TV anchor and veteran journalist Beverly Thomson dies at 61 after cancer battle

Canadian journalist Beverly Thomson, a longtime CTV News anchor known for high-profile interviews with politicians and celebrities, has died. She was 61.

Thomson passed away on Sunday morning surrounded by family after a long battle with cancer. Following her own 2002 diagnosis, Thomson became active in breast cancer fundraising and awareness.

Thomson first joined CTV News Toronto as a reporter and was most recently a CTV News Channel anchor. She is survived by her husband Rob, and her two children, Taylor and Robbie.

For more than three decades, Thomson guided Canadians through historic moments across the country and the world.

From the tumultuous 2016 U.S. election to one-on-one interviews with celebrities like Celine Dion and Shania Twain, to conversations with Donald Trump and even Chris Hadfield while he was aboard the International Space Station, she spoke with the biggest newsmakers of her time.

“Bev Thomson was a trusted voice to Canadians and a valued teammate to all of us at CTV News,” said Richard Gray, vice-president of news at Bell Media.

“Bev’s natural on-air style created an immediate connection with viewers. For decades, she also made a significant impact across the country with her vocal support and advocacy for cancer charities. Bev will be dearly missed by all of us at CTV News. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.”

Citing her accomplishments and impactful career, in October 2024 Thomson was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the Radio Television Digital News Association of Canada (RTDNA Canada).

“Beverly Thomson is one of Canada’s most respected news personalities,” then-RTDNA Canada President Lis Travers said. “As a former anchor at CFTO (CTV Toronto), Global News and most recently at CTV News Channel, Thomson has been bringing the news to Canadians for more than 30 years.”

Born and raised in the Toronto area, Thomson started her journalism career away from the camera at a small radio station in Newmarket, Ont., north of Toronto.

“I thought I’d hit the big time,” Thomson said during a 2015 TEDx talk at Queen’s University. “It was at a small strip mall, underneath a laundromat, [the radio station] was not very good, and that was great because I was terrible. I don’t think anyone was listening. That’s not true, my dad was the lone listener.”

Thomson then landed another radio job working overnights in Toronto at what is now known as CityNews 680. That’s when she received a call from a manager at CTV inviting her to come audition as an on-air reporter.

Thomson initially thought it was a prank and never showed up. It took multiple calls before she realized it wasn’t a joke and agreed to go in for an interview that led to her first TV job with CTV News Toronto.

Thomson’s first time at the anchor desk also came unexpectedly when the vice-president of news at the time took her by the arm.

“Our anchor didn’t show up, we need you now,” Thomson recalled being told. “In those days the newscast didn’t start until 6:30. It was 6:21 p.m.”

Thomson soon became weekend anchor at CTV News Toronto. Then, in 1997, she moved to Global News to anchor their flagship newscast in Toronto, a role she held for seven years.

In 2003, she returned to CTV as co-host of Canada AM, where she enjoyed a 13-year run until the show ended in 2016.

“It’s very hard for a lot of people to get used to, but like all good things you move forward,” Thomson said after the final episode.

Thomson continued forward with CTV News, contributing to current affairs and documentary program W5, and taking her talents to the anchor desk at CTV News Channel.

From Hollywood A-listers, to prime ministers and presidential hopefuls, Thomson’s list of interviews is impressive and long. During an exclusive Canadian interview with Hillary Clinton in 2014, Thomson was even able to get the former first lady and U.S. secretary of state to open up about her desire to run for president of the United States in the upcoming election, a feat no other journalist had been able to accomplish at the time.

Thomson was also willing to open up and share her own personal story, including her lengthy battle with breast cancer. She became an official spokesperson for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, and in 2019 was awarded the Order of Canada for her volunteer work fundraising for multiple breast cancer organizations, as well as her contribution to broadcasting in Canada.

Thomson was also a devoted mother to her two children Taylor and Robbie, and from skiing in the Rockies to attending Blue Jays games, she cherished time with her family

Thomson said when the going got tough, she leaned on three pillars: perseverance, passion and patience. While closing her 2015 TEDx Talk at Queen’s University, Thomson brought up an interview she conducted with the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan.

“He said, ‘To live is to choose. To choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there,’” Thomson said. “In those questions are the three Ps: persevere, live your passion and have the patience to make it through.”