Pamela Wallin
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Pamela Wallin, SOM (born 1953 in Wadena, Saskatchewan) is a Canadian television journalist and diplomat of Swedish descent.
After obtaining a degree in psychology and political science from the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus (now the University of Regina), she began her career as a social worker at Saskatchewan's Prince Albert Penitentiary. The following year, she began her career in journalism, joining CBC Radio's news division.
In 1979, she joined the Ottawa bureau of the Toronto Star. In 1981, she joined CTV and became cohost, with Norm Perry, of Canada AM. In 1985, CTV named her its Ottawa bureau chief. She later rejoined Canada AM, hosting alongside J.D. Roberts.
In 1992, the CBC hired Wallin in a highly publicized move. For many years, The National had been followed by a 40-minute nightly newsmagazine, hosted by Barbara Frum, called The Journal. However, as a result of Frum's death in February of 1992, the CBC wanted to revamp and reposition its entire approach to news programming.
In the fall of that year, Wallin and Peter Mansbridge debuted as the cohosts of Prime Time News. Instead of the old segregation of Mansbridge reading the news on The National, followed by Frum introducing documentary and current affairs features and interviewing newsmakers on The Journal, the new show featured Wallin and Mansbridge as equal hosts of the whole package. As well, the new show aired at 9 p.m., one hour earlier than the old National/Journal tandem.
The show fared poorly in the ratings, and by 1994, had returned to its old format and time slot, with Mansbridge reading the news, followed by Wallin hosting a magazine segment which eventually took on the name The National Magazine.
In 1994, her home town of Wadena, Saskatchewan named its major street Pamela Wallin Drive in her honour.
In 1995, Wallin was replaced as host of The Magazine by Hana Gartner. Following her dismissal from CBC News, Wallin created her own production company, and launched a daily interview series called Pamela Wallin Live. Airing on CBC Newsworld (and, in some years, on the CBC's main network as well), Pamela Wallin Live was a highly successful series which featured Wallin interviewing newsmakers, celebrities and other interesting personalities in a manner similar to CNN's Larry King Live. Wallin was regarded as an excellent interviewer, and the show ran for four years before Wallin moved to the cable network TalkTV.
In 1999, she was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit.
In 2000, Wallin hosted the Canadian edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. She was criticized by some observers for compromising her journalistic integrity, but noted in response that as an interviewer and television producer, she was no longer working as a journalist in the traditional sense of the word.
In 2001, Wallin, along with then-Foreign Affairs Minister John Manley, was one of the organizers of the "Canada Loves New York" rally for Canadians to show their support after the September 11, 2001 attacks (Manley ran in the New York City Marathon in 2001, a contributing factor to organize the rally). In 2003, Wallin and Senator Jerry Grafstein were honored by the Canadian Society of New York for their ongoing commitment to strengthening the ties between Canada and the United States. (See: Wallin's acceptance speech) In 2001, Wallin spoke publicly about her battle with colon cancer.
On June 25, 2002, Wallin's television career came to an end when Prime Minister Jean Chrétien appointed her as Canada's Consul General in New York City, her first diplomatic posting.
In June 2004 she received an honorary doctorate from Athabasca University.
In June 2006 she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Windsor.
Wallin has also published two books, Since You Asked (1998) and Speaking of Success (2001), and has made cameo appearances on the Canadian comedy series Royal Canadian Air Farce and Corner Gas.
