A GoFundMe has been set up for the family of Chantel Grillo, a director at Hamilton’s CHCH News, who passed away suddenly on Friday. She was just 39.
The station made the unprecedented move of cancelling its 6 p.m. newscast Friday evening, announcing “the sudden death of an employee who worked behind the scenes in the newsroom.”
“It has been a painful day unlike any other. We are all heartbroken,” said News Director Greg O’Brien, in a statement that aired before an abbreviated 11 p.m. newscast. “Earlier today we had a medical emergency here in our newsroom, where we lost a beloved friend who was one of our most amazing and talented behind-the-scenes colleagues.”
A statement from our newsroom on Friday, October 4, 2024. pic.twitter.com/gEjuNoddqJ
— CHCH TV (@CHCHTV) October 5, 2024
The circumstances of Grillo’s death have not been made public. She had worked with the station for more than 18 years, joining CHCH right out of the Broadcasting program at Mohawk College in 2006.
Our TV family is in mourning after the sudden and absolutely tragic passing of our friend Chantel. But nothing can compare to what her family is dealing with. Husband without his wife and two beautiful kids without their loving Mom. Please help them. https://t.co/f8zKKNk2WE
— Phil Perkins (@PhilPerkinsCP24) October 8, 2024
Former colleague Phil Perkins, who is now with Toronto’s CP24, wrote in a post to X that the CHCH-TV family was in mourning.
“Chantel had unrelenting passion to give her kids everything they could ever want,” wrote Perkins. “And when she was at work she was the newsroom mom, she organized every special occasion, directed massive shows and was always game to talk NFL esp her [Miami] Dolphins. Still can’t believe she’s gone.”
