Omayra Issa is joining the Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) as an anchor at the end of the month.

A senior reporter with CBC News, Issa has been working with the public broadcaster since 2014, including co-creating and producing award-winning multi-platform series Black on the Prairies.

Born in Morocco and raised in Niger and Saskatchewan, she started her career with Radio-Canada in Saskatchewan, anchoring Téléjournal Saskatchewan and filing across television, radio and digital in both French and English. The 2022/23 Radio-Canada Southam fellow, Issa became the first Black woman journalist to present the prestigious Kesterton Lecture in Journalism at Carleton University.

Last year, McClelland & Stewart acquired North American rights to her debut work of creative non-fiction in a two-book deal.

“We are thrilled to welcome Omayra’s talent and unique perspective to our team,” said CPAC president and CEO Christa Dickenson, in an announcement. “An accomplished reporter, Omayra will contribute to supporting CPAC’s mandate in delivering unfiltered access to the voices influencing public policy in Canada.”

“We are in pivotal times for political journalism and democracy in Canada,” Issa added. “I’m excited to join the team of anchors and contribute to CPAC’s long tradition of connecting Canadians to the people and events that shape their lives.”

She’ll take up her new role on Jan. 29.

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