Wendy Mesley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wendy Mesley
|
|
|---|---|
Mesley in 2012
|
|
| Born |
Montreal, Canada
|
| Alma mater | Ryerson Polytechnical Institute |
| Occupation | Broadcast journalist |
| Years active | 1976–present (radio) 1979–present (television) |
| Known for | The Weekly with Wendy Mesley, The National |
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | 3 Gemini Awards, 2006 John Drainie Award, 1 Canadian Screen Award |
Wendy Mesley is a Canadian television journalist, podcaster, and blogger. She worked for CBC News for many years, from 1981 to 2021. During her time at CBC, she was a national correspondent, reporting from places like the Quebec Legislature and the Ottawa Parliamentary Bureau. She also anchored The National and hosted popular shows like Undercurrents, Disclosure, and Marketplace. From 2018 to 2020, she hosted The Weekly with Wendy Mesley, a Sunday morning talk show.
Contents
Wendy Mesley's Career Journey
Starting in Journalism
Wendy Mesley studied journalism at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. She started working in television in 1979, even before she finished her diploma. She first worked for CFCF-TV in Montreal, which was part of the CTV network. By 1981, she moved to CBC.
Reporting on National News
In 1985, Wendy Mesley made history at CBC. She became the first female TV reporter to cover the Prime Minister. She joined the team that reported on Parliament. Later, in 1991, she became CBC's national affairs correspondent. She also started hosting Sunday Report.
Hosting Popular TV Shows
From 1994 to 2001, Mesley helped create and host Undercurrents. This show looked at media and technology. After that, she briefly co-hosted Disclosure, an investigative show. In 2002, she moved to Marketplace. This show investigates products and services for consumers. She also often filled in as an anchor for CBC's main evening news, The National.
In 2004, Mesley hosted a 13-part series called The Greatest Canadian. Between 2007 and 2008, she co-hosted several episodes of Test the Nation on CBC.
Later Career and Retirement
In October 2009, Wendy Mesley became a more regular face on The National. By 2010, she was the regular anchor for the Friday and Sunday editions of the program. In January 2018, she began hosting her own Sunday morning talk show. It was called The Weekly with Wendy Mesley and focused on politics and media.
Wendy Mesley announced her retirement from CBC on July 5, 2021. She also wrote an article for The Globe and Mail about her experiences. After leaving CBC, Mesley started new projects. In 2022, she created a podcast called "Women of Ill Repute" with Maureen Holloway. She also began writing online on Substack.
Awards and Recognition
Wendy Mesley has won many awards for her work. She has received three Gemini Awards for being the Best Host in a News or Talk Program. In 2006, she was given the John Drainie Award by ACTRA. This award recognized her important contributions to Canadian broadcasting. In 2017, Mesley also won a Canadian Screen Award. This was for being the Best Host or Interviewer in a News or Information Program.
Wendy Mesley's Personal Life
Wendy Mesley was born in Montreal, Quebec. When she was very young, her mother moved them to Toronto. Her mother, Joan Mesley, worked as a physiotherapist. Wendy met her father, Gordon Mesley, who was a radio journalist, when she was eighteen years old.
When she was ten, Mesley went with her mother to support Martin Luther King Jr.
Mesley married fellow CBC news anchor Peter Mansbridge in 1989. They later separated in 1992. In 1998, she married Liam McQuade, who works in marketing. They have one daughter together.
In January 2005, Wendy Mesley shared that she was facing a health challenge. She continued her work on Marketplace and The National when she could. During this time, she also filmed a documentary called Chasing the Cancer Answer. This documentary aired in March 2006. She returned to her full-time role at CBC in March 2006.
