Harry Forestell is a Canadian television journalist and former news anchor, widely recognized for his long career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). He is best known for anchoring CBC News: New Brunswick, where he became a familiar and trusted face in regional news broadcasting.
Throughout his career, Forestell built a strong reputation for clear reporting and a steady on-screen presence. One notable aspect of his public life is his openness about living with Parkinson’s disease, which brought increased awareness and respect from viewers.
He has also received professional recognition for his work in journalism, including a nomination at the Canadian Screen Awards. Even after stepping back from his main anchoring role, he has remained connected to broadcasting and public storytelling.
Keep on reading Harry Forestell’s Wiki, and explore more details about his wife, children, family, education, career, awards, net worth, facts and more.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Harry Forestell |
| Profession | Television Journalist, News Anchor |
| Age | Yet to be updated |
| Date of Birth | Yet to be updated |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Yet to be updated |
| Birthplace | Yet to be updated |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | Yet to be updated |
| Relationship | Married |
| Spouse name | Jennifer |
Harry Forestell Early life and Education
Childhood
Harry Forestell spent his early life in Saint John, Canada, where he was born and raised. Growing up in the city, he developed an early interest in communication and storytelling. However, detailed information about his childhood and early life is yet to be updated.
Education
Forestell attended St. Malachy’s High School in Saint John, where he completed his schooling. He then moved on to St. Thomas University in Fredericton, earning an undergraduate degree in English.
He further advanced his studies at Carleton University in Ottawa, where he earned a degree in journalism. This strong academic foundation played a key role in shaping his career in broadcast journalism.
| School | St. Malachy’s High School |
| Alma Mater | Thomas University; Carleton University |
| Highest Qualification | Degree in journalism |
Partner and Children
Harry Forestell is married to Jennifer Forestell, and the couple has two daughters. Despite his public career, he keeps his personal and family life largely private.
Family
There is very limited public information about Harry Forestell’s family, including his parents and siblings, as these details have not been openly disclosed in reliable sources.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife | Jennifer |
| Children | Two ChildrenPatricia and Erin |
| Parents | Yet to be updated |
| Siblings | Yet to be updated |
Harry Forestell Career
Early Radio Career (Early 1990s)
Harry Forestell began his journalism career in the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa, covering breaking political news for regional papers and local CBC Radio. He then worked as a radio producer for CBC Radio One, with stints at CBC Windsor and CBC Toronto, where he honed his skills in broadcasting and production.
London — International Freelancer (1995–1997)
In 1995, Harry moved to London, England, where he worked as a freelance science and medicine correspondent for several international broadcasters, including the BBC World Service and National Public Radio (NPR). His work during this period earned him two awards from the Canadian Science Writers Association for his contributions to CBC Radio’s Quirks and Quarks.
CBC UK Correspondent – London (1997-1999)
Harry rejoined the CBC in 1997 as its UK Correspondent, based in London. Some of his most significant assignments during this period included:
- Reporting on the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997. one of his very first major assignments
- Covering the rise of Tony Blair to power
- Reporting on the launch of the Euro currency in 1999
Return to Canada — Business Reporter & National Anchor (1999–2005)
Harry returned to Canada in 1999 as a business reporter, later becoming a full-time anchor on CBC Newsworld. He served as business editor for CBC Television’s national morning show and as a business correspondent for The National. Major events he covered during this era include:
- The dot-com boom and collapse
- Corporate accounting scandals
- The 9/11 attacks and their aftermath (2001)
- The SARS outbreak in Toronto (2003)
- The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster (2003)
- The lead-up to the second Iraq War
- Indian Ocean tsunami breaking news coverage (2004)
Second London Posting — European Correspondent (2005–2008)
Harry accepted another CBC posting in London in 2005, serving as CBC Morning’s Foreign Affairs Editor and European Correspondent for Newsworld. He continued covering major UK and international stories from abroad. He also hosted Around the World, CBC’s international news roundup, and anchored CBC News Today.
Return to Canada — CBC News Today & London Terror Bombings (2005)
While still in this phase of his career, Harry led CBC’s breaking news coverage of the London terror bombings of July 7, 2005, one of the most significant news events of that decade.
CBC New Brunswick Anchor (2010-2023)
On February 15, 2010, Harry became the lead anchor of CBAT-TV’s evening newscasts, hosting CBC News New Brunswick at 6. He became a familiar and trusted face for New Brunswickers over more than a decade.
Parkinson’s Diagnosis & Continued Work (2015-2023)
In 2015, Harry publicly announced he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Despite the diagnosis, he continued anchoring the evening news and used his platform to shine a light on the condition. Key moments include:
- Writing a powerful first-person essay in 2023 about undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery at Toronto Western Hospital
- Conducting a landmark interview with Michael J. Fox in May 2023 about the documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie broadcast on The National
Canadian Screen Award Nomination (2024)
Harry’s interview with Michael J. Fox earned him a nomination for Best Host or Interviewer in a News or Information Program or Series at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards in 2024. A recognition of his enduring journalistic excellence.
Stepping Down (October 2023)
In October 2023, Harry announced he was stepping down from full-time anchoring due to the progression of Parkinson’s disease. In his own words:
“Parkinson’s is tightening its grip on my voice, but as long as I can talk, I’ll continue to tell stories and be part of CBC News in N.B.”
He continued to contribute to CBC News through special projects and feature stories, leaving behind a legacy as one of Canada’s most respected and resilient broadcast journalists.
| Year | Role / Position | Organization | Key Highlights |
| Early 1990s | Radio Producer | CBC Radio One (Windsor & Toronto) | Produced local radio programming; started in Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa |
| 1995–1997 | Freelance Correspondent | BBC World Service, NPR & others | Science & medicine reporting; won 2 Canadian Science Writers Association awards for Quirks and Quarks |
| 1997–1999 | UK Correspondent | CBC | Covered death of Diana, Princess of Wales; Tony Blair’s rise to power; launch of the Euro (1999) |
| 1999–2005 | Business Reporter & National Anchor | CBC Newsworld / The National | Covered 9/11 attacks, SARS outbreak (2003), Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, Iraq War, Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004) |
| 2005–2008 | European Correspondent & Foreign Affairs Editor | CBC Morning / Newsworld | Covered London terror bombings (2005); hosted Around the World & anchored CBC News Today |
| 2010 | Evening News Anchor | CBAT-TV / CBC New Brunswick | Became lead anchor of CBC News New Brunswick at 6 on February 15, 2010 |
| 2010–2023 | Lead Anchor | CBC News New Brunswick | Served as trusted evening news anchor for over 13 years |
| 2015 | Public Parkinson’s Announcement | CBC | Publicly disclosed his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis; continued anchoring |
| 2022 | Medical Milestone | Toronto Western Hospital | Underwent Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery |
| Feb 2023 | Journalist / Writer | CBC News | Published first-person essay on his DBS surgery experience |
| May 2023 | Host / Interviewer | CBC / The National | Interviewed Michael J. Fox about Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie |
| 2024 | Award Nominee | Canadian Screen Awards | Nominated for Best Host or Interviewer at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards |
| October 2023 | Special Projects Contributor | CBC News New Brunswick | Stepped down from full-time anchoring due to Parkinson’s progression; continued in special projects |
Harry Forestell Awards and achievement
| Year | Award / Achievement | Details |
| Early 1990s | Canadian Science Writers Association Award (x2) | Won two awards for his science and medicine reporting on CBC Radio’s Quirks and Quarks |
| 2024 | Canadian Screen Award Nomination | Nominated for Best Host or Interviewer in a News or Information Program or Series at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards for his interview with Michael J. Fox |
Harry Forestell Net worth
Based on publicly available information, Harry Forestell’s exact net worth has not been officially disclosed. However, based on his long and distinguished career spanning over three decades at CBC.
| Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | Yet to be updated |
| Salary (Approx.) | Yet to be updated |
Harry Forestell Height and Physical states
| Height | In centimetres: Yet to be updated In meters: Yet to be updated In feet & inches: Yet to be updated |
| Hair Color | Gray hair |
| Eye Color | Yet to be updated |
Harry Forestell Social media
| X |  @harryforestell |
 @harry forestell |
More News Anchor From CBC News
Interesting Facts About Harry Forestell
- Harry reported live from Buckingham Palace on the death of Princess Diana in 1997 as his very first major CBC assignment.
- He was fully awake during his own brain surgery for Parkinson’s disease in 2022.
- He won two Canadian Science Writers Association Awards early in his career for radio science reporting.
- His 2023 interview with Michael J. Fox earned him a Canadian Screen Award nomination.
- After his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2015, he continued anchoring the news for 8 more years.
FAQs
Who is Harry Forestell?
Canadian television journalist and longtime news anchor for CBC News.
What disease does Harry Forestell have?
He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2015.
Why did Harry Forestell step down from CBC?
He stepped down in October 2023 due to the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
Who is Harry Forestell’s wife?
He is married to Jennifer Forestell.
Does Harry Forestell have children?
Yes, he has two daughters named Patricia and Erin.
