Diana Swain
Encyclopedia
Diana Swain is a television journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
(CBC). She has been the host of CBC News At Six, CBC Toronto's local nightly newscast, since September 2004. In addition, she is a correspondent for The National's current affairs unit.
Previously, Swain was the co-host of CBC News: Disclosure
, a primetime investigative magazine program, and co-host of Sunday Report, the national Sunday evening news program, where she and Carole MacNeil
shared the job on a rotational basis.
, Manitoba. Her parents separated when she was young and she moved with her mother and younger sister to Chilliwack
, British Columbia, where she graduated from high school in 1983. She worked for a weekly magazine in Chilliwack for ten months and as a reporter at both the Chilliwack Progress and the radio station CHWK, before moving on to a radio station in Kamloops, British Columbia and then a radio station news room in Prince George, British Columbia. She began reading the news for CKPG, a television station in Prince George, in 1986.
television as co-anchor of the evening newscast on independent station CKND in 1988. What was notable about this position was that the other co-anchor was her father, Brian Swain.
Swain joined CBC
's Winnipeg, Manitoba station, CBWT
, in 1990. She started as a reporter for the local news program, 24 Hours, and quickly became a national reporter after being recognized for her excellent coverage of the 1997 Manitoba Flood, covering Manitoba
and Saskatchewan
, before becoming anchor of 24 Hours. In 2000, Swain's work on 24 Hours was recognized when she won a Gemini Award
for Best News Anchor. By winning the most prestigious award in Canadian
television, she broke a streak that saw CBC's The National anchor Peter Mansbridge
and CTV
's national news anchor Lloyd Robertson
swap the trophy back and forth for many years.
In 2000, as a result of budget cuts, 24 Hours was cancelled and replaced by Canada Now, of which Swain anchored the Winnipeg portion for a year before leaving for Disclosure.
, Ontario. A year later, "Disclosure" was cancelled, and Swain became the host of CBC News Toronto. Since then, she has frequently substituted for Peter Mansbridge
as anchor of CBC's flagship news show, The National
.
On August 6, 2010, she stepped down as anchor of CBC News Toronto to move to the CBC News Investigative unit, where she makes frequent reports on The National. She can also be heard on CBC Radio and can be seen on CBC.ca.
Swain received an honorary degree
from Humber College
in June, 2010.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
(CBC). She has been the host of CBC News At Six, CBC Toronto's local nightly newscast, since September 2004. In addition, she is a correspondent for The National's current affairs unit.
Previously, Swain was the co-host of CBC News: Disclosure
CBC News: Disclosure
CBC News: Disclosure was a Canadian investigative journalism television series. It debuted on CBC Television on November 13, 2001 and ended on April 6, 2004. Hosts of the show included Gillian Findlay, Mark Kelley, Wendy Mesley and Diana Swain....
, a primetime investigative magazine program, and co-host of Sunday Report, the national Sunday evening news program, where she and Carole MacNeil
Carole MacNeil
Carole MacNeil is an award-winning television journalist and producer with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She is the host of CBC News Now from 12 to 3 p.m. Eastern Time Zone on the CBC News Network....
shared the job on a rotational basis.
Early Life and Career
Swain was born in ThompsonThompson
-Places:In Bulgaria:* Thompson, Bulgaria, a village in Sofia ProvinceIn Canada:* Thompson, Manitoba* Thompson , an electoral district in the above location* Thompson River, a river in British Columbia...
, Manitoba. Her parents separated when she was young and she moved with her mother and younger sister to Chilliwack
Chilliwack, British Columbia
Chilliwack is a Canadian city in the Province of British Columbia. It is a predominantly agricultural community with an estimated population of 80,000 people. Chilliwack is the second largest city in the Fraser Valley Regional District after Abbotsford. The city is surrounded by mountains and...
, British Columbia, where she graduated from high school in 1983. She worked for a weekly magazine in Chilliwack for ten months and as a reporter at both the Chilliwack Progress and the radio station CHWK, before moving on to a radio station in Kamloops, British Columbia and then a radio station news room in Prince George, British Columbia. She began reading the news for CKPG, a television station in Prince George, in 1986.
Winnipeg
Swain first entered WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
television as co-anchor of the evening newscast on independent station CKND in 1988. What was notable about this position was that the other co-anchor was her father, Brian Swain.
Swain joined CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
's Winnipeg, Manitoba station, CBWT
CBWT
CBWT is the CBC's television station in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is the only CBC station in Manitoba, since Brandon's CKX-TV closed on October 2, 2009....
, in 1990. She started as a reporter for the local news program, 24 Hours, and quickly became a national reporter after being recognized for her excellent coverage of the 1997 Manitoba Flood, covering Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, before becoming anchor of 24 Hours. In 2000, Swain's work on 24 Hours was recognized when she won a Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
for Best News Anchor. By winning the most prestigious award in Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
television, she broke a streak that saw CBC's The National anchor Peter Mansbridge
Peter Mansbridge
Peter Mansbridge, OC , a Canadian broadcaster and news anchor, is the CBC News Chief Correspondent and anchor of The National, CBC Television's flagship nightly newscast. Mansbridge has received many awards and accolades for his journalistic work including an honorary doctorate from Mount Allison...
and CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
's national news anchor Lloyd Robertson
Lloyd Robertson
Lloyd Robertson, OC is the currently the co-host of CTV's weekly magazine series, W5. Robertson previously served as the chief anchor and senior editor of CTV's national evening newscast, CTV News with Lloyd Robertson, until September, 2011, when he retired from the CTV National News...
swap the trophy back and forth for many years.
In 2000, as a result of budget cuts, 24 Hours was cancelled and replaced by Canada Now, of which Swain anchored the Winnipeg portion for a year before leaving for Disclosure.
Toronto
Initially, Swain commuted to Toronto from Winnipeg while working on Disclosure, but in 2003, she and her family moved to OakvilleOakville, Ontario
Oakville is a town in Halton Region, on Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area. As of the 2006 census the population was 165,613.-History:In 1793, Dundas Street was surveyed for a military road...
, Ontario. A year later, "Disclosure" was cancelled, and Swain became the host of CBC News Toronto. Since then, she has frequently substituted for Peter Mansbridge
Peter Mansbridge
Peter Mansbridge, OC , a Canadian broadcaster and news anchor, is the CBC News Chief Correspondent and anchor of The National, CBC Television's flagship nightly newscast. Mansbridge has received many awards and accolades for his journalistic work including an honorary doctorate from Mount Allison...
as anchor of CBC's flagship news show, The National
The National
CBC News The National is the CBC's flagship national television newscast, broadcast from the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto. It reports on major Canadian and international news stories, airing on CBC Television weeknights and Sundays at 10:00 p.m. local time...
.
On August 6, 2010, she stepped down as anchor of CBC News Toronto to move to the CBC News Investigative unit, where she makes frequent reports on The National. She can also be heard on CBC Radio and can be seen on CBC.ca.
Swain received an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from Humber College
Humber College
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning is a polytechnic college in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Humber offers more than 150 programs including: bachelor’s degree, diploma, certificate, post-graduate certificate and apprenticeship programs, across 40 fields of study. Humber serves...
in June, 2010.