By The Canadian Press
TV anchor Beverly Thomson interviews NDP Leader Jack Layton on Canada AM in Toronto, Tuesday, April 19, 2011. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot)
Canadian journalist and longtime CTV News anchor Beverly Thomson has died.
Thomson, who is best known for her high-profile interviews with politicians and celebrities, died on Sunday morning surrounded by her family after a long battle with cancer, CTV News reported. She was 61.
Thomson joined CTV News Toronto as a reporter, where she most recently worked as a CTV News Channel anchor after working on-air for the network’s morning show “Canada AM.” She also worked as a news anchor for Global News from 1997 to 2003.
Her career spanned over 30 years and included coverage of the 2016 U.S. presidential election and featured interviews with Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Donald Trump and Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield.
Last October, Thomson was awarded the lifetime achievement award by the Radio Television Digital News Association of Canada.
When presented the award, then-RTDNA Canada president Lis Travers called Thomson “one of Canada’s most respected news personalities.”
Thomson was also a 2019 recipient of the Order of Canada for her contributions to the broadcasting industry and volunteer work with multiple breast cancer organizations.
Vice-president of News at Bell Media Richard Gray said Thomson was a “trusted voice and a valued teammate to all of us at CTV News” in a statement on Sunday.
“Bev’s natural on-air style created an immediate connection with viewers. For decades, she also made a significant impact across the country with her vocal support and advocacy for cancer charities,” Gray wrote.
“Bev will be dearly missed by all of us at CTV News. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.”
In a joint statement shared to social media, former “Canada AM” personalities Jeff Hutcheson, Marci Ien and Seamus O’Regan — the latter two of whom served as ministers in Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government — called Thomson a “good and kind and thoughtful friend” who persevered through years of cancer treatment while on air.
“The four of us spent three hours together every morning, live on air, five days a week, for years and years,” the statement said, adding that Thomson “could scrap with politicians and give as good as she got.”
“She fought (cancer) so hard, chin up. On tough mornings back then we’d always ask her what we could do, but we always knew the answer: get on with the job. So we did. We always carried each other.”
Former Global News anchor Leslie Roberts paid tribute to Thomson on social media, calling her a “solid news anchor, mother and friend.”
“As my first Toronto co-anchor, she always had my back. No one better to have as a ‘work wife,'” Roberts said.
