, a syndicated TV business program, and The New You, a nationally syndicated beauty show out of YTV in Toronto.
As a writer, I wrote my first story for The New York Times Special Features, Luke’s Fathers Day, and went on to become a columnist for the National Post. Will always be grateful to then editor in chief Ken Whyte, for picking me out of the rubble and offering me that position. For me, writing is best. Less pressure than TV. or public speaking. I like having this little website to just write when I feel like it, mostly in bed..now that’s my style!
Host/Senior Editor
I was host and senior editor for Today’s Parent, with Peter Feniak, a nationally syndicated TV program and travelled throughout North America to interview renowned child experts like Ron Taffel, David Elkind, Barbara Collaroso and Penelope Leach.
My interest in education prompted me to accept an offer to host the ‘Making Connections’ Series on TVO, which involved panel discussions and questions from viewers, to Ontario’s top educators.
I was keynote speaker at the Mother’s Day Breakfast for Kids Help Phone and was Host-Presenter with Kurt Browning for the Canadian end of the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.
Actress – not very good
Height: 5’7″ – now 5’5″
Weight: 137 lb.
Eyes: Hazel – still
Hair: Brown. Not any more! blonde! I get away with much more as a blonde than as a brunette. Not sure why?
Although I am a terrible actor, my vast television news experience brought me acting roles in such movies as HBO’s Dead Silence and Closer, Closer — playing a newsanchor/reporter.
Through the early 2000’s ,I was a columnist at The National Post. And left when it started feeling like work.
Now I just write what I want,. when I want and send it to whomever I want, as I try to create as much trouble as possible! :- ) And of course I have this forum to let it all hang out. The picture below of me in the control room at CBLT in Toronto. Look at the antiquated equipment! I’m about the only antique left..
