Speaker Biography
For 20 years, Canadians chose to start their day with Heather Hiscox. At the helm of CBC News’ national morning show, she was a trusted voice and comforting presence in homes and workplaces across the country, delivering live, breaking news from across Canada and around the world, and guiding viewers through moments of triumph, tragedy and transformation.
Known as much for her warmth and authenticity as for her professionalism and preparation, Heather forged a special bond with her audience. As one viewer wrote, upon her retirement from CBC, “You have been such a tremendous inspiration to me and I am sure to many Canadians. Your ability to help people understand the challenges, celebrate the good and help Canadians every day start their day with that amazing smile and energy will be greatly missed.” Heather now brings that same energy and engagement to her new audiences, continuing the conversation whether as speaker, moderator or interviewer.
During her career at CBC, Heather covered major Canadian and international news stories, from the Vatican funeral of Pope Francis, to the bus crash in Humboldt, SK, and terror attacks in Ottawa and Paris. She led CBC News coverage of 10 Olympic Games, and many Royal events, including weddings, jubilees, and the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. She conducted thousands of interviews with newsmakers in politics, business, sports, culture, science and medicine.
Heather’s work has been recognized with several national awards: the 2018 Canadian Screen Award (CSA) for Best National News Anchor; the CSA in 2023 for Best Morning Show; and an RTDNA Canada Award in 2024 for Breaking News coverage. In 2025, she was honoured with an RTDNA National Lifetime Achievement Award
A proud native of Owen Sound, ON, Heather began her broadcasting career in 1982 at the local radio station. She moved into television in 1991, working as a reporter and news anchor in newsrooms across Southwestern Ontario, Toronto, Halifax and Montreal before becoming a correspondent for CBC News: The National. Three years later, she was named host of CBC News’ national television morning show.
Heather graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in French language, literature and translation. She is bilingual. She also holds a Master of Arts degree in journalism from Western University in London, ON, which awarded her an honorary doctorate in 2011. She mentors young journalists, and supports Western’s Faculty of Media and Information Studies with the Heather J. Hiscox Award in Journalism and Ethics.
Among her career accomplishments, Heather is a recipient of a YMCA Women of Excellence Award. She is a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. In 2025, she was honoured with a King Charles III Coronation Medal for her contribution to Canada.
Heather retired from CBC News in 2025. Today, she is the president of Heather Hiscox Communications, continuing the conversation and connection she enjoyed with Canadians for decades.
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