BANFF – Wendy Mesley, CBC broadcaster and co-host of Marketplace, accepted the ACTRA John Drainie Award today at the 27th Banff World Television Festival’s Annual Awards Luncheon on Monday.
A multiple Gemini Award winner, Mesley has an extensive journalism career spanning 30 years. Her work includes stints as a CBC radio reporter, parliamentary correspondent for The National, anchor of Sunday Report and host of both Undercurrents and CBC News: Marketplace.
Past recipients of the John Drainie Award include, among others, David Suzuki, Pierre Berton and Wesley’s mentor, Barbara Frum. Touched by the opening clip showcasing her career, Mesley joked that seeing her work all together in one piece really showed that “it was about the hair”. (Mesley is sporting a short ‘do these days as her hair is growing back after radiation treatments for breast cancer.)
Wesley thanked the CBC for the freedom to be a journalist, having worked at the CBC for the majority of her career.
She questioned, where else can you be a journalist and critique your bosses, besides the CBC.
Other lunchen award winners include NBC Universal Canada Award of Distinction, Paul Haggis; Banff World Television Festival Award of Excellence, David Shore; Outstanding Achievement Award, CBS Television; Deluxe Outstanding Technical Achievement Award, Quantel; Lion’s Gate/Maple Pictures Innovative Producer Award, Allan Magee; and WIFT-T Banff Membership Award, Rita Deverell.
