The cameras take us to Wadena, Saskatchewan
– the prism through which Pamela Wallin views the world.
Its small town prairie values remain her cornerstone. Wallin
was bright and ambitious, but not without a temper. Older
sister Bonnie recalls a nasty spat over a set of hot rollers.
Years later, Wallin’s hair-dos would get TV viewers
just as steamed.
An idealistic young Wallin abandoned social work for a career
in journalism and the chance to mould public opinion. She
rose quickly through the ranks – from the golden girl
of morning television at Canada A.M. to CTV’s first
woman Bureau Chief in Ottawa. When the CBC offered the co-anchor
chair on Prime Time News, Wallin jumped at the chance. But
her strong views and take-charge attitude landed her in hot
water. It was her first taste of failure, but true to form, she orchestrated
a comeback. Wallin launched her own interview show which ironically
aired on CBC Newsworld.
Friends paint a portrait of a loyal and funny woman –
an insomniac and workaholic who suffers from permanent hair
anxiety. She’s weathered a painful divorce, and a much
publicized battle with colorectal cancer. But nothing slows
her frenetic pace…except Kitty, her Siamese cat. “If
it were a choice between me and Kitty,” jokes partner
Michael Decter, “I’d lose.”
Original Air Date - March 23, 2004
Links
Canadian
Consulate General in New York
Interview
with Pam Wallin
Pamela
Wallin online
(Note: CBC does not endorse the content of external
sites)
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