Cristina Howorun is a Canadian broadcast journalist, investigative reporter, and documentary producer. She was born on August 26, 1981 (0 years old) in Toronto, Ontario.
Cristina is best known for her award-winning work with CityNews Toronto, where she has been a leading voice in long-form investigative reporting since 2015.
Her reporting has earned her four Edward R. Murrow Awards and a UNIFOR Southern Ontario News Media Guild award for Labor Journalism.
Quick Facts of Cristina Howorun
| Full Name | Cristina Howorun |
| Profession | Broadcast journalist, investigative reporter, documentary producer, host |
| Age | 0 years old |
| Date of Birth | August 26, 1981 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Virgo |
| Birthplace | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Current Address | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Gender | Female |
Cristina Howorun Early Life and Education
Cristina Howorun was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, and spent part of her childhood in the suburb of Brampton.
She grew up in a family that later faced serious health challenges linked to a rare inherited kidney condition called Alport syndrome, which she inherited from her father.
Before journalism, Cristina worked for the federal government, but she later returned to school to pursue her real passion for storytelling.
Education
Cristina Howorun completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Windsor, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science and Government.
She then attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, completing a Master of Arts (MA) in Canadian Government and Politics, where she developed strong research and Canadian politics expertise.
After her Master’s, Cristina worked for the federal government before deciding to make a major career change into journalism.
She enrolled at Ryerson University in Toronto, now Toronto Metropolitan University, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Broadcast Journalism, graduating from the School of Journalism.
| Alma Mater | Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) |
| Highest Qualification | Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Broadcast Journalism |
Cristina Howorun Personal Life
Cristina Howorun has kept much of her personal life out of the spotlight, though she has spoken openly about her family while sharing her kidney disease journey.
Partner
Cristina has shared in her Chatelaine writing that she lives with a long-term partner. She has not publicly named him or shared details about how they met.
Further details about her partner are yet to be updated.
Kidney Disease Journey
Cristina Howorun has Alport syndrome, a rare inherited kidney condition she carried from childhood. She was monitored until age 18, but doctors did not expect it to become a serious issue because most women with the gene are carriers without symptoms.
In January 2018, at age 37, Cristina began feeling exhausted, itchy, and cold. After a high blood pressure reading at a grocery store, she saw her doctor and was rushed to the emergency room, where she learnt her kidneys were failing.
Her kidney function had dropped to between six and eight per cent, and her creatinine levels were nearly ten times the healthy range. She started peritoneal dialysis in September 2018, hooked up to a machine for nine to ten hours every night at home.
After her mother was ruled out as a donor, Cristina’s older cousin Christine stepped forward. Christine was a match, and the transplant took place on June 13, 2019, the same night the Toronto Raptors won their first NBA Championship (source).
Cristina returned to work at CityNews in October 2019. She has since spoken openly about her recovery, body image after surgery, and the lifelong medications required to prevent organ rejection.
In 2024, Cristina was once again diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease. She is currently on dialysis but has continued working, producing documentaries and reporting investigative stories throughout her treatment.
Father
Cristina’s father lived with Alport syndrome, a rare inherited kidney condition. He spent four years on dialysis and later received a transplant, but passed away at 50 from a complication of the disease.
His name is yet to be updated.
Mother
Cristina’s mother was the first person to step forward as a possible kidney donor when Cristina was diagnosed in 2018. She worked hard to meet the medical criteria but was ultimately deemed unsuitable as a donor.
Her mother’s name is yet to be updated.
Siblings
Cristina has a sister who is mentioned in her published account of her kidney transplant. Her sister carries the same Alport syndrome genetic variant, which made her ineligible to donate.
Her sister’s name is yet to be updated.
| Relationship Status | In a relationship |
| Partner | Yet to be updated |
| Children | Yet to be updated |
| Parents | Father: Yet to be updated Mother: Yet to be updated |
| Siblings | Sister: Yet to be updated |
Cristina Howorun Career
Cristina Howorun has built her career in Canadian broadcast journalism over more than 15 years, moving from traffic reports in a helicopter to leading investigative documentaries on national television.
Early Career: Federal Government and Freelance Writing
Before journalism, Cristina worked for the federal government after completing her Master’s degree in Canadian Politics at Queen’s University.
When she decided to switch careers, she began freelance writing for regulatory and technology industry publications, which helped her land her first broadcasting job.
2007 to 2009: Traffic Reporter and Helicopter Days
While finishing her journalism degree at Ryerson University, Cristina worked at a Hamilton radio station that turned into a full-time job as a traffic reporter based out of Buttonville Airport.
She would wake at 3 a.m., fly in a helicopter for four hours, reporting for several TV and radio stations, and then head straight to class.
2009: Joins CTV Windsor
Within months of graduating from Ryerson, Cristina was hired as a full-time reporter at CTV Windsor. She eventually became the station’s political affairs reporter.
One of her early breakthrough stories in Windsor exposed serious problems at a hospital after she helped a woman who had undergone a mastectomy in error.
Her reporting led to provincial oversight and changes to how pathology reports are handled across Ontario.
Move to CTV London
After her time in Windsor, Cristina moved to CTV London, where she continued her work covering political and investigative stories.
2015: Joins CityNews Toronto
In 2015, Cristina joined CityTV in Toronto as a reporter for CityNews.
She quickly built a reputation for deep dive investigative journalism, covering everything from long-term care abuse and special needs funding to provincial politics at Queen’s Park.
At CityNews Toronto, Cristina works alongside a strong team of journalists, including Chief Correspondent and lead anchor Cynthia Mulligan, who anchors CityNews at 5 and CityNews at 6.
Her other notable CityNews Toronto colleagues include senior journalist Mark McAllister, reporter Faiza Amin, and reporters John Marchesan and Patricia D’Cunha.
VeraCity Documentary Series
Cristina later moved into a role as a documentary producer and host with CityTV’s documentary brand, VeraCity.
She has written, produced, and hosted multiple full-length documentaries on social issues.
Her VeraCity work includes The Gun Chase (2021), an investigation into the source of Toronto’s gun violence, and Fighting Traffick (2021), a series and documentary on human trafficking in Ontario.
2023: Prison Moms
In 2023, Cristina wrote and hosted VeraCity: Prison Moms, a documentary exploring the lives of mothers behind bars in Canada.
2025: My Fake Billionaire Boyfriend
Her most recent documentary, My Fake Billionaire Boyfriend, premiered on Citytv on November 30, 2025.
The film investigates Toronto romance scammer Steve Coelho, who used multiple aliases, including a fake Russian billionaire identity, to defraud victims.
The reporting tied into a CityNews investigation that contributed to Coelho being sentenced to nearly six years in jail in February 2026.
Other Career Highlights
Cristina has covered every election in Ontario since 2008, and her reporting work has taken her around the world.
She has been embedded with Canadian forces in the Mojave Desert and even tracked down a suspected terrorist in Libya.
She is also a member of the Queen’s Park press gallery and continues to focus on enterprise and investigative pieces for CityNews Toronto.
Cristina Howorun Awards and Achievements
Cristina Howorun has earned some of the most respected honours in North American broadcast journalism, with multiple wins for investigative reporting.
Major Wins
- Four Edward R. Murrow Awards for investigative journalism
- RTDNA Canada award for investigative journalism
- UNIFOR Southern Ontario News Media Guild award for Labor Journalism
- Multiple RTDNA awards for investigative work covering mental health resources, long-term care abuse, and the impact of union-busting legislation in the US Midwest
Cristina Howorun Net Worth
Cristina Howorun has not publicly shared her exact salary or net worth figures. According to aggregator estimates, her net worth is reported to be between $1 million and $5 million, with an annual salary in the range of $45,000 to $110,500 (source).
| Net Worth (Approx.) | $1 million to $5 million |
| Salary (Approx.) | $45,000 to $110,500 |
Cristina Howorun Height, Weight & Physical Stats
Below are the physical stats of Cristina Howorun:
| Height | In centimetres: 168 cm In meters: 1.68 m In feet and inches: 5 feet 7 inches |
| Weight | In kg: Yet to be updated In lbs: Yet to be updated |
| Body Measurements | Yet to be updated |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Blue |
Cristina Howorun Social Media
 @howorun | |
| X |  @CityCristinaH |
 @cristina.howorun.7 | |
 @cristina howorun |
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FAQs
Who is Cristina Howorun?
Cristina Howorun is a Canadian broadcast journalist, investigative reporter, and documentary producer with CityNews Toronto.
How old is Cristina Howorun?
Cristina Howorun is approximately 0 years old. She was born on August 26, 1981, in Ontario.
What is the qualification of Cristina Howorun?
Cristina Howorun holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Windsor, a Master’s in Canadian Politics from Queen’s University, and a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University.
What awards has Cristina Howorun won?
Cristina Howorun has won four Edward R. Murrow Awards for investigative journalism, an RTDNA Canada award, and a UNIFOR Southern Ontario News Media Guild award.
What documentaries has Cristina Howorun made?
Cristina Howorun has written, produced, and hosted VeraCity documentaries, including The Gun Chase, Fighting Traffick, Prison Moms, and My Fake Billionaire Boyfriend.
Does Cristina Howorun have kidney disease?
Yes, Cristina Howorun has Alport syndrome. She received a kidney transplant from her cousin in 2019 and was again diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease in 2024.
