If you follow Canadian news, you have seen these women on screen. They anchor the morning shows, lead national political coverage, host investigative programs, and report from conflict zones around the world. These are the top CBC female news anchors who have shaped public broadcasting in Canada.
Some are still active on air. Others have recently retired or moved to other networks. All of them built careers that set a standard for journalism in this country.
This guide covers 9 of the most influential CBC female news anchors, with career highlights, key achievements, and personal details for each.
Why CBC’s Female Anchors Matter in Canadian Media
CBC is Canada’s public broadcaster. Its journalists are held to a standard of accuracy, fairness, and public service that commercial networks are not always required to meet. The women who anchor CBC programs carry that responsibility with every broadcast.
Over the past three decades, female anchors at CBC have moved from supporting roles into the most prominent positions in Canadian journalism. They now lead flagship newscasts, chair political panels, host prime-time investigative programs, and serve as foreign correspondents in some of the most difficult parts of the world.
Their presence has also changed what Canadian journalism looks like. The anchors on this list come from diverse backgrounds. Sri Lanka, Turkey, India, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and each brought a different perspective to the newsroom.
1. Adrienne Arsenault
Adrienne Arsenault is the most recognized top CBC female news anchor in Canada today. She serves as Chief Correspondent of CBC News and lead anchor of The National, the network’s flagship evening newscast.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Adrienne Arsenault |
| Date of Birth | 1966 or 1967 |
| Age | 58-59 years old |
| Birthplace | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Profession | Broadcast Journalist, News Anchor |
| Relationship Status | Private |
| Husband / Partner | Yet to be updated |
Role and Career
Adrienne started at CBC in 1991 as an editorial assistant for The National. Over the next decade, she moved through postings in Vancouver, Washington D.C., Jerusalem, and London. She became a senior correspondent in 1999.
Her assignments have covered international conflicts, political crises, natural disasters, and major sporting events. She reported from war zones in Ukraine, Syria, and Mali, and covered eight Olympic Games for CBC, including Paris 2024.
In 2015, she won an International Emmy Award for her coverage of the Ebola crisis in West Africa. She has also received two Gemini Awards, two Gracie Awards, and was named the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association’s Journalist of the Year. At the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards, she received a nomination for Best News Anchor, National.
Why She Stands Out
Adrienne brings a rare combination of decades of field experience and anchor authority. She has covered wars, pandemics, elections, and human-interest stories with equal focus and credibility. Her calm, precise delivery and deep reporting background make her the standard-bearer for CBC journalism.
2. Rosemary Barton
Rosemary Barton is one of the most recognized political journalists in Canada and a key top CBC female news anchor voice in Ottawa.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Rosemary Barton |
| Date of Birth | May 31, 1976 |
| Age | 49 years old |
| Birthplace | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Profession | Political Journalist, News Anchor |
| Relationship Status | Private |
| Husband / Partner | Yet to be updated |
Role and Career
Rosemary started her journalism career as a researcher for CBC’s French-language news network RDI in Winnipeg. She later joined Global News as a National Assembly of Quebec correspondent before returning to CBC in 2004.
By 2007, she moved to the national Parliament Hill bureau in Ottawa. She became the permanent host of Power & Politics in 2016 and won the Canadian Screen Award that year for Best Host in a News or Information Program.
In November 2017, she joined The National as one of four co-anchors. In January 2020, she transitioned to her current role as CBC’s Chief Political Correspondent, the first woman to hold that position. She now hosts Rosemary Barton Live on Sunday mornings and leads the weekly At Issue political panel on The National.
Why She Stands Out
Rosemary is known for holding politicians directly accountable on air. She has interviewed multiple Prime Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, and international figures with a direct, no-deflection style. Her role as the first female Chief Political Correspondent at CBC is a landmark in Canadian broadcast journalism.
3. Carole MacNeil
Carole MacNeil is one of the longest-serving top CBC female news anchors in Canadian broadcasting history, with over three decades at the network.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Carole MacNeil |
| Date of Birth | February 2, 1964 |
| Age | 62 years old |
| Birthplace | Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Profession | Television Journalist, News Anchor |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Husband | Richard Stursberg (married 2009) |
Role and Career
Carole started her career in the early 1990s anchoring local news in New Brunswick and Ontario. She co-anchored the evening news at CBAT-DT in Fredericton before moving to Windsor, Ontario, where she anchored both the evening and late-night newscasts at CBET-DT.
In 1998, she joined CBC Newsworld where she co-anchored the morning news program. In 2000, she helped launch Canada Now, CBC Television’s supper hour news program. Two years later, she and Evan Solomon became co-hosts of CBC News: Sunday Night, a prime-time broadcast that won multiple Gemini Awards.
She later anchored CBC Rundown with Carole MacNeil on CBC News Network, a role she held until her departure from CBC in October 2021. Her final broadcast aired on October 26, 2021, closing more than 30 years with the network.
Why She Stands Out
Carole built her reputation through consistency and range. She anchored local, national, and prime-time programming across three decades, adapting to every format CBC put in front of her. Her Gemini Award-winning work on CBC News: Sunday Night remains one of the most recognized achievements in Canadian broadcast news.
4. Heather Hiscox
Heather Hiscox is one of the most beloved top CBC female news anchors in Canadian morning television history, known for 20 years of waking up Canadians every weekday morning.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Heather Hiscox |
| Date of Birth | November 18, 1965 |
| Age | 60 years old |
| Birthplace | Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Profession | Broadcast Journalist, News Anchor, Television Host |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Husband | Dr. Martin Goldbach (cardiac surgeon) |
Role and Career
Heather started her broadcasting career in 1982 at a radio station in her hometown of Owen Sound. She moved into television in 1991, working as a reporter and anchor across Southwestern Ontario, Toronto, Halifax, and Montreal before joining CBC.
At CBC, she built her career as a network reporter for The National and worked out of CBC’s bureaus in Washington and London. She became the host of CBC Morning Live on CBC News Network in November 2005, a role she held for exactly 20 years.
During her two decades on mornings, she covered major breaking news events including the Humboldt bus crash, the Quebec City mosque shooting, the terror attacks in Ottawa and Paris, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, and 10 Olympic Games for CBC. She won the Canadian Screen Award for Best National News Anchor in 2018. CBC Morning Live also won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Morning Show in 2023. She retired on November 6, 2025.
Why She Stands Out
Heather Hiscox defined morning news at CBC for an entire generation of Canadians. Her ability to lead live breaking news coverage while maintaining warmth and calm made her one of the most trusted faces on Canadian television. Few anchors in CBC history have built such a consistent, long-running connection with their audience across 20 consecutive years on the same program.
5. Nil Koksal
Nil Koksal is one of the most internationally experienced top CBC female news anchors, bringing a rare combination of foreign correspondent work and national broadcast leadership.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Nil Koksal |
| Date of Birth | Yet to be updated |
| Age | Yet to be updated |
| Birthplace | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Nationality | Canadian (Turkish-born) |
| Profession | Broadcast Journalist, Radio Host, News Anchor |
| Relationship Status | Private |
| Husband / Partner | Yet to be updated |
Role and Career
Nil moved from Istanbul to Canada as a child, living in Orangeville, Peterborough, White Rock, and Vancouver before settling in Toronto. She studied Political Science and English at the University of British Columbia and Journalism at Ryerson University.
She joined CBC News as an editorial assistant and worked her way up to writer, video journalist, reporter, anchor, and foreign correspondent. She served as a CBC correspondent based in Istanbul, reporting from inside Syria, covering the refugee crisis, the impact of ISIS, Turkey’s post-coup political changes, and the assassination of Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov.
Back in Canada, she anchored for CBC News Network and CBC Toronto, winning a Canadian Screen Award and earning two additional nominations. She hosted CBC News: World Report before being named host of As It Happens on CBC Radio One in September 2022.
Why She Stands Out
Nil Koksal is one of the few CBC journalists who has worked at every level of the newsroom from editorial assistant to foreign correspondent to national radio host. Her on-the-ground reporting from conflict zones across the Middle East sets her apart from most anchors. Her appointment to As It Happens recognized both her depth as a journalist and her ability to connect with audiences across platforms.
6. Ioanna Roumeliotis
Ioanna Roumeliotis is one of the most experienced investigative journalists among all top CBC female news anchors, with nearly 30 years at the network.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Ioanna Roumeliotis |
| Date of Birth | Yet to be updated |
| Age | Yet to be updated |
| Birthplace | Canada (of Greek descent) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Profession | Investigative Journalist, Television Host |
| Relationship Status | Private |
| Husband / Partner | Yet to be updated |
Role and Career
Ioanna started her journalism career in the 1990s writing for newspapers before joining CBC News in 1995 as a reporter at CBMT in Montreal. In 2000, she moved to Toronto as a reporter for The National, where she spent over two decades covering major national stories.
Her investigative work includes leading CBC’s coverage of the Jian Ghomeshi sexual assault investigation, Canada’s #MeToo movement, the Bruce McArthur serial murder case, and the Toronto van attack, the latter earning her a Canadian Screen Award. She also served as a correspondent for CBC’s London and Washington bureaus.
She speaks Greek and French and holds a degree in Political Science from McGill University and a degree in Journalism from Concordia University. In January 2025, CBC announced her as a full-time co-host of The Fifth Estate, the network’s flagship investigative documentary program, as it celebrated its 50th anniversary season.
Why She Stands Out
Ioanna brings nearly three decades of investigative depth to everything she covers. Her work has set the news agenda on some of Canada’s most significant stories from high-profile criminal investigations to social justice issues. Her appointment to The Fifth Estate is a recognition of a career built entirely on accountability journalism.
7. Vassy Kapelos
Vassy Kapelos is one of the most well-known top CBC female news anchors in Canadian political journalism, having hosted Power & Politics on CBC News Network for four years before moving to CTV.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Vassiliki “Vassy” Kapelos |
| Date of Birth | May 6, 1981 |
| Age | 45 years old |
| Birthplace | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Profession | Political Journalist, News Anchor, Television Host |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Husband | Frank Boldt (married July 2, 2019) |
Role and Career
Vassy started her reporting career in Swift Current before moving to Global Television’s stations in Saskatoon and Edmonton. As a provincial political affairs reporter, she broke major stories including the 2013 revelation about a large severance package for Premier Alison Redford’s chief of staff.
She moved to the Ottawa bureau in 2013, became bureau chief in 2016, and hosted Global’s The West Block in 2017. In 2018, she joined CBC News Network as host of Power & Politics. She held that role until 2022, when CTV appointed her as chief political correspondent and host of both Power Play and Question Period.
Vassy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario in 2004 and a Master of Arts from Dalhousie University in 2006. She is of Greek and German descent. She and husband Frank Boldt have two children, including a son named Nicholas Kapelos-Boldt, born in June 2021.
Why She Stands Out
Vassy built her reputation through hard-hitting political reporting at every level of Canadian journalism. Her four-year run hosting Power & Politics on CBC made her one of the most recognized political interviewers in Canada. Her ability to ask direct, well-researched questions of politicians at the highest level set a clear standard for political broadcasting in this country.
8. Anita Bathe
Anita Bathe is one of the most recognized top CBC female news anchors in British Columbia, known for her work anchoring CBC News Vancouver at Six.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Anita Bathe |
| Date of Birth | Yet to be updated |
| Age | Yet to be updated |
| Birthplace | Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Profession | Television Journalist, News Anchor |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Husband | Jot Mattu |
Role and Career
Anita grew up in Abbotsford on a blueberry and raspberry farm. At just 15 years old, she got her first on-camera experience as a host and reporter for a youth TV show called Gen Why. She completed her secondary education at the Mennonite Educational Institute (MEI) in Abbotsford before studying Radio Arts and Entertainment at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Burnaby.
She started her media career as a community channel reporter with Shaw TV in the Vancouver area, then moved into commercial radio. She joined CBC in 2016 as a reporter and became co-anchor of CBC News Vancouver at Six in November 2018. After Mike Killeen’s departure in May 2021, she became the main anchor of the program.
She won the Canadian Screen Award for Best News Anchor, Local in both 2022 and 2023 two consecutive wins. In March 2025, after returning from maternity leave, she announced her retirement from CBC to take a role outside journalism. She and her husband Jot Mattu have two daughters Ana and Nila Kaur Mattu, born October 13, 2023.
Why She Stands Out
Anita Bathe is one of very few local news anchors in Canada to win back-to-back Canadian Screen Awards. Her rise from a community TV host at age 15 to two-time national award winner reflects genuine dedication to her craft. Her South Asian background and roots in British Columbia also made her a meaningful presence for diverse audiences across the province.
9. Anne-Marie Mediwake
Anne-Marie Mediwake is one of the most versatile top CBC female news anchors in Canadian broadcasting, having built an award-winning career across CTV, Global News, and CBC over more than three decades.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Anne Marie Abeyesinghe Mediwake |
| Date of Birth | May 16, 1975 |
| Age | 51 years old |
| Birthplace | Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Profession | Television Journalist, News Anchor, Television Host |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Husband | Darryl Konynenbelt (journalist and communications professional) |
Role and Career
Anne-Marie was born in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Her parents emigrated to Canada when she was a child, settling in southern Alberta. She began her television career in Lethbridge in 1993, then moved to Toronto six years later as a reporter for CTV.
At CTV, she co-hosted 21c, a Gemini Award-winning investigative current affairs program, and reported for CTV National News and Canada AM. She then joined Global News as co-anchor of Global Toronto’s 6 p.m. News Hour before CBC hired her in September 2009.
At CBC, she became co-anchor of CBC News Toronto at 6 p.m. alongside Dwight Drummond in October 2010. The program won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Local Newscast in 2015. She left CBC in April 2016 to join CTV as co-host of Your Morning. She and her husband Darryl Konynenbelt have triplets. Annabel, Maxim, and Libby born in 2007.
Why She Stands Out
Anne-Marie Mediwake has worked at every major Canadian television news network. Her Sri Lankan heritage, combined with her roots in rural Alberta, gave her a perspective that resonated with a wide cross-section of Canadian audiences. Her ability to anchor serious breaking news while also hosting warm, accessible morning television speaks to a rare range in broadcast journalism.
What These Anchors Have in Common
Looking at all nine of these top CBC female news anchors, a clear pattern stands out.
Every one of them started at the bottom. Editorial assistants, community reporters, radio researchers, newspaper writers. None of them walked into a national anchor chair. They each built their careers step by step, across years of field reporting before reaching national prominence.
They also share a commitment to being present where the story happens. Adrienne Arsenault reported from war zones. Heather Hiscox flew to breaking news scenes across Canada for 20 years. Nil Koksal reported from inside Syria. Ioanna Roumeliotis led investigations that changed how Canadians understood crime and accountability. These are not studio journalists. They are reporters first.
A third common thread is durability. Most of these women spent 20 or more years at CBC. That kind of tenure does not happen by accident. It reflects trust built with audiences over time, and a consistent standard of journalism that the network and viewers kept coming back to.
Finally, nearly every anchor on this list has won or been nominated for a Canadian Screen Award. That is not coincidence. It reflects the level at which each of them performed their craft.
Conclusion
Canada’s top CBC female news anchors have shaped the way Canadians understand the news for decades. From Adrienne Arsenault leading The National to Ioanna Roumeliotis holding power to account on The Fifth Estate, these women represent the highest standard of public broadcasting journalism in the country.
What makes them stand out is not just the roles they hold. It is the work they put in before reaching those roles years of field reporting, foreign correspondence, local anchoring, and investigative journalism that built the credibility their audiences trust.
If you follow Canadian news, these are the top CBC female news anchors you should know.
FAQ
Who is the most well-known CBC female news anchor?
Adrienne Arsenault is widely considered the most prominent CBC female news anchor in Canada today. She serves as Chief Correspondent and lead anchor of The National, CBC’s flagship evening newscast.
Who was the first female anchor at CBC?
Trina McQueen is recognized as one of the pioneering women at CBC News. She became the first female on-camera reporter for The National and later the first female executive producer of the program in 1976.
Which CBC female anchor won the most Canadian Screen Awards?
Adrienne Arsenault has received multiple Canadian Screen Award nominations for Best News Anchor, National. Heather Hiscox won Best National News Anchor in 2018. Anita Bathe won Best News Anchor, Local in both 2022 and 2023.
Is Heather Hiscox still at CBC?
No. Heather Hiscox retired from CBC on November 6, 2025, after exactly 20 years as host of CBC Morning Live.
Is Vassy Kapelos still at CBC?
No. Vassy Kapelos left CBC in 2022 and currently serves as Chief Political Correspondent at CTV News.
