Bell Media wouldn’t nominate Lisa LaFlamme for an award — so she did it herself
CTV News was prepared to nominate Lisa LaFlamme for multiple awards at the Canadian Screen Awards, but the submissions were later amended to scrub LaFlamme’s name, according to records seen by the Star.Multiple sources told the Star that LaFlamme was hurt by the perceived snub and chose to independently nominate herself for an award as best national news anchor. On Wednesday, a committee of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television named her as one of three finalists. The sources requested anonymity, citing fear of professional repercussions.LaFlamme’s termination last year sparked outrage among viewers and initiated a nationwide conversation on sexism and ageism in workplaces. The longtime TV journalist announced the news in a video posted to social media in which she said she’d been “blindsided” by the development.Records seen by the Star included detailed award nomination forms in categories including best national news anchor, as well as awards associated with the network’s flagship newscast, CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme.Bell Media managers and spokespersons did not respond to the Star’s requests for comment. LaFlamme was the main host of CTV’s live coverage of the visit of Pope Francis to Canada last July. The programming is a finalist for “Best Live News Special” but LaFlamme’s name does not appear in a list of credited team members.Her name is also not present as a credit even though the show featuring her name, “CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme,” is in the running for a Canadian Screen Award for best national newscast. These records were widely accessible to CTV staff as part of their internal content management system. On Wednesday, a Bell Media news release boasted of CTV News securing a total of 10 nominations but did not mention LaFlamme’s nomination for best national news anchor. The release also called her program “CTV National News” rather than its full name at the time, which was “CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme.”In emails to the Star, LaFlamme said, “It was great to see my former CTVers get the recognition for their hard work on some very important stories.”She declined to comment on whether she needed to nominate herself for the national news anchor award, but called the finalist recognition “an absolute honour.”“Media freedom is top of mind for me at this moment having just spent the last few weeks on a democracy project for Journalists For Human Rights in Tunisia and Kenya, among the many countries where journalists, specifically women, struggle to report the truth at risk to their own safety,” she told the Star.Some of LaFlamme’s past colleagues are still angry and confused about Bell Media’s treatment of her.“This was for the work she did for CTV News before they named Omar (Sachedina) as her replacement. Lisa was the driving force behind National. To not recognize or appreciate that is insulting to her and everyone in the newsroom,” the journalist said. Other sources familiar with the matter confirmed the same understanding of events, but declined to comment. A spokesperson for the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television confirmed that the eligibility period for this year’s Canadian Screen Awards was for programs released between Sept. 1, 2021 and Aug. 31, 2022. Following LaFlamme’s ouster, Omar Sachedina assumed the role of chief news anchor and senior editor of CTV National News in September 2022. An Academy spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics of nominators.The Academy has already chosen to award LaFlamme with this year’s special Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism, noting that LaFlamme has been “at the forefront of journalism for over 30 years tackling some of the biggest issues of our time.”LaFlamme began her career in 1989 in Kitchener according to CTV. LaFlamme has covered the war in Afghanistan, federal elections, natural disasters, the global pandemic and, most recently, the papal visit to Canada.In addition to a multitude of awards for broadcasting and journalism over the course of her career, LaFlamme has been named to the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada. She had been anchoring the network’s National News since 2011 before her termination.The 11th Canadian Screen Awards are scheduled to take place on April 16, 2023. Joanna Chiu is a B.C.-based staff reporter for the Star. She covers global and national affairs. Follow her on Twitter: @joannachiu
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CTV News was prepared to nominate Lisa LaFlamme for multiple awards at the Canadian Screen Awards, but the submissions were later amended to scrub LaFlamme’s name, according to records seen by the Star.
Multiple sources told the Star that LaFlamme was hurt by the perceived snub and chose to independently nominate herself for an award as best national news anchor. On Wednesday, a committee of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television named her as one of three finalists. The sources requested anonymity, citing fear of professional repercussions.
LaFlamme’s termination last year sparked outrage among viewers and initiated a nationwide conversation on sexism and ageism in workplaces. The longtime TV journalist announced the news in a video posted to social media in which she said she’d been “blindsided” by the development.
Records seen by the Star included detailed award nomination forms in categories including best national news anchor, as well as awards associated with the network’s flagship newscast, CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme.
Bell Media managers and spokespersons did not respond to the Star’s requests for comment.
LaFlamme was the main host of CTV’s live coverage of the visit of Pope Francis to Canada last July. The programming is a finalist for “Best Live News Special” but LaFlamme’s name does not appear in a list of credited team members.
Her name is also not present as a credit even though the show featuring her name, “CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme,” is in the running for a Canadian Screen Award for best national newscast.
These records were widely accessible to CTV staff as part of their internal content management system.
On Wednesday, a Bell Media news release boasted of CTV News securing a total of 10 nominations but did not mention LaFlamme’s nomination for best national news anchor. The release also called her program “CTV National News” rather than its full name at the time, which was “CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme.”
In emails to the Star, LaFlamme said, “It was great to see my former CTVers get the recognition for their hard work on some very important stories.”
She declined to comment on whether she needed to nominate herself for the national news anchor award, but called the finalist recognition “an absolute honour.”
“Media freedom is top of mind for me at this moment having just spent the last few weeks on a democracy project for Journalists For Human Rights in Tunisia and Kenya, among the many countries where journalists, specifically women, struggle to report the truth at risk to their own safety,” she told the Star.
Some of LaFlamme’s past colleagues are still angry and confused about Bell Media’s treatment of her.
“This was for the work she did for CTV News before they named Omar (Sachedina) as her replacement. Lisa was the driving force behind National. To not recognize or appreciate that is insulting to her and everyone in the newsroom,” the journalist said. Other sources familiar with the matter confirmed the same understanding of events, but declined to comment.
A spokesperson for the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television confirmed that the eligibility period for this year’s Canadian Screen Awards was for programs released between Sept. 1, 2021 and Aug. 31, 2022.
Following LaFlamme’s ouster, Omar Sachedina assumed the role of chief news anchor and senior editor of CTV National News in September 2022.
An Academy spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics of nominators.
The Academy has already chosen to award LaFlamme with this year’s special Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism, noting that LaFlamme has been “at the forefront of journalism for over 30 years tackling some of the biggest issues of our time.”
LaFlamme began her career in 1989 in Kitchener according to CTV. LaFlamme has covered the war in Afghanistan, federal elections, natural disasters, the global pandemic and, most recently, the papal visit to Canada.
In addition to a multitude of awards for broadcasting and journalism over the course of her career, LaFlamme has been named to the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada. She had been anchoring the network’s National News since 2011 before her termination.
The 11th Canadian Screen Awards are scheduled to take place on April 16, 2023.
Joanna Chiu is a B.C.-based staff reporter for the Star. She covers global and national affairs. Follow her on Twitter: @joannachiu
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