CTV senior anchor Lisa LaFlamme and Global National Senior National Affairs Correspondent Eric Sorensen are among the long-serving journalists being recognized by RTDNA Canada.
The association announced the winners of its National and Network Awards on Tuesday, as well as this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award winners.
LaFlamme and Sorensen were recognized in the Network category, with Lifetime Achievement Award Winners also selected in each region:
East Region Winners
Glen Carter, NTV
Carter started his broadcast career at NTV in 1980. His coverage of the province’s worst marine disaster in 1982, where 84 lives were lost on the Ocean Ranger, remains one of the toughest stories he’s had to tell. Known for his trademark integrity, and gentle humour, he’s chronicled the stories that helped shape Newfoundland – whether it was the devastating 2009 Cougar 491 crash that claimed 17 lives, or the ever-changing face of government.
Pat Martel, CBC Charlottetown
A graduate of Holland College in Charlottetown, Martel started his more than three-decade career with CBC as a freelancer for CBC Radio. He eventually landed a job as a writer-broadcaster and producer on Island Morning in Charlottetown. Martel retired at the end of 2019, joining the CBC digital team in the final years.
Central Region Winners
Sean O’Shea, Global Toronto
O’Shea is an award-winning investigative and consumer reporter, exposing organized crime figures, scam artists and unscrupulous contractors, among others. He began his career in small market radio, first at CJPR in Crowsnest Pass, AB, with stints to follow at CJOC Radio and CFAC-TV in Lethbridge, CKO Calgary, and CKCK Radio Regina, before joining CBC Saskatchewan in 1983. He’s been with Global Toronto since 1987.
Emma Saganash, CBC North
A residential school survivor, Saganash retired from CBC North’s Cree unit, based in Quebec, after 40 years in 2018. First joining the unit in 1977, she held roles over the years from translator, journalist, host and producer to management. She’s also known as the host of award-winning Cree-language television documentary series Maamuitaau.
Ken Shaw, CTV News Toronto
Shaw made his first foray into broadcasting in 1972 when he became a technical trainee for Baton Broadcasting, which later became part of CTV. From there, he was hired as a co-writer and actor on short-lived, satirical sitcom SHH! IT’S THE NEWS. He went on to a legitimate career as a reporter, joining CTV Toronto in 1979 and travelling to New York City to cover the death of John Lennon, among other big stories. In 2001, Shaw became co-anchor of CTV News Toronto at Noon and CTV News Toronto at Six. He retired this past January.
Prairie Region Winners
Sandi Coleman, CBC Yukon
After a four decade career in broadcasting, including 16 years as host of CBC Yukon’s A
New Day, Coleman retired in April 2019. Her first job was in Saskatoon where she was assigned to the “Diefenbaker beat.” From there, she went to work at CTV Winnipeg, and formed a small production company with her colleagues which produced CBC-TV show Breakaway in the 1980s.
Terry Vogt, CTV Lethbridge
Vogt, the news director at CTV Lethbridge, started his career in 1972 as a DJ at a small station in Crowsnest Pass, AB before transitioning into news as a beat reporter at CHQR Calgary. He joined CTV Lethbridge when the station first went to air in 1984 and has chosen to remain in the city.
Rosalie Woloski, CBC Saskatchewan
Woloski, currently senior producer of CBC Radio’s Saskatoon Morning, is celebrating 50 years in journalism. She began her career as a print reporter, writing for The Winnipeg Tribune and Maclean’s magazine before joining the CBC in 1979. She spent many years as the CBC’s lead agriculture reporter, the first woman to hold the role. Over the years, she hosted almost all of CBC Saskatchewan’s programs, in addition to overseeing the news division for five years. She retired May 29.
West Region Winners
Gord Macdonald, CKNW Vancouver
Macdonald’s 45-year career included stops on the news and sports desks in Victoria, Guelph and Brandon, before he landed at KBS (Kootenay Broadcasting System) as news director, going on to head the Broadcast Journalism program at BCIT. Macdonald was named news director at CKNW Vancouver in 1991.
Ed Watson, CTV British Columbia
A graduate of BCIT, Watson began a 40-year career as a radio and TV anchor for CKRD Red Deer, ITV Edmonton and CFCN Calgary. He returned to B.C. in 1984 as a reporter and Night Final anchor for CBC Vancouver, before moving to Victoria to cover the BC Legislature for CBC. From 1997 to 2004, he was VTV’s political correspondent and the Victoria Bureau Chief for CTV British Columbia. He joined CH Television (CHEK-TV) in Victoria in 2004 as a senior news anchor for CH News. He went on to serve as the assignment editor for CTV News in B.C. and Vancouver Island bureau chief. Watson continues as a freelance storyteller and consultant.
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