Lisa LaFlamme is a name many Canadians know well, thanks to her long and distinguished career as a prominent television journalist. Her most notable achievement was becoming the first woman to anchor CTV National News. For over a decade, she served as the chief news anchor and senior editor. Throughout her career, she was named Best News Anchor five times and was honoured with both the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada. So when her sudden dismissal in August 2022 was announced, it sparked public outrage and put the veteran journalist back in the spotlight. You can read more about what’s happening in the capital on Ottawa1.one.
Early Life and Education in Ottawa
LaFlamme grew up in Kitchener, Ontario, the third of four daughters in her family. Her father was a builder and her mother was a British immigrant. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic High School, a school that serves most of the Catholic students in Kitchener. After graduating, she spent two years working as a nanny in France. This experience was invaluable, as it allowed her to perfect her French.
Upon returning to Canada, LaFlamme enrolled at the University of Ottawa, majoring in Communications. She graduated with honours in 1988 and immediately landed a summer job to put her new skills to use. She worked as an assistant in the joint newsroom of CKCO-TV, CKKW-AM, and CFCA-FM in Kitchener. Her duties included writing television news, preparing, and hosting radio news.
Climbing the Ranks
Her career took off after she impressed the news director at CKCO with her work ethic. She was offered a full-time position as a television and radio reporter and was promoted to a full-time role in the news department in 1991. By 1994, she was co-hosting CKCO’s evening news.
Starting in 1997, the journalist began sending her audition tapes to CTV, which was launching a new 24-hour news channel, CTV Newsnet. The competition was fierce, but LaFlamme got the job. She quickly made a name for herself and became the channel’s lead anchor in 1998.
Two years later, she was promoted to CTV’s parliamentary reporter, and a year after that, she became the co-host of the network’s flagship morning show, Canada AM. Her next career move was a promotion to national affairs correspondent for CTV National News, the network’s prime-time news program.
Throughout this time, LaFlamme traveled extensively, covering key world events. Her reporting was known for its depth and professionalism. Here are some of her most important stories:
- In 2004, she was one of the first international journalists to report from Thailand on the catastrophic Indian Ocean tsunami that claimed the lives of over 230,000 people in 14 countries. She showcased the aftermath of the disaster and shared the stories of the survivors. Her work helped Canadians and the world understand the scale of the tragedy and the importance of international aid.
- After the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005, LaFlamme traveled to the Vatican. She covered the final days of the important figure, the mourning of the faithful, and the funeral ceremony. She later covered the election of the new Pope, Benedict XVI.
- LaFlamme reported from New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history. With the city flooded and infrastructure destroyed, she highlighted the role of rescue workers and the stories of those who had lost everything.
- Another significant story was the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in 2010, which killed more than 100,000 people. LaFlamme went to the epicentre of the events, reporting from Port-au-Prince and showing viewers the destruction, rescue operations, and humanitarian crisis. Her reports helped mobilize international aid and captured the heroism of locals and rescue workers.
In 2011, LaFlamme replaced Lloyd Robertson as the full-time anchor of CTV News and became the chief anchor and senior editor of CTV National News.
Accolades and Awards
The journalist was nominated five times for a Gemini Award in the Best News Anchor category. She also won several RTDNA awards and the 1999 Galaxi Award from the Canadian Cable Television Association.
In 2014, LaFlamme was nominated for “Best National News Anchor” at the Canadian Screen Awards. She mentioned that she submitted her work herself because her employer didn’t.
In 2016, she was made a member of the Order of Ontario, and in 2019, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. LaFlamme has also received honorary doctorates from several universities, including the University of Ottawa in 2014. You can learn more about prominent figures with ties to the university, like Honorary Chancellor of the University of Ottawa Marcel Hamelin, on our website.
The Sudden Dismissal
In 2022, Lisa LaFlamme was fired as the anchor of CTV National News. Seven months after the event, she gave an interview where she shared a bit more about her life and plans. She recalled working at CTV for an unforgettable 35 years. The company stated that it was a business decision to terminate her contract, a piece of news that shocked LaFlamme.
Speculation quickly began to circulate about the reasons behind the firing. One prominent theory was that it was related to her decision to stop dyeing her hair during the pandemic and embrace her grey hair. As a result, CTV and its parent company, Bell Media, were accused of sexism and ageism. In a show of solidarity that was widely praised by Canadians, brands like Wendy’s and Dove launched social media campaigns celebrating grey hair.
Following the controversy, Bell Media expressed regret over LaFlamme’s departure and ordered an independent workplace review of the newsroom. The head of CTV’s news division was later replaced.
LaFlamme shared a powerful message:
«You can take someone’s job, but you can’t erase their stories and their work»
In her opinion, it’s impossible to erase the stories that were covered over the years. For example, she recalled covering the full-scale war in Ukraine and the Pope’s visit to the country.
Championing Women’s Rights
After her controversial firing from CTV, Rogers Media announced that it had hired LaFlamme as a special correspondent for CityNews. Her first assignment was covering the death and funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Having previously reported on the royal family, she was able to cover these historic events with her trademark professionalism.
In May 2023, LaFlamme covered the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla for CityNews. She provided viewers with insights into one of the most important events in the history of the British monarchy. She was hired by Rogers Media on a contract basis specifically to cover these significant historical events. This work reaffirmed her value to any media company.
After the dust settled from her dismissal and the CTV National News saga, LaFlamme returned to a cause she had always been passionate about: women’s rights, from young girls to older women. She had previously been involved in these issues, but after her firing, she had more time and energy to devote to them. LaFlamme continues to move forward, citing her volunteer work with Journalists for Human Rights. In Ottawa, we also have our own inspiring stories of women making a difference, like Ottawa’s first businesswoman and philanthropist, Margaret “Ma” Breen.