Beverly Thomson, veteran CTV anchor and breast cancer activist, dies at 61 after 23-year battle
Thomson, a familiar national broadcaster and longtime co-host of Canada AM, continued reporting and public advocacy throughout her illness
Beverly Thomson, a veteran Canadian television anchor and breast cancer activist, died Sunday morning after a 23-year battle with the disease, CTV News announced. She was 61 and is survived by her husband, Rob, and their two children, Taylor and Robbie.
Thomson, who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002, remained an outspoken advocate for cancer awareness and fundraising while continuing a broadcasting career that spanned more than three decades. Richard Gray, vice-president of news at Bell Media, described her as "a trusted voice to Canadians and a valued teammate to all of us at CTV News."
Thomson rose to national prominence as co-host of Canada AM, CTV's flagship morning program, a role she held from 2003 until the show's conclusion in 2016. She continued at CTV as a contributor and as an anchor on the CTV News Channel. Over her career she interviewed a wide range of public figures, including entertainers such as Celine Dion and Shania Twain, political figures including Donald Trump, and even spoke with Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield while he was aboard the International Space Station.
Her broadcasting career began in radio in Newmarket, Ontario, and progressed to a larger Toronto station before she joined CTV as an on-air reporter. Thomson later served as a weekend anchor at CTV Toronto, moved to Global News as a flagship anchor in 1997, and returned to CTV in 2003 to co-host Canada AM. She recounted how her first assignment behind a news desk came unexpectedly when an on-air anchor failed to show and she was asked to fill in.
Colleagues and former co-hosts paid tribute to Thomson's professionalism and courage. In a joint statement, former Canada AM personalities Jeff Hutcheson, Marci Ien and Seamus O'Regan called her "a good and kind and thoughtful friend" who "bravely dealt with years of cancer treatment while on air." The statement said Thomson "could scrap with politicians and give as good as she got" and recalled how she maintained her commitment to the job even on difficult mornings.
Thomson's work earned several honors. She was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the Radio Television Digital News Association of Canada in October 2024. She was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2019 for her contributions to broadcasting and her advocacy on behalf of people living with breast cancer. Other recognitions include the Gemini Humanitarian Award in 2006 and an appointment in 2009 as the first Canadian national ambassador for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
Throughout her illness, Thomson combined reporting with activism, leading fundraisers and public campaigns to raise awareness about breast cancer. Her openness about her diagnosis and treatments made her a visible figure in public-health conversations in Canada and brought attention to survivorship and screening.
Family statements and media colleagues noted Thomson's determination to continue working despite ongoing treatment. Friends and co-workers described her as thoughtful and resilient, and they highlighted her ability to balance hard-hitting interviews with empathy for guests and viewers.
Thomson's death marks the loss of a prominent voice in Canadian broadcast journalism and in national breast cancer advocacy. CTV did not immediately release details about funeral arrangements. The network and colleagues said they would continue to honor her legacy through recognition of her career and public-health work.