Pamela Wallin

WALLIN, Pamela (b. 1953)
Journalist, Senator

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.

Written with information
from Helen Krzyzewski
Photo courtesy of Helen Krzyzewski
Photo credit: Michelle Valberg,
Valberg Imaging

Archival Collections (Finding Aids in PDF format)

2001-5 - Personal and Professional Papers. 1962-2000

2002-23 - Pamela Wallin Live [Video Tapes]. 1995-2000

2002-32 - Canadian Television Network (CTV), Clippings and Materials and Honorary Degrees 1961-2002

2003-19 - Talk TV and Other Miscellaneous Materials [Video Tapes]. 1982-2000

2004-25 - Video Tape: Fast Forward: the Life and Times of Pamela Wallin. 2004

2009-3 - Awards and Certificates, Video Tapes, Photographs and Clippings. 1984-2008

2009-45 - Video Tapes, Correspondence, Photographs and Clippings. 1982-2008