Gail Smith

Gail Smith (born September 4, 1955) is a former Canadian television journalist and news anchor. She is best known for her work at CFTO-TV, the flagship station of the CTV Television Network in Toronto, where she anchored the supper-hour program World Beat News from 1984 to 1988.

Early life and education

Smith was born in Moncton, New Brunswick, the eldest daughter of Mary and Conrad Smith, a school teacher. In 1958, her family moved to Trenton, Ontario, where her father taught mathematics at Trenton High School. with her three younger sisters.

Early career at BCTV News (1978–1982)

Smith joined CTV-owned BCTV in Vancouver in 1978, three weeks after graduating.

News anchor at CFTO News (1982–1988)

In February 1982, Smith joined CFTO in Toronto as a television reporter.

Night Beat News and World Beat News

Seven months after joining CFTO, Smith debuted as the weekend anchor for the station's early-evening and late-night newscasts on September 4, 1982, becoming the first woman and first full-time anchor to hold that position at CFTO. In that role, she wrote and presented four weekend newscasts, produced two of them, and worked as a reporter on three additional days each week.

Among her assignments, Smith reported live on the opening of Roy Thomson Hall. and co-hosted television specials with Reverend Jacques Monet during Pope John Paul II’s 1984 visit to Canada, covering events in Toronto and Midland, Ontario.

1986 trial

In September 1985, Smith was charged with assault after Maria Barbeiro, a CFTO studio cleaner, alleged that she had been injured when Smith closed a dressing-room door that struck her face. The trial at Scarborough Provincial Court began on March 13, 1986,

1988 lockout

During a 12-week lockout at CFTO that began on June 7, 1988, Smith continued anchoring newscasts after crossing the picket line, despite being a member of the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET), the union involved in the dispute. In the second week of the dispute, NABET filed a complaint with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, alleging that her reporting reflected management’s perspective. By October, she had grown fatigued and decided to pursue other opportunities in television.

Late career at CKVR News (1993)

After developing an interest in the programming style of CHUM-owned CITY-TV in Toronto, She joined CHUM-owned CKVR-TV in Barrie, Ontario, as a newscaster on the midday edition of Total News, making her debut on March 3, 1993.