Peter Mansbridge

Peter Mansbridge’s sterling career at the CBC is without precedent. He served as the chief correspondent of CBC News, helmed its flagship show The National, anchored all CBC News specials, and hosted the intelligent interview show Mansbridge: One on One. For his work, Mansbridge has received over a dozen national awards for broadcast excellence—yet for all the accolades, he remains an astoundingly grounded individual, with a gentle humour and trademark integrity. Reflecting back on his journalism career, which has taken him across the country and the planet, he told CBC’s The Current, “When you hear from others about their perceptions of Canada, it opens your eyes about the country you live in. You learn things about yourself you didn’t know.” In his new book Extraordinary Canadians: Stories from the Heart of Our Nation, the beloved former anchor offers us a collection of first-person stories from remarkable citizens who, in their own way, are making the country a better place. Mansbridge talks to the veterans, doctors, immigrants, business leaders (and more) who make up our great country, and embody its core values of kindness, compassion, courage, and freedom—inspiring us to do the same. The host of a weekly program called The Bridge, Mansbridge combines his love of journalism, politics, and people, offering an insider perspective on the issues shaping our world today.

Away from the news desk, Mansbridge has been recognized by leading universities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and, of course, Canada. He’s been a Fellow at Yale, has lectured at Oxford, was named Chancellor of Mount Allison University, and is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Mansbridge has received 13 honorary doctorates, including his latest from McMaster University, where he told graduates that, “We need to face disagreements and divisions head on, but with passion and conviction and respect.” Mansbridge was also named an Officer of the Order of Canada—one of the country’s highest civilian honours—for his “contributions to broadcasting, for his commitment to helping Canadians better understand their country and the world, and for his dedication to literacy and Canada’s youth.”

Known for his trademark voice and unflappable onscreen presence, Mansbridge has also found success as an author. His book Mansbridge: One on One was a national bestseller, and he’s penned contributions to The 100 Photos That Changed Canada, Canada’s Great War Album, and the ambitious essay collection 100 Days That Changed Canada.