Here are a few things you may not know about Reta Ismail
Here are a few things you may not know about Reta Ismail
Newly named CTV London News at Six anchor Reta Ismail has just assumed her new role, but she’s no newcomer to the community.
Reta was born in Baghdad, Iraq and lived as a refugee in Greece for part of her childhood. Her family then came to Canada and settled in different parts of Ontario before Reta moved to London nine years ago.
Here’s a few other things you may not know about her.
What is your favourite food?
My favourite food is my mom’s homemade “Assyrian Dolma” – an authentic dish that is popular among Mediterranean cultures. It’s basically grape leaves stuffed with minced rice and veggies with delicious spices.
What is your favourite place to travel?
My favourite place to travel is Miami, Florida. I love the sun, heat and ocean. Miami also has a great restaurant scene!
What is your favourite thing about London?
My favourite thing about London is all the beautiful trails along the Thames. I take the kids on a bike ride along the trails and it’s one of our favourite outdoor activities. I also love the local restaurant scene, with a variety of cuisine from around the world. It’s really come along way in the last few years, there’s always a new spot to try.
If somebody was visiting the London area, what site/attraction would you say is a must see/do?
If someone was visiting the London area, I would recommend the Covent Garden Market to check out some great local vendors. I would also suggest Storybook Gardens, they have a great ice trail in the winter and a splash pad for the kids in the summer. Of course I'd also recommend watching a live concert or show at one of the great venues in the city.
What is your favourite thing about your job?
My favourite part about my job is it’s something new every single day. Although we don’t work normal 9-5 hours, the time flies when you are in the newsroom. I also love that you are always in the know about the latest news, weather and pretty much everything happening locally and around the world.
What life experience(s) do you think helps you most as a journalist?
Personally speaking, I think my life experience that has helped me most as a journalist is the adversity I have faced in my life. You can better relate with members of your audience if you have walked in their shoes.
What motivates you to continue telling the stories of Londoners and people in our region?
I am motivated to continue sharing stories from our community because it’s a great way to get to know the issues facing Londoners, and to try and find ways to help shine some light on important causes.
What is one thing you want people to know about you?
One thing I want people to know about me is I love being around people and getting to know them on a personal level. Our world is very diverse and everyone has their own story to telI — want to hear it!
What example do you hope to set for your kids?
I hope to set a positive example for my kids by letting them know it’s okay to fail, as long as you continue trying to reach your goal. It has taken me more than 15 years to get to where I am in my career, the road was bumpy, but I stayed on track and focused to make sure I accomplished my dream.
What does it mean to you to be a working mom and how do you juggle a good work/life balance?
Being a working mom is tough no matter what you do for a living. The reward is finding a good balance to be able to have a career and attend your child’s soccer game. I am fortunate that I work for a company that allows for a good work/life balance.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors call for action as growing number of Canadians dying from common food preservative
Doctors are among those calling for tighter regulation of sodium nitrite as a growing number of Canadians are dying after intentionally ingesting unsafe quantities of the common food preservative in its pure form.
BREAKING
BREAKING | Well-known Brampton, Ont. real estate agent, media personality savagely attacked outside home
A well-known real estate agent and media personality in Brampton, Ont. has been viciously attacked in broad daylight in his own driveway by three men, two of whom appear to be wielding an axe and a machete.
Police seize handguns, drugs in alleged Ontario, U.S. criminal takedown
Police in Ontario say they have taken down a criminal network they allege trafficked cocaine and fentanyl and smuggled guns into Canada from the U.S.
Trump says he took the Fifth in New York civil investigation
Donald Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination as he testified under oath Wednesday in the New York attorney general's long-running civil investigation into his business dealings, the former U.S. president said in a statement.
Two children at centre of Sask. Amber Alert found safe in South Dakota, suspect arrested
The Meade County Sheriff’s Office in South Dakota said it has arrested the man wanted in connection with an Amber Alert in Saskatchewan.
Can the spread of monkeypox be stopped?
Since May, nearly 90 countries have reported more than 31,000 cases of monkeypox. The World Health Organization classified the escalating outbreak of the once-rare disease as an international emergency in July; the U.S. declared it a national emergency last week.
N.S. boosts cash reward for information in boy's shooting death to $250,000
Nova Scotia’s unsolved crimes program is offering its largest reward ever for information in the case of a little boy shot and killed in Dartmouth in December.
Canadian Forces Snowbirds grounded in wake of B.C. crash
The Royal Canadian Air Force has grounded the Snowbirds aerobatic team after one of the aircraft suffered a hard landing last week in northern British Columbia.
Some air passengers take claims to court, seeking compensation for delays, missing bags
With some airlines denying compensation for delayed flights or missing baggage, a few Canadian passengers are taking their claims to court.
Kitchener
-
-
Surgeries cancelled at Cambridge Memorial Hospital as staffing issues mount
Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH) has cancelled several surgeries over the last two days as staffing pressures combined with bed capacity limits put pressure on the overloaded system.
-
Deputy Prime Minister hosts tech sector roundtable in Kitchener
Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is in Kitchener today to discuss the challenges and opportunities the Canadian technology sector is currently facing.
Windsor
-
Assault victim allegedly stabbed multiple times after opening apartment door: Windsor police
A random attacker allegedly sprayed a victim with an unknown noxious substance and stabbed them multiple times when they answered the front door, Windsor police are investigating.
-
Hundreds of charges laid after Ontario police bust group accused of smuggling guns, fentanyl
A nearly ten-months long investigation by multiple Ontario police services has resulted in more than 400 criminal charges laid on a group of 22 individuals accused of smuggling guns and drugs over the Canadian-U.S. border.
-
ESHC warns of increase in COVID-19 cases as hospital is over 122% capacity
Erie Shores HealthCare is urging people to remain cautious as COVID cases spike in Windsor-Essex and the hospital is already at 122 per cent occupancy.
Barrie
-
Public help Barrie Police arrest theft suspects
Barrie Police arrested two suspects accused of theft, thanks to help from the public.
-
Aurora seniors set to walk 90 kilometres to support the food bank
A retired couple is set to make a 90-kilometre trek to help feed those in need to mark a milestone birthday.
-
Painswick park picked for pickleball pads
There’s a new game in town, and city staff are counting on eight fingers how many new pickleball courts they’ll need to meet the demand.
Northern Ontario
-
Sault police say murder-suicide behind two gun deaths Aug. 5
A murder-suicide was behind two people who died from gunshot wounds Aug. 5 at a residential fire on Goulais Avenue, Sault police said Wednesday.
-
Police say suspect in Hwy. 69 crash was suspended, driving stolen vehicle
A 37-year-old from Toronto has been charged in connection with a two-vehicle crash Aug. 8 on Highway 69 in Servos Township south of Greater Sudbury.
-
Human rights tribunal dismisses northern Ont. man's complaint about pronoun use
In what appears to be a less-than-serious complaint, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario has dismissed a complaint levied against the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit related to pronoun use.
Ottawa
-
Ottawa woman missing for 42 years had been living outside Canada before her death
The disappearance of an Ottawa woman has been solved more than 40 years after she went missing. While she has since passed away, it's been revealed she's been living outside the country for decades.
-
Here's how long you wait to see a doctor in an Ottawa hospital emergency department
The wait time to see a doctor in an Ottawa hospital emergency room exceeded the provincial average in June, with two hospitals in the province's top 10 for wait times.
-
Ontario health minister won't rule out privatization as option to help ER crisis
Ontario's health minister isn't ruling out privatization in health care as the government looks at ways to deal with a major staff shortage straining hospitals across the province.
Toronto
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Well-known Brampton, Ont. real estate agent, media personality savagely attacked outside home
A well-known real estate agent and media personality in Brampton, Ont. has been viciously attacked in broad daylight in his own driveway by three men, two of whom appear to be wielding an axe and a machete.
-
Hundreds of charges laid after Ontario police bust group accused of smuggling guns, fentanyl
A nearly ten-months long investigation by multiple Ontario police services has resulted in more than 400 criminal charges laid on a group of 22 individuals accused of smuggling guns and drugs over the Canadian-U.S. border.
-
These are the new powers Doug Ford wants to give the mayor of Toronto
Here's a rundown of some of the changes Doug Ford's government is proposing for the mayor’s office.
Montreal
-
Religious minorities feel less safe, welcome in Quebec since Bill 21 was adopted: survey
A new study shows that religious minorities in Quebec, particularly women, feel less safe and less welcome in the social fabric of society since the adoption of the province's secularism law, commonly known as Bill 21.
-
Remains of priest removed from Kahnawake church grounds
The remains of a priest who allegedly sexually abused Indigenous children in Quebec was exhumed Wednesday morning. Jesuit priest Father Leon Lajoie was buried on the grounds of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Kahnawake in 1999.
-
Montreal public health investigating 3 cases of Legionnaires' Disease
Montreal public health officials are investigating three cases of Legionnaires' Disease, including one death.
Atlantic
-
'Fall from grace': Former CEO of IWK Health Centre sentenced to 5 months in jail for fraud
The former CEO of the IWK Health Centre has been sentenced to five months in jail for using public money to pay for more than $45,000 worth of personal expenses.
-
Essential Newfoundland highway to stay open as out-of-control wildfires grow
Two out-of-control wildfires in central Newfoundland covered more than 200 square kilometres on Wednesday morning, and Environment Canada warned the flames could cover much of the island in smoke.
-
N.S. boosts cash reward for information in boy's shooting death to $250,000
Nova Scotia’s unsolved crimes program is offering its largest reward ever for information in the case of a little boy shot and killed in Dartmouth in December.
Winnipeg
-
Police make arrest in connection to River East weekend shooting
Winnipeg police arrested and charged a 34-year-old man in connection to a shooting on Bonner Avenue Sunday morning.
-
RCMP looking for missing Steinbach teen
Steinbach RCMP are searching for a missing teenage girl who they believe is now in Winnipeg.
-
Doctors call for action as growing number of Canadians dying from common food preservative
Doctors are among those calling for tighter regulation of sodium nitrite as a growing number of Canadians are dying after intentionally ingesting unsafe quantities of the common food preservative in its pure form.
Calgary
-
Vehicle in downtown hit-and-run that injured pedestrian found, driver still sought
The pedestrian, a woman in her 20s, was taken to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries.
-
Court appearance put over for man accused in deadly Banff bar dispute
The man accused of killing a 26-year-old Banff man last week is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
-
Oil production booms in Alberta
Daily crude oil production in Alberta has increased in 2022 amid high demand and high price environment, according to economists.
Edmonton
-
Oilers superfan Ben Stelter dies
Ben Stelter has died. His father made the announcement on social media on Wednesday.
-
Southeast LRT delays caused by cracks on piers 'deeply disappointing': mayor
The Valley Line Southeast LRT will not open this summer as planned. The CEO of TransEd announced at Davies Station on Wednesday cracks had been found on three concrete piers that support the elevated tracks.
-
Monkeypox vaccine locations added in Alberta as confirmed cases rise
Albertans will no longer have to travel to Edmonton or Calgary to get a monkeypox vaccination.
Vancouver
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Homicide team reveals information on victim of taxi shooting
The taxi passenger fatally shot in Surrey, B.C., earlier this week had recently been convicted of a drug offence, homicide investigators say.
-
Vancouver-area renters: Here's where it's cheapest, and where you'd pay the most
It's no surprise to renters and would-be renters that it costs a lot to live in the Vancouver area, but a recent report suggests there are some spots where tenants pay a bit less.
-
Some evacuation orders lifted near Keremeos, B.C., wildfire
Evacuation orders were lifted for about 50 properties near a wildfire in Keremeos, B.C., as crews expect to see subdued conditions over the coming days.