TORONTO — CTV’s national affairs correspondent Lisa LaFlamme will take over the reins from “CTV National News” anchor Lloyd Robertson.
CTV says the seasoned reporter will frequently share the anchor job with Robertson during a year of transition before assuming the position full-time next year.
LaFlamme, a regular fill-in anchor since 2003, said in a release that it was an honour to follow in Robertson’s footsteps.
“He is an institution, the very foundation that fair and honest journalism is built on, and has personally taught me so much about this business that I love,” LaFlamme said.
Robertson announced Thursday that he will retire as the network’s chief anchor in the middle of 2011. By then he will have marked 35 years with CTV, and 28 years helming its flagship news program.
The 76-year-old says he is moving on to other roles within the network, including a position as co-host of the current affairs series W5.
Robertson said in the same release that he was proud and happy for LaFlamme.
“She’s an extraordinary talent and a wonderful human being,” Robertson said. “Canadians will appreciate it’s the right choice.”
LaFlamme, 45, began her broadcast career in 1988 at CTV’s CKCO affiliate in her hometown, Kitchener, Ont. Her extensive reporting career includes stints in Iraq, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Haiti, and as a political correspondent for CTV News in Ottawa. It also includes extensive hosting duties. Before her move to “CTV National News,” she co-hosted “Canada AM,” CTV’s national morning show.
CTV CEO Ivan Fecan called LaFlamme a “first-rate journalist.”
“We’ve all seen her hard news coverage around the world and here at home, most recently with the G20. In addition, we’ve seen her as a skilled interviewer and a warm host, especially at Vancouver 2010. This is Lisa’s time.”
LaFlamme has been nominated five times for a Gemini in the Best News Anchor category and has won several RTNDA awards.
Robertson has been in broadcasting for more than 50 years. He began his career in 1952 at CJCS radio in his hometown of Stratford, Ont., and then moved on to CJOY in Guelph, Ont., in 1953. He then moved to CBC in 1954 and became a national news anchor in 1970, a position he held until making the leap to CTV in 1976. He has been CTV’s chief anchor and senior editor since 1983.
He was voted Canada’s most trusted news anchor by TV Guide readers for 11 years in a row and has won three Gemini awards.