Located in Montreal’s Ville-Marie borough, a major water main break on René-Lévesque Boulevard and de Lorimier Avenue on Aug. 16, 2024 sent a deluge of water into homes and business in the area, including Bell Media’s offices where CTV, RDS, Noovo, Rouge FM (CITE-FM), Energie (CKMF-FM), CJAD, CHOM, Virgin Radio (CJFM-FM) and TSN Radio (CKGM-FM) were impacted as control panels and other equipment were destroyed.

A little more than a year later, CTV is introducing its new virtual studio environment, following the debut of a similar set that went into use last year by Bell Media French-language news channel, Noovo Info. 

The virtual studio environment includes multiple modular screens to accommodate high-quality news graphics, video footage, and live interviews. 

“This innovative new virtual reality studio not only delivers a visually striking news environment for our viewers, it also allows us to tell stories in dynamic new ways,” said Jean-Philippe Pineault, General Manager, Quebec News, Bell Media. “Building on the success following Noovo Info’s transition to a virtual set, and thanks to the technological advances offered by this state-of-the-art studio, we will continue to evolve our newscasts for years to come.” 

The new set will be used during CTV News at 5 with anchor Maya Johnson; CTV News at 6 with anchor Mutsumi Takahashi; and CTV News at 11:30 with anchor Caroline Van Vlaardingen, as well as the 6 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. weekend newscasts. 

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Thomson’s 30-year career as a journalist started in radio news in Newmarket, ON and 680 CFTR, before she arrived at CFTO Toronto as a reporter and weekend anchor. From there, she moved over to Global News Toronto as the weeknight, supper-hour anchor from 1997 to 2003. It was that year, that she received her initial breast cancer diagnosis, which she covered in the documentary, Where There Is No Fear, becoming an official spokesperson for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Thomson returned to CTV in late 2003 as host of Canada AM, while still undergoing chemotherapy. After a 13-run year with the morning show, she landed on the anchor desk at CTV News Channel in 2016, following Canada AM’s cancellation.

“People would ask us all the time if Beverly Thomson was as nice off-camera as she was on Canada AM. Well, she was. She was also a total pro, a committed and passionate journalist who persevered at work and in life,” wrote former Canada AM colleagues Jeff Hutcheson, Marci Ien and Seamus O’Regan, in a statement posted to social media. “She could scrap with politicians and give as good as she got. She always read the book and did the research. But she led, first and foremost, with empathy. Many of the guests we’d have on were ordinary Canadians telling their stories. She’d comfort them before the camera came on, she’d listen to their every word, she’d hold their hand during the commercial break. She would get the most extraordinary interviews, and she’s never betray their trust.”

Thomson continued to fight cancer off and on, with the disease recurring seven years into her time with Canada AM.

In 2019, Thomson was named a Member of the Order of Canada. She received Seneca College’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2000 and the Ontario Premier’s Award for Creative Arts & Design in 2003. She was the 2006 recipient of the Humanitarian Award from the Gemini Awards (now Canadian Screen Awards). In 2009, she was appointed by the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, as the National Ambassador for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. In 2024, she was recognized with an RTDNA National Lifetime Achievement Award.

Among other charitable endeavours, Thomson lent her time to the Seneca College Broadcast Communications Advisory Board, the Hospital for Sick Children, Children’s Aid, and Charles H. Best Diabetes Foundation.

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Led by veteran broadcaster George Stroumboulopoulos, the initiative – largely driven by Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund (CMF) – recently concluded on the opening night of TIFF, setting the stage for a content series launch in October.

Carney sat down with Stroumboulopoulos for a candid conversation about cultural sovereignty and why Canadian stories matter more than ever, joining other well-known Canadians including actor/producer Ryan Reynolds, astronaut Chris Hadfield, singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez, actress Emily Hampshire (Schitt’s Creek), actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Kim’s Convenience), actor Jay Baruchel (Goon), actress Tantoo Cardinal (North of 60), Reelworld Screen Institute founder and actress Tonya Williams (The Young and the Restless), filmmaker Atom Egoyan (The Sweet Hereafter), musician Rob Baker (The Tragically Hip), and Stanley Cup winner and Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart.

Carney told Stroumboulopoulos that the role of government is important, saying it’s vital storytellers have resources.

“The government has a role to play now, but it has to be a neutral role because you want the creativity. You can tell the story – and it’s true – about the economic impact of the creative industries…but what’s more important is telling the stories, weaving together our history,” said Carney.

The concurrent French campaign, led by comedienne Rosalie Vaillancourt, includes interviews with TV host Pierre-Yves Lord, Acadian folk trio Les Hay Babies, author Kim Thúy (Ru, Em), and director Chloé Robichaud (Deux femmes en or)

Mathieu Chantelois of the Canada Media Fund joined Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast to talk about the MADE | NOUS campaign and why there’s never been a better time to celebrate Canadian storytellers. Listen on your favourite podcast platform or here:

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