Heidi Petracek named Global National’s new Halifax correspondent

Veteran broadcaster Heidi Petracek will join Global National, as Global News’ national correspondent based in Halifax, starting Oct. 23.

Petracek, who has been a familiar face to CTV Atlantic viewers for the past 13 years, steps into the position left vacant with the retirement of Ross Lord earlier this year. Lord had been a reporter with MITV/Global Halifax since 1990. He joined Global National in 1998, covering stories from Canada’s mission in Afghanistan to the Moncton RCMP murders in 2014.

Originally hailing from Langenburg, SK, Petrachek is an alumnus of the University of Regina Journalism program. She began her broadcasting career with CBC as a reporter in Regina and Saskatoon, before moving on to hosting, producing and reporting roles with the public broadcaster in Toronto, Corner Brook, St. John’s and Halifax. After a decade with CBC, she joined CTV Atlantic in Halifax in 2010, initially as a co-host on the local edition of CTV Morning Live, before returning to reporting in 2018. She spent much of 2022 covering the Mass Casualty Commission, the public inquiry into the April 2020 deaths of 22 people in rural Nova Scotia at the hands of a gunman.

“What stands out most about Heidi’s decades of reporting is her compassion for the people whose stories she’s sharing,” said Tristan Staddon, Global National Managing Editor, in a Corus Entertainment announcement. “Whether she’s connecting with Canadians on their best day or their worst, her commitment to reflecting their humanity in her journalism is unwavering. That’s something we truly value at Global National and we couldn’t be more proud to welcome her.”

“Heidi is an incredible addition to our Global National team, bringing a wealth of experience and deep connections to the community she is covering,” added Sonia Verma, Vice President National News. “We are thrilled to have her perspective and storytelling on our newscast.”

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