Accession 2003-19 - Pamela Wallin

Pamela Wallin was born in Moose Jaw and raised in Wadena, Saskatchewan. She attended the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus (predecessor of the University of Regina) where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and political science. Beginning her career as a social worker, Wallin changed course after co-hosting a noon-hour open-line show on CBC Radio. From 1975 to 1978 she held numerous positions with CBC Radio in Regina, Toronto, and Ottawa. Then in 1978 she joined the Toronto Star working in their Ottawa bureau.

Wallin's long association with CTV began in 1981 when she joined the network to co-host its morning show, Canada AM, with Norm Perry. She reported from Buenos Aires in 1982 covering the Falklands War and the subsequent collapse of the Argentine government. In 1984, on the eve of the visit to Canada of the Chinese premier, Wallin and Perry hosted Canada AM from Beijing. Then in 1985 Wallin was appointed Ottawa bureau chief. She was the first woman in Canadian television history appointed to head a bureau. As bureau chief, she also produced and hosted Question Period and regularly anchored CTVs weekend National News program.

Wallin left CTV in 1992 and, for the next three years, co-anchored CBCs Prime Time News with Peter Mansbridge. In 1995 she established her own production company, based in Toronto, which produced such shows as Pamela Wallin Live and Pamela Wallin's Talk TV. In 2000 she hosted the Canadian version of the hit game show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

Wallin was Consul General of Canada in New York from 2002 to 2006. She was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2008 and serves on the Senate's prestigious Foreign Affairs & International Trade Committee and is Deputy Chair of the Defence & National Security Committee. Wallin is also Chancellor of the University of Guelph. She serves on several corporate boards and continues her work as the Senior Advisor on Canada-US relations at the Americas Society and the Council of the Americas in New York.

Pamela Wallin is an Officer of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest civilian honour. She also served, at the request of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, on the special Independent Panel on Canada's Future Role in Afghanistan.