CTV’s Omar Sachedina on roots, fave Toronto running route, must-have coffee & more, Canada Reviews

Since relocating to Toronto, chief news anchor of CTV National News, Omar Sachedina, has connected with the city. We checked in with the broadcaster to find out more.

What was your first job?

My first job was as a DJ in Timmins, Ontario. I shot my own stuff, I wrote my own stuff, I edited my own stuff. I did it all!

What does it feel like today, being in people’s homes each night?

It is an immense responsibility, [which is] not lost on me. It is an unofficial contract with a viewer, it’s a very intimate relationship for them to welcome you on their screens. Everybody you talk to right now feels a heaviness to the world, and they’re all trying to make sense of it.

What did it feel like in 2022 to become one of few people of colour leading a newscast in the country?

It was a special moment! I can’t tell you the number of people who have come up to me and shared with me that it was a special moment for them and for their families. I’m so grateful. Again, the responsibility is not lost on me.

What made you pursue journalism?

To understand my story, you have to go way back to elementary school. It was Grade 6, I grew up in a suburb of Vancouver called Port Moody. At that time, there was a professor at a local university who had written a piece in a paper about French immersion. I had gone through the French Immersion program, and this professor’s view was that students who are not native French speakers could never achieve native fluency, and so the use of French Immersion programs was minimal. So my Grade 6 teacher wrote a letter to the editor and said, “I have a class of students who are in French Immersion. They’re doing reasonably well. There is value because they’ve built an appreciation for a culture and people that they may not otherwise have had the chance to.”

And what happened?

That generated discussion, and as I was watching this. I was realizing that it was all adults talking with no perspective from a student. So I decided to write my own letter to the editor of the local newspaper, and they published it. It was quite satisfying and also generated a discussion.

Speaking of which, does it ever get hard for you behind the desk?

It’s not easy. A lot of us are feeling a certain level of sadness, heartache, confusion. I remain an eternal optimist.

How do you manage that?

I picked up running during the pandemic. That is my moment of peace and to get some thinking done. It connects me to the present.

Do you have a particular route that you like running in the city?

So I wouldn’t say I’m a big runner! For me, it’s usually a 5 K a few times a week. And generally, it’s around Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

It sounds like Toronto’s greenery and water is grounding for you.

I think the greatest lessons in life can all be found in nature. Anytime I’ve gone through a tough spot in life, I look around and remember that trees shed their leaves but eventually grow again. The water thaws after the freeze. It is a reaffirmation of the fact that things get better, adversity passes. It’s all part of the cycle of life. It’s very cleansing and peaceful.

When it comes to Toronto, do you have a favourite restaurant?

My wife and I both have busy careers, but Friday evenings are date nights. That’s when we love going to the Thai restaurant Pii Nong.

As a journalist, you’ve got to love coffee. Any local faves?

Bomou, on Bayview, is a must for my wife and me.

Finally, what is your personal motto?

That’s a good one. I’ve got a few! First is to lead with compassion, then, try to understand others’ perspectives. And always be curious.