Journalist Anne Gaviola’s ‘goal isn’t perfection, it’s constant progress’

Credit to Author: Ramya Ramanathan| Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2022 06:04:33 +0000

Anne Gaviola is a Toronto-based journalist and national TV anchor and multi-platform reporter for Global News, covering money, housing and the future of work. She is also the co-host of the weekly segment, The Peak On Global, which covers top business stories. It is her mission to deliver news that helps people make the best decisions for themselves and their families by understanding the ever-changing world we live in. Her areas of interest include fintech as well as diversity, equity and inclusion.

Gaviola was born in the Philippines and came to Canada as a child. A graduate of Carleton University’s Bachelor of Journalism program, she has worked at CBC, VICE, The Weather Network, ABS-CBN and BNN Bloomberg.

When she’s not filing stories for multiple Global News platforms, she enjoys an active lifestyle snowboarding, standup paddle boarding and spending time with her husband and two young children.

What brought your family to Canada? 

We came to Canada from the Philippines, like so many other immigrants, for a better life – from personal safety to opportunities for the future. We arrived in Canada on September 29, 1982. At the time there was major economic and political turmoil in the Philippines during the dying years of then-President Ferdinand Marcos’ regime.

Has growing up in an immigrant family had an impact on your life and decisions?  

I marvel at all that my parents did and gave up to come to Canada. When we first arrived, despite my father’s MBA from Insead [business school] and established career overseas, he struggled to get hired because of a lack of Canadian experience. both my mother and father rebuilt their personal and professional lives from the bottom, which was humbling, no doubt.

Because of that, I’ve always placed a great deal of importance on my career, and my ability to help others who face challenges. My great hope is to instill the values of hard work, perseverance and adaptability from my parents in my two children, Isabella and Kylo.

You have lived and worked in different countries – how does Canada compare? 

I lived, studied and worked in the Philippines, Switzerland and France. My time in these countries opened my eyes to how much we take for granted here in Canada – clean air, an abundance of fresh water, robust financial systems (a stark contrast to the Philippines in particular).

Also striking was how many languages people in other parts of the world master. When we arrived in Canada, I didn’t speak English, only French with a Swiss accent, and basic Tagalog and Cebuano (Filipino dialects). It wasn’t easy but I like to think I did a pretty decent job of learning English.

 Why did you decide to become a journalist? 

I’ve always known that I wanted to share impactful, engaging, useful stories and combine my love of writing, being on camera as well as some of my nerdier pursuits. I started my career in Ottawa covering local news at CTV, then moved to Toronto for a national audience at The Weather Network then really found my niche with business at BNN (now BNN Bloomberg). There was no ‘aha’ moment for me. Instead, it was a journey of trying new things (with varying degrees of success). My goal isn’t perfection, it’s constant progress.

One of the subjects you cover as a journalist is the labour market and the future of work. What can we expect in Canada?

The pandemic-spawned economic volatility and hardship has been one of the biggest challenges of my life to cover. It is historic in scope and it’s fascinating to see the chain reaction of so many unprecedented events. The crisis has also highlighted growing income inequality – it existed before COVID, but it has been greatly enhanced by events of the last 2+ years.

The pandemic has forced us all to examine our relationship with work and take stock of what we truly value. Between the ‘Great Rethink’ that prompted many to pivot to another field, another position or drop out of the workforce entirely, and the current ‘War For Talent’ in what remains a very tight labour market, I am curious to see what innovations will become part of the legacy of the pandemic, and what trends will be a flash in the pan.

What is your advice for newcomers and immigrants?

The world has become more interconnected than it was 40 years ago when I first arrived in Canada. Social media and other digital innovations can help bridge the geographical and cultural distance between your old home and your new one. Embrace this, it’s a wonderful thing.

This interconnectedness also means that your experiences (school, work, life) abroad are an advantage for you, even though some people in Canada may not see that right away. Advocate for yourself, seek out others who want to be allies and be living proof that real diversity within a group, organization, or company is a strength and a gift that keeps on giving.

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