Susan Hay is a veteran Canadian broadcast journalist, anchor, and producer. She is best known as the anchor and producer of Global News’s popular evening program Making a Difference.
Hay was born on August 15, 1961 (64 years old) in North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
She is widely recognised as the longest-running female news anchor at Global News, having joined the network in May 1989 and marked 35 years with Global in 2024.
In April 2022, Hay was appointed to the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest civilian honour.
She has also received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Nipissing University, a Telly Award, and the Gemini Humanitarian Award for her decades of compassionate reporting and charitable work.
Quick Facts of Susan Hay
| Full Name | Susan Hay |
| Profession | Broadcast journalist, news anchor, producer |
| Age | 64 years old |
| Date of Birth | August 15, 1961 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Leo |
| Birthplace | North Bay, Ontario, Canada |
| Current Address | Newmarket area, Ontario, Canada |
| Gender | Female |
Susan Hay Early Life and Education
Susan Hay was born and raised in North Bay, Ontario, Canada. She grew up in a close-knit family with her siblings, and her father owned a local business in town.
Hay has often spoken about how North Bay shaped her values. She has credited the city and her parents for giving her a strong foundation and her down-to-earth nature.
As a child, Susan was very creative and originally wanted to work with children before life took her into broadcasting.
Education
Susan Hay attended Canadore College in North Bay. The school later honoured her with an honorary diploma in Communication Arts.
She was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters (D.Litt.) from Nipissing University, the highest degree given by a university faculty, recognising her outstanding service to her community.
| School | Yet to be updated |
| Alma Mater | Canadore College |
| Highest Qualification | Honorary Doctorate of Letters (D.Litt.) |
Susan Hay Personal Life
Susan Hay keeps her personal life largely private, but she has openly spoken about her partner and her quieter life outside the newsroom. She lives a simple and peaceful life north of Toronto.
Partner
Susan Hay is seeing long time boyfriend, Randy Marshall, a veterinarian. The couple has been together since around 2007 and lives together on a 20-acre horse farm in the Newmarket area of Ontario.
There is no public record confirming that the two are legally married, so Randy is best described as her partner.
Susan is also a stepmother to Randy’s daughter, Brooke. She has shared that being a stepmother has been a wonderful experience and has made their family closer.
Family
Susan was raised in a loving and close-knit family in North Bay, Ontario.
The full names of Susan Hay’s parents are yet to be updated. Her father owned a local business in North Bay.
Susan Hay has spoken about growing up alongside her siblings in North Bay, but their names and further details are yet to be updated.
| Relationship Status | In a long-term relationship |
| Partner | Randy Marshall |
| Children | Stepdaughter: Brooke |
| Parents | Yet to be updated |
| Siblings | Yet to be updated |
Susan Hay Career
Susan Hay has built one of the most enduring careers in Canadian television news. Her journey spans over 35 years, taking her from small market weather forecasts to becoming one of Global News Toronto’s most loved on-air personalities.
Early Career: MCTV Sudbury
Susan began her broadcasting career at MCTV in Sudbury. She worked as a weather anchor and as the host and producer of a live half-hour talk forum.
This was her first major step into Canadian television and laid the foundation for her career in news.
CBC Toronto
After her time in Sudbury, Susan moved to CBC Toronto. There she served as a weather anchor and as an on-location entertainment reporter.
This role helped her build experience in field reporting and live broadcasting before she made her biggest career move.
May 1989: Joins Global Television
In May 1989, Susan Hay joined Global Television. She started by anchoring daily regional and national forecasts on Global’s evening and late-night newscasts.
She quickly became one of the most recognisable faces on Global, and 2024 marked her 35th year with the network.
2001 to 2003: Susan Hay’s Heart of the City
From 2001 to 2003, Susan hosted her own signature segment called “Susan Hay’s Heart of the City.” The popular feature also aired as a weekly half-hour documentary series on Global Television and on PRIME TV, the specialty channel now known as TVTropolis.
The segment focused on inspirational community stories and became the foundation for her later work.
2003 (Present): Making a Difference
The segment was rebranded as Making a Difference and continues to air on Global News Toronto’s evening newscast. Susan researches, writes, hosts, and produces every story.
The segment profiles inspirational people and organisations across the Greater Toronto Area. As of 2024, it had been running for more than 23 years.
2010 to 2015: News Hour Era with Leslie Roberts and Anne Mroczkowski
During this period, Susan’s Making a Difference segment aired during Global Toronto’s evening News Hour at 6, co-anchored by Leslie Roberts and Anne Mroczkowski.
2015 to 2024: Global News at 5:30 & 6 Era
Global News Toronto rebranded its news brand in May 2015 and added a second hour of news, Global News at 5:30 & 6, with Alan Carter and Farah Nasser as co-anchors.
Farah Nasser anchored her final Toronto newscast in June 2022 before moving to Global National, with Susan joining Alan Carter and chief meteorologist Anthony Farnell on air to say goodbye.
September 2024 (Present): Global News at 5 and 6 with Antony Robart and Tracy Tong
In September 2024, Global News Toronto expanded its evening newscast. Antony Robart now heads Global News at 5 and joins Tracy Tong on Global News at 6, with chief meteorologist Anthony Farnell on weather.
Susan Hay continues as the anchor and producer of Making a Difference within this new lineup, working alongside Antony Robart, Tracy Tong, and Anthony Farnell.
Santa Claus Parade and Other Hosting Work
For over a decade, Susan Hay has been the on-air face of the annual Toronto Santa Claus Parade for Global Television, co-hosting alongside Leslie Roberts.
She has also hosted multiple specials, including the 95th, 97th, 100th, and other Annual Santa Claus Parade Toronto TV broadcasts.
Notable Interviews and Documentary Work
Over the years, Susan has interviewed many high-profile figures, including Martin Short, Elton John, Goldie Hawn, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, astronaut Roberta Bondar, and music producer David Foster.
Her three trips to Africa with World Vision in 2003 (Mozambique), 2005 (Voi, Kenya), and 2006 (Tanzania) resulted in a one-hour documentary special that aired in Canada and the United States and won a Telly Award for excellence in broadcasting.
Community and Charitable Hosting Work
Susan continues to dedicate her free time to many charitable organisations. She is a spokesperson for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, The Darling Home for Kids, and World Vision Canada.
She has also been a longtime supporter and board member at Toronto’s Ronald McDonald House, and has supported Reach for the Rainbow and the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario.
Susan Hay Awards and Achievements
Susan Hay has received many of Canada’s most respected honours over her broadcasting career. Her awards recognise both her work in journalism and her decades of charitable service.
Her Major Wins
- Order of Ontario (2022): Appointed on April 25, 2022, the province’s highest civilian honour for excellence and lasting impact.
- Honorary Doctorate of Letters (D.Litt.): Awarded by Nipissing University in her hometown of North Bay, the highest degree given by a university faculty.
- Honorary Andy Award: Presented by Mohawk College for excellence in the media industry.
- Gemini Humanitarian Award (2009): Recognising her remarkable contributions and commitments to community and public service outside the Canadian television industry.
- Telly Award: Won for her one-hour World Vision Africa documentary special, an American Industry Award for Excellence in TV and Commercial Broadcasting.
- Rotary Youth Impact Lifetime Achievement Award (2009): Recognising her contributions to youth and young adults.
- Spirit of Giving Award (2007): Presented by Reach For The Rainbow for supporting children and young adults with disabilities.
- Distinguished Diamond Award: Honouring her role in assisting charitable causes for the betterment of the community.
- Canadian Crime Victim Foundation Award of Honor: Recognising her efforts in making a difference in the lives of others.
- Susan Hay Star (2012): A star bearing her name was placed in her hometown of North Bay, Ontario, in honour of her achievements.
Susan Hay Net Worth
Susan Hay has built her wealth over more than 35 years in Canadian broadcasting. Her estimated net worth is around $500,000, primarily earned through her long-standing career at Global News.
| Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | $500,000 |
| Salary (Approx.) | Yet to be updated |
Susan Hay Height, Weight and Physical Stats
| Height | In centimetres: 170 cm In meters: 1.7 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 7 inches |
| Weight | In kg: 68 kg In lbs: 150 lbs |
| Body Measurements | Yet to be updated |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Susan Hay Social media
| X |  @SusanHayGlobal |
 @susan hay |
Interesting Facts about Susan Hay
- She and her partner own an island cottage on Georgian Bay, where they spend nearly every weekend from Friday to Sunday no matter the weather.
- Susan holds the title of the longest-running Cannon Doll in the National Ballet of Canada’s production of The Nutcracker.
- In 2003, she began sponsoring a child named Assiva in a village in Mozambique through World Vision, and she has continued to receive updates about her every year.
- During her 2006 World Vision trip to Tanzania, Susan personally helped save two seriously ill little girls, one with malaria and the other with walking pneumonia, by taking them to a hospital for treatment.
- She has a passion for cooking and once shared her dream of hosting her own cooking show called “Simply Delicious With Susan Hay.” That dream came true, as Simply Delicious is now a regular recipe series she hosts on Global News with chefs like Massimo Capra, Mark McEwan, Afrim Pristine, and nutritionist Rose Reisman.
- Susan donated money to Survive to 5, an initiative working to reduce the number of deaths of children under the age of five through simple, low-cost health care interventions.
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FAQs
Who is Susan Hay?
Susan Hay is a veteran Canadian broadcast journalist and the anchor and producer of the Making a Difference segment on Global News Toronto.
How old is Susan Hay?
Susan Hay is 64 years old. She was born on August 15, 1961, in North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Is Susan Hay married?
Susan Hay has been in a long-term relationship with veterinarian Randy Marshall since around 2007. She is not publicly known to be married.
Does Susan Hay have any children?
She is a stepmother to her partner Randy Marshall’s daughter, Brooke. There is no public record of Susan having biological children.
How long has Susan Hay been with Global News?
Susan Hay joined Global Television in May 1989 and marked 35 years with the network in 2024, making her one of its longest-serving journalists.
What show is Susan Hay known for?
Susan Hay is best known as the creator, anchor, and producer of Making a Difference, an evening news segment on Global News Toronto.
Has Susan Hay won any major awards?
Yes, Susan Hay has been appointed to the Order of Ontario (2022), received the Gemini Humanitarian Award (2009), a Telly Award, and an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Nipissing University.
