Leslie Roberts is a Canadian broadcast journalist, radio host, and now a municipal politician. He is best known as a long-time television anchor with Global Toronto and as the former host of CTV Morning Live in Ottawa.
Roberts was born on June 28, 1962 (63 years old) in Montreal, Quebec. He comes from a fourth-generation family of journalists, with his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all working in Canadian media.
He served as the executive editor and anchor for Global Toronto from 2001 to 2015, hosting the station’s News Hour and co-hosting The Morning Show with Liza Fromer. He also hosted The Leslie Roberts Show on CJAD 800 in Montreal.
Roberts won two Canadian Screen Awards while hosting Focus Ontario, and was twice nominated for Best News Anchor at the Gemini Awards and Canadian Screen Awards.
In November 2025, he was elected as a Montreal City Councillor for the Peter-McGill district under Ensemble Montréal.
Quick Facts of Leslie Roberts
| Full Name | Leslie Roberts |
| Profession | Broadcast journalist, news anchor, radio host, municipal politician |
| Age | 63 years old |
| Date of Birth | June 28, 1962 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Cancer |
| Birthplace | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Current Address | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Gender | Gay |
Leslie Roberts Early Life and Education
Leslie Roberts was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, in a family with deep roots in Canadian media.
He grew up surrounded by journalists, broadcasters, and political conversation at the dinner table.
Education
Leslie Roberts has kept the details of his schooling and post-secondary education out of the public eye. There are no confirmed records of the school or university he attended.
At the age of 18, he began his career as an intern in the newsroom at Montreal’s CKGM radio, where he covered the 1980 Quebec referendum.
After finishing his studies, he was recruited in 1985 as a medical reporter for CFCF-TV, the CTV affiliate in Montreal.
| School | Yet to be updated |
| Alma Mater | Yet to be updated |
| Highest Qualification | Yet to be updated |
Leslie Roberts Personal Life
Leslie Roberts is openly gay and has been out to his close circle of family, friends, and colleagues since 1989. He publicly came out on television in October 2019, on National Coming Out Day.
Partner
Leslie Roberts is married to his husband, Chris. The couple got together around 2001 and married in 2015, after same sex marriage became a legal and widely accepted option in Canada.
In his on-air coming out segment, he paid tribute to those who fought for marriage equality, calling it a personal and historic milestone.
Past Relationship
Earlier in his life, Leslie was married to Amalia Fernandez, a former CTV Montreal assignment editor. The marriage ended, and the couple shares one daughter together.
Daughter
His daughter is Lauren Fernandez-Roberts, a reporter and weather presenter at CTV Montreal. She previously worked as a longtime producer at CTV’s eTalk before resigning in 2016.
She is the fourth generation of the Roberts family to work in Montreal media.
Father
His father, Bill Roberts, was a familiar voice on Montreal radio. Bill served as the morning man at CJAD 800 for about 20 years, and later became the station’s vice president of programming.
He was a respected figure in Canadian radio for decades and helped shape the morning show format on CJAD in the 1950s, 1960s, and again in the 1970s.
Mother
His mother worked as an assistant to a federal Member of Parliament, giving the family a strong link to Canadian political life. Further personal details about her are yet to be updated.
Siblings
Leslie has one brother, Rob Roberts, who is the editor-in-chief at the National Post, one of Canada’s major national newspapers.
Rob has built a long career as a senior editor in Canadian print journalism, continuing the Roberts family legacy in the media industry.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Partner | Chris |
| Past Spouse | Amalia Fernandez |
| Children | Daughter: Lauren Fernandez-Roberts |
| Parents | Father: Bill Roberts Mother: Yet to be updated |
| Siblings | Brother: Rob Roberts |
Leslie Roberts Career
Leslie Roberts has built one of the longest-running careers in Canadian broadcasting, spanning radio, television, newspapers, and now municipal politics. His journey covers Montreal, New York, Toronto, Ottawa, and back to Montreal.
1980: Internship at CKGM Radio, Montreal
At the age of 18, Leslie began his career as a newsroom intern at Montreal’s CKGM radio. He covered the 1980 Quebec referendum and had the opportunity to interview Premier René Lévesque.
1985 to 1997: CFCF-TV Montreal (CTV affiliate)
After finishing his studies, Leslie was recruited in 1985 as a medical reporter for CFCF-TV, the CTV affiliate in Montreal. He went on to host a wide variety of programs over the next 12 years.
His most notable show during this period was the morning talk programme “Montreal Today With Leslie Roberts.”
1995 to 1996: A Current Affair (Los Angeles)
In 1995, a tape of one of his interviews from “Montreal Today” reached an agent in Los Angeles. Within six months, he joined the American tabloid news show “A Current Affair.”
1996 to 1999: WNYW Fox 5, New York City
A year later, Leslie moved to WNYW, the Fox flagship station in New York City. He worked as a reporter and anchor at one of the most competitive local TV markets in the United States.
1999 to 2000: Return to CFCF-TV Montreal
Leslie returned to Montreal after roughly three years in New York, taking on multiple anchor and host roles at CFCF-TV.
2000 to 2001: Global Quebec
In 2000, Leslie joined the Global Television Network. He served as the news director and senior anchor at Global Quebec before being recruited to the Toronto anchor desk.
2001 to 2015: Global Toronto, Executive Editor and Senior Anchor
In September 2001, Leslie was recruited by CanWest’s Toronto division to anchor the supper-time News Hour. He arrived just one week before the September 11 terrorist attacks.
His first co-anchor was Beverly Thomson, and the newsroom team included meteorologist Michael Kuss and sports director Jim Tatti.
Leslie later co-anchored with Anne-Marie Mediwake before she moved to CBC News, and then with former CITY-TV anchor Anne Mroczkowski and Susan Hay from June 2010 until August 2013.
From August 2013 until his resignation in January 2015, Leslie was the sole anchor of the News Hour. He also hosted Global Ontario’s 11 pm broadcast for several years.
He co-hosted Focus Ontario, the country’s longest-running political show, with John Tory, the former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader and later Mayor of Toronto.
In 2013, Leslie became the co-host of Global and Shaw Media’s national edition of The Morning Show alongside Liza Fromer, while continuing his News Hour duties.
During this period, he also hosted his own radio talk show on Newstalk 1010 CFRB in Toronto and was a daily contributor to AM 640 Toronto. He wrote the “Five Things I Learned This Week” column for the National Post.
2015 to 2016: Freelance work in Los Angeles
After resigning from Global News in January 2015, Leslie worked as a freelance broadcaster and communications specialist for technology firms, based in Los Angeles.
In 2016, he reported for CJAD Montreal and CFRA Ottawa, covering the arrest of a man found with weapons en route to the Los Angeles Pride parade.
2016 to 2018: The Leslie Roberts Show on CJAD 800, Montreal
In December 2016, Leslie returned to his hometown of Montreal with his own talk show on CJAD 800. The show aired weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon, and he replaced longtime CJAD personality Tommy Schnurmacher.
This role made Leslie the third generation of the Roberts family to work at CJAD 800.
2019 to 2022: CTV Morning Live Ottawa and CFRA
In June 2019, Leslie joined Bell Media in Ottawa as co-host of CTV Morning Live, the city’s top-rated morning television programme. He worked alongside co-anchors Annette Goerner, Jasmin Ibrahim, and later Rosey Edeh, who joined the team in September 2020.
He also hosted his own radio talk show, “Ottawa at Work with Leslie Roberts,” on sister station NewsTalk 580 CFRA. He left both Bell Media properties in May 2022.
2022 to 2025: Freelance columnist
After leaving Bell Media, Leslie returned to Montreal and worked as a freelance columnist. His commentary appeared in the National Post, the Montreal Gazette, and La Presse.
His columns focused on downtown Montreal, public safety, antisemitism, and civic affairs. The pieces resonated with many Montrealers, eventually prompting his entry into politics.
2025 (present): Montreal City Councillor, Peter-McGill
In September 2025, Leslie announced he would run for Montreal City Council as the Ensemble Montréal candidate in the Peter-McGill district, under party leader Soraya Martinez Ferrada.
On November 2, 2025, he was elected with 56.7 percent of the vote, succeeding Serge Sasseville. He continues to serve as the councillor for Peter-McGill in Ville-Marie borough.
Leslie Roberts Awards and Achievements
Across more than four decades in Canadian broadcasting, Leslie Roberts has been recognised for his work as a news anchor, host, and community contributor. He has won and been nominated for several major Canadian television awards.
His Major Wins
- Won two Canadian Screen Awards while hosting Focus Ontario, the longest-running political show in Canada.
- Part of the Global Toronto team that won the Best Newscast award at the Canadian Screen Awards in 2013.
- Received the Consumers Choice “Man of the Year” Award in 2010.
- Member of the team that won Canada’s Best Newscast from the Radio and Television News Directors of Canada.
- Recipient of the Ontario Association of Broadcasters (OAB) Community Award.
- Elected as Montreal City Councillor for Peter-McGill in November 2025 with 56.7 percent of the vote.
His Key Nominations
- Nominated for the Gemini Award for Canada’s Best News Anchor in 2011.
- Nominated for the Canadian Screen Awards for Canada’s Best News Anchor in 2013.
Leslie Roberts Controversies
Leslie Roberts has been at the centre of one significant professional controversy during his broadcasting career, which led to his exit from Global News in 2015.
January 2015: Conflict of interest at Global Toronto. A Toronto Star investigation revealed that Leslie held an equity stake in a public relations firm called BuzzPR. Clients of that firm had appeared on his Global Toronto programmes without disclosure to viewers or colleagues.
January 8, 2015: Indefinite suspension by Global Television. Following the report, Global Television suspended Leslie indefinitely while it conducted an internal investigation under its Business Conduct Standards and Journalistic Principles and Practices.
January 15, 2015: Resignation from Global News. A week after his suspension, Leslie resigned from his role as News Anchor and Executive Editor of Global Toronto, and as co-host of The National Morning Show. In his public statement, he acknowledged a failure to disclose information and said he regretted the circumstances.
Leslie Roberts Net Worth
Leslie Roberts has built his career over more than four decades in Canadian broadcasting, with senior anchor roles at CTV, Fox, and Global News, along with paid radio hosting, newspaper columns, and now a role as a Montreal city councillor. However, the exact details of his net worth and salary have not been publicly disclosed by any reliable source.
| Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | Yet to be updated |
| Salary (Approx.) | Yet to be updated |
Leslie Roberts Height, Weight and Physical Stats
| Height | Yet to be updated |
| Weight | Yet to be updated |
| Body Measurements | Yet to be updated |
| Hair Color | Grey |
| Eye Color | Blue |
Leslie Roberts Social media
 @mrleslieroberts | |
| X |  @MrLeslieRoberts |
 @leslie.roberts.1293 | |
 @leslie roberts |
Interesting Facts about Leslie Roberts
- He is bilingual in English and French, which has helped him cover stories and host shows across both linguistic communities in Quebec and Ontario.
- His grandfather and namesake, Leslie Roberts, served as a special advisor to Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson before becoming an editorialist at CJAD and CFRB.
- His uncle Grant Roberts also worked as a journalist, with stints at The Globe and Mail and the Montreal Star, extending the Roberts family’s media legacy further.
- He has long been involved in community service, sitting on the board of TALQ, formerly the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), an advocacy organisation for English-speaking Quebecers.
- He is a former board member of Sun Youth, a long-established Montreal charity, and has supported the Montreal Children’s Hospital and several cancer-focused organisations.
- He authored a weekly column called “The Five Things I Learned This Week” in the National Post from April to October 2008.
- His daughter, Lauren Fernandez-Roberts, joining CTV as an on-air presenter makes the Roberts family the fourth generation working in Montreal television and radio, an unusual continuity in Canadian media.
More News Anchor Bios
FAQs
Who is Leslie Roberts?
Leslie Roberts is a Canadian broadcast journalist, former TV news anchor, and current Montreal city councillor for the Peter-McGill district.
How old is Leslie Roberts?
Leslie Roberts is 63 years old. He was born on June 28, 1962, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Is Leslie Roberts married?
Yes, Leslie Roberts is married to his husband, Chris. The couple wed in 2015 after being together for many years.
Does Leslie Roberts have any children?
Yes, Leslie has one daughter, Lauren Fernandez-Roberts, from his previous marriage to Amalia Fernandez. She is a reporter and weather presenter at CTV Montreal.
Why did Leslie Roberts leave Global News?
He resigned from Global News in January 2015 after a Toronto Star investigation revealed he was a part-owner of a public relations firm, BuzzPR, whose clients had appeared on his shows.
What show did Leslie Roberts host on CJAD?
Leslie Roberts hosted The Leslie Roberts Show on CJAD 800 in Montreal, airing weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon between 2016 and 2018.
Is Leslie Roberts gay?
Yes, Leslie Roberts publicly came out as gay on October 11, 2019, on National Coming Out Day during a segment on CTV Morning Live in Ottawa.
Is Leslie Roberts a politician?
Yes, Leslie Roberts was elected as a Montreal city councillor for the Peter-McGill district on November 2, 2025, representing Ensemble Montréal.
What awards has Leslie Roberts won?
He has won two Canadian Screen Awards for Focus Ontario, the Consumers Choice Man of the Year Award in 2010, and was part of an RTDNA Best Newscast winning team.
