Cheryl McKenzie facts for kids

Cheryl McKenzie is a well-known Canadian journalist. She is the Director of News and Current Affairs for the APTN National News. APTN stands for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, a channel that shares stories and news from Indigenous communities.

McKenzie is of Anishinabek and Cree heritage. She is famous for hosting APTN's nightly news show, APTN National News, and the talk show InFocus.

Early Life and Education

Cheryl McKenzie's parents were both survivors of Canada's residential school system. This was a network of schools that Indigenous children were forced to attend, which separated them from their families and culture. Her family comes from the Hollow Water First Nation and Peguis First Nation in Manitoba.

McKenzie grew up in the city of Winnipeg. She often visited her family on her parents' home reserves.

Before becoming a journalist, McKenzie was a chef. At just 19 years old, she worked at one of Winnipeg's top restaurants. Later, as a single mother, she decided to go back to school at the University of Winnipeg. She graduated in 1998 with a degree in philosophy.

A Career in Journalism

After a short internship at CBC Radio in 2000, McKenzie began her journey in news reporting.

Joining APTN

In 2001, McKenzie got a job as a reporter at APTN. She worked on a weekly news show that later became the APTN National News we know today.

In 2004, she was nominated for major awards for her reporting. She investigated how asbestos in homes provided by the government made people in First Nations communities very sick.

Hosting and Producing Shows

McKenzie's career at APTN grew quickly.

• In 2005, she became the Host and Producer for a new show called APTN National News: Daytime.
• In 2007, she began hosting Contact, a show where viewers could call in to discuss topics.
• In 2009, a new talk show called APTN InFocus was created, with McKenzie as the host. The show explored important issues facing Indigenous communities, like health, community safety, and self-governance.
• In 2012, she returned to the news desk as a co-anchor for the main newscast.

In 2016, InFocus became a one-hour show that let viewers join the conversation through social media. A major highlight was when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared on the show. It was the first time a sitting prime minister had ever done a long interview with an Indigenous news organization.

Leading the News Department

In July 2019, Cheryl McKenzie was promoted to a top leadership role. She became the Executive Director of News and Current Affairs for APTN, where she continues to guide the network's news coverage.