Graham Richardson, CTV Ottawa’s Chief News Anchor, announced during the Thursday evening newscast that he is stepping away from the anchor desk to pursue opportunities outside of media.
Richardson, whose broadcasting career has spanned 31 years, stressed that the decision is his and not that of his employer Bell Media, telling viewers “This is my choice. I just turned 54 years old. I have another opportunity outside of broadcasting that I’m going to take.“
Richardson joined CTV Ottawa in January 2010, after covering Parliament Hill for CTV National News for four years. Prior to that, he was the CTV News’ Los Angeles Bureau Chief, covering stories including the Michael Jackson trial, Hurricane Katrina, and the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, among many others.
He started his career in the early 1990s with CBC Calgary as a reporter and assignment editor, moving on to reporting stints with ITV (now Global Edmonton), and then Global News in Toronto where he served as Queen’s Park bureau chief and then as national correspondent for his final year with the network before joining CTV in 2004.
“It has been an incredible privilege to tell your stories, especially the last 15 years here at CTV Ottawa and nearly 20 years with CTV News,” Richardson told viewers. “The highlight of my reporting career was working for and with Bob Fife in our parliamentary bureau at CTV National News and then all of these years right here with you. CTV News will always be my home.”
In an official release from Bell Media, Richardson said it is time for him “to make a change.”
“I want to thank CTV News and our incredible team here in Ottawa for giving me such a rewarding and fulfilling broadcasting career,” said Richardson. “I’m grateful for the guidance and support of the leadership team at CTV Ottawa, and across the network, over so many years. I would also like to extend a special thank you to all the viewers and listeners in Ottawa/Gatineau and throughout Eastern Ontario and West Québec. There is a very strong, talented team here at CTV Ottawa, and I know they will continue the great tradition of telling the most important stories from across the region.”
“Graham has been an exceptional broadcaster and leader on our team at CTV News Ottawa. We will miss his unwavering passion and commitment to our editorial programs across television, radio, and digital,” said Jodi Hamilton, Operations Manager, Local Radio & TV, Ottawa and Eastern Ontario, Bell Media, in the network announcement. “Graham has been instrumental to the success of our local news coverage, and we wish him the greatest success in his new career endeavours outside of broadcasting.”
“Graham is one of the best storytellers in our business. We are going miss his passion and drive to deliver the very best local news coverage, each and every day,” added Peter Angione, Director of News and Information Programming, Bell Media Ottawa. “We are sad to see Graham leave, but we’re thrilled for him as he takes on a new challenge, and begins a new chapter.”
Richardson will anchor his final newscast on Friday, July 5 at 6 p.m. ET.
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