We’ve covered several significant stories this year, with many highlighted in our Top 10 list. But along the way, we’ve had some lighter moments in the field, and behind the scenes that we wanted to share with you as well.
From a winter wallop to a Scottish smooch, here’s a look at 10 lighter moments from the CTV National News team this year.
10. Torch run lands crew in cop car
Security was tight in Sochi. So much so that Lisa LaFlamme and senior producer Rosa Hwang couldn’t get from their hotel to the broadcast booth. Police had blocked off the roads and their driver was nowhere to be found.
So, they found another driver.
9. Scottish Smooch
While shooting a segment for CTV Vancouver’s noon show, National News reporter Daniele Hamamdjian was on the receiving end of an unplanned kiss.
Captured on video, it appears this Scot was a little too excited about the prospect of independence.
8. Tap-dancing on camera
While doing a story on well-known tap dance instructor Ethel Bruneau, Montreal Bureau Chief Genevieve Beauchemin thought she’d show off her own dance moves.
The instructor found fame on the dance floor, can Genevieve do the same?
7. Squirrel steals clothespins
Here’s a crime story where the stakes are high – on a clothesline. This backyard bandit is accused of taking $20 worth of clothespins a week, and soiling a Nova Scotian’s clean clothing along the way.
Todd Battis looks at how a red squirrel was caught red-handed.
6. Maestro director Brian Lebold retires
There are many unsung heroes here at CTV National News, and the stalwart of our control room was one of them. Brian Lebold, our director, retired after more than 40 years.
Little did he know we would bring him into the show for a special tribute.
5. Cat escapes from burning hotel
We don’t show cat videos, unless there’s a news angle. Such is the case with this one.
We were stunned to see this feline make a dramatic escape from a building collapse, all caught on camera by a MyNews user. Watch as the little guy, perched in the window sill, makes it through.
The cat may have used up one of those nine lives after making it out of there alive.
4. Digging out for a morning update
Atlantic Bureau Chief Todd Battis was scrambling to clear snow after a ‘weather bomb’ dumped almost two feet on the region on March 26th. More than 12,000 homes and businesses in New Brunswick were without power after the storm passed through.
Appearing in an early morning hit on Canada AM, Battis was shoveling his way to the camera. “The fact of the matter is I’ve got to shovel a path so I can come out there and talk to you.”
3. Canadians’ Cadillac hot tub
Unlike riding a Flyboard, L.A. Bureau Chief Tom Walters didn’t dress down to ride in a Caddy. Walters was assigned to interview the co-creator of the world’s fastest hot tub in California.
Wearing a suit, Walters took a dip in ‘Carpool Deville’ to learn more about the project from two former McMaster University engineering students behind the project.
Walters asked the tough questions, including: ‘What happens if you go to a gas station and ask them to ‘Fill ‘er up?’
2. Janet Dirks goes Flyboarding
With its popularity taking off in Canada, we decided to send Calgary Bureau Chief Janet Dirks to see what all the Flyboarding fuss was about.
All that she had to do was strap her feet onto a Flyboard propelled by water, which jets its passenger into the air. NBD, right?
Victory was brief, but courageous.
1. Super selfie
It’s not often that you get current anchor Lisa LaFlamme, former anchor Lloyd Robertson, and a big chunk of the production team to gather in the same room at the same time.
Inspired by Ellen DeGeneres’ epic selfie at the Oscars, we wanted to join in on the meme.
With Lloyd passing through the newsroom after working on W5, and the current broadcast team coming out of our daily news meeting, Senior Broadcast Producer Rosa Hwang couldn’t resist snapping this gem.
