Suhana Meharchand
Encyclopedia
Suhana Meharchand is a CBC News Network anchor and host of CBC News Now from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on weekdays.
, South Africa
, and raised in Toronto
, Ontario, Canada. Meharchand is a graduate of broadcast journalism from Toronto's Ryerson University
. She was inspired by an uncle who ran an underground (underground because of apartheid, see History of South Africa in the apartheid era
) newspaper in her native South Africa. She immigrated to Canada in 1968.
, a TV station in Hamilton, Ontario and at CBET
in Windsor, Ontario. She would then move to Ottawa where she spent three years as a general reporter and weekend anchor at CJOH-TV
, a CTV affiliate.
From September, 1987 through to July, 1989, Meharchand was host and producer of What's New, CBC-TV's national news and current affairs program for young people.
Meharchand's next assignment was anchor of the Saturday Evening News broadcast of Toronto, London, and Windsor viewers.
In September 1995, she was appointed anchor of the CBC's regional newscast on CBLT in Toronto
. Meharchand replaced Bill Cameron
who had moved to Halifax to anchor the CBC Newsworld's morning telecast. This assignment would last for five years, ending in September 2000 when CBC announced that the CBC Evening news would be going off the air. Poor ratings and cost cutting (plans by CBC were to cut 639 jobs). Meharchand would survive the cuts and move on to read the 11 PM newscast.
Meharchand has received two Gemini Award
nominations for her work and has won several international awards for documentary work, including awards from the Columbus International Film & Video Festival
and the New York Film and TV Festival. She is the recipient of a Paul Harris Fellowship awarded by Rotary International
and an Honorary Member of the Canadian Women's Foundation. Her many community activities are with Performers for Literacy, Gems of Hope, Redwood Shelter for Women and Children, Canadian Paraplegic Association, Hospital for Sick Children
and Princess Margaret Breast Cancer Centre
, to name a few.
political journalist and Toronto City Council
lor Adam Vaughan
. In an interview for the Toronto Star, she commented on their relationship, saying "he gave too many answers but did not ask enough questions". They have a daughter, Mimi. Prior to that, Suhana was married to Ron Clarkin. They had two children, Mariah and Acton.
Early life
Born in DurbanDurban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and raised in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario, Canada. Meharchand is a graduate of broadcast journalism from Toronto's Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
. She was inspired by an uncle who ran an underground (underground because of apartheid, see History of South Africa in the apartheid era
History of South Africa in the apartheid era
Apartheid was a system of racial segregation enforced by the National Party governments of South Africa between 1948 and 1994, under which the rights of the majority 'non-white' inhabitants of South Africa were curtailed and white supremacy and Afrikaner minority rule was maintained...
) newspaper in her native South Africa. She immigrated to Canada in 1968.
Career
Meharchand's first jobs as a journalist were at CHCH-TVCHCH-TV
CHCH-DT, channel 11, is a television station originating in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, with transmitters located throughout Ontario. CHCH currently operates as an independent station, having previously served as a CBC Television affiliate, and more recently as the flagship station of the...
, a TV station in Hamilton, Ontario and at CBET
CBET
CBET, channel 9, is the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's owned-and-operated television station in Windsor, Ontario. The station's signal also covers the Detroit, Michigan area across the international border in the United States, and is counted as a Detroit station for the purposes of...
in Windsor, Ontario. She would then move to Ottawa where she spent three years as a general reporter and weekend anchor at CJOH-TV
CJOH-TV
CJOH-DT is a television station serving Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and the surrounding region. Owned by Bell Media, it is part of the CTV Television Network....
, a CTV affiliate.
From September, 1987 through to July, 1989, Meharchand was host and producer of What's New, CBC-TV's national news and current affairs program for young people.
Meharchand's next assignment was anchor of the Saturday Evening News broadcast of Toronto, London, and Windsor viewers.
In September 1995, she was appointed anchor of the CBC's regional newscast on CBLT in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Meharchand replaced Bill Cameron
Bill Cameron
William "Bill" Cameron was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. A Gemini Award winner, he was a news anchor, television producer, columnist and author...
who had moved to Halifax to anchor the CBC Newsworld's morning telecast. This assignment would last for five years, ending in September 2000 when CBC announced that the CBC Evening news would be going off the air. Poor ratings and cost cutting (plans by CBC were to cut 639 jobs). Meharchand would survive the cuts and move on to read the 11 PM newscast.
Meharchand has received two 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...
nominations for her work and has won several international awards for documentary work, including awards from the Columbus International Film & Video Festival
Columbus International Film & Video Festival
The Columbus International Film + Video Festival is a Columbus, Ohio, USA annual film festival which is designed to encourage and promote the use of film and video in all forms of education and communication...
and the New York Film and TV Festival. She is the recipient of a Paul Harris Fellowship awarded by Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
and an Honorary Member of the Canadian Women's Foundation. Her many community activities are with Performers for Literacy, Gems of Hope, Redwood Shelter for Women and Children, Canadian Paraplegic Association, Hospital for Sick Children
Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children – is a major paediatric centre for the Greater Toronto Area, serving patients up to age 18. Located on University Avenue in Downtown Toronto, SickKids is part of the city’s Discovery District, a critical mass of scientists and entrepreneurs who are focused on...
and Princess Margaret Breast Cancer Centre
Princess Margaret Hospital (Toronto)
Princess Margaret Hospital is located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada on University Avenue at College Street. It is part of the University Health Network...
, to name a few.
Personal life
She was formerly engaged to former CitytvCitytv
Citytv is a Canadian English language television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. division...
political journalist and Toronto City Council
Toronto City Council
The Toronto City Council is the governing body of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors....
lor Adam Vaughan
Adam Vaughan
Adam Vaughan is a councillor representing Ward 20 Trinity—Spadina in Toronto, Canada. For about 20 years, Vaughan worked as a political journalist and activist, most recently as the Political Specialist at Citytv/CP24. Before that, for ten years, he reported for CBLT in Toronto as a municipal...
. In an interview for the Toronto Star, she commented on their relationship, saying "he gave too many answers but did not ask enough questions". They have a daughter, Mimi. Prior to that, Suhana was married to Ron Clarkin. They had two children, Mariah and Acton.