Rita Deverell
Encyclopedia
Rita Shelton Deverell, CM
(born 1945 in Houston, Texas
) is a Canadian
television broadcaster and social activist, who was one of the founders of the Canadian television channel Vision TV
. She also served as news director for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
from 2002 to 2005.
Deverell moved to Canada in 1967, and began her television career in 1972 as the producer of a children's television program. In 1974, she joined CBC Television
as a journalist, including a stint with the program Take 30
. In 1983, she left to become a journalism professor at the University of Regina
, and in 1988 she left there to become one of the founders of Vision TV. In addition to working as an executive with Vision TV, she also hosted numerous interstitial segments between programs, and was noted for often wearing a flower
in her hair when hosting these segments.
Deverell has been named to the Maclean's
Honour Roll of Outstanding Canadians, and to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters
Hall of Fame. She has also been a board member of Obsidian Theatre
Company, a Toronto company which specializes in Black Canadian
drama.
She was named a member of the Order of Canada
in 2005.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born 1945 in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
) is a 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 broadcaster and social activist, who was one of the founders of the Canadian television channel Vision TV
Vision TV
VisionTV is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel that broadcasts multi-faith, multicultural, and general entertainment programming aimed at the 45 and over demographic....
. She also served as news director for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
Aboriginal Peoples Television Network is a Canadian broadcast and cable television network. APTN airs and produces programs made by, for and about Aboriginal Peoples...
from 2002 to 2005.
Deverell moved to Canada in 1967, and began her television career in 1972 as the producer of a children's television program. In 1974, she joined CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
as a journalist, including a stint with the program Take 30
Take 30
Take 30 was a Canadian television newsmagazine series, which aired on CBC Television from 1962 to 1983...
. In 1983, she left to become a journalism professor at the University of Regina
University of Regina
The University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
, and in 1988 she left there to become one of the founders of Vision TV. In addition to working as an executive with Vision TV, she also hosted numerous interstitial segments between programs, and was noted for often wearing a flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
in her hair when hosting these segments.
Deverell has been named to the Maclean's
Maclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
Honour Roll of Outstanding Canadians, and to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters
Canadian Association of Broadcasters
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters was the national voice of Canada's private broadcasters, representing the vast majority of Canadian programming services, including private radio and television stations, specialty, pay and pay-per-view services....
Hall of Fame. She has also been a board member of Obsidian Theatre
Obsidian Theatre
Obsidian Theatre is a Canadian professional theatre company, which specializes in Black Canadian drama. The company is located in Toronto, Ontario. The declared mandate of the company is a threefold mission to produce plays, to develop playwrights and to train theatre professionals...
Company, a Toronto company which specializes in Black Canadian
Black Canadian
'Black Canadians is a designation used for people of Black African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The term specifically refers to Canadians with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin...
drama.
She was named a member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 2005.