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
RCMP's use of spyware tools under scrutiny at parliamentary committee
Canada's privacy commissioner says the belated disclosure that RCMP has for years been using spyware capable of accessing cell phone and computer microphones, cameras and other data as part of major investigations, is a clear example of why Canada's Privacy Act needs updating.
Saskatoon woman who had been reported missing facing charges in U.S., Canada
Saskatoon police say a woman who had been reported missing is facing charges in the United States related to unauthorized use of identification and in Canada related to parental abduction and public mischief.
CRA says it has $1.4 billion in uncashed cheques sitting in its coffers
The Canada Revenue Agency says it will be sending e-notifications about uncashed cheques to 25,000 Canadians this month.
What is a 'zombie fire?' Experts explain the cause and concerns
Authorities in the Northwest Territories are monitoring a large 'zombie fire' that flared back up following last wildfire season after smouldering underground during the winter months.
No damage reported after 4.6 magnitude earthquake off Vancouver Island
A 4.6 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Vancouver Island.
Housing correction in Toronto could end up becoming 'one of the deepest of the past half a century,' RBC warns
A housing correction which has already led to four consecutive months of price declines in the previously overheated Greater Toronto Area market could end up becoming 'one of the deepest of the past half a century,' a new report from RBC warns.
Photos show handwritten notes that Trump apparently ripped up and attempted to flush down toilet
Newly revealed photographs reveal two occasions on which former U.S. President Donald Trump apparently flushed documents down the toilet.
How to get into the housing market if you're gen Z or millennial
For millennial and gen Z Canadians, owning a home in this real estate market might seem like a pipe dream. In an exclusive column for CTVNews,ca personal finance contributor Christopher Liew offers some strategies to consider if you can’t afford the housing market yet.
Occupancy exceeded: Banff, Alta., home possessed more than 40 beds
Alberta Health Services has issued an enforcement order against a Banff home after an inspection discovered that as many as 42 people were staying inside the property, saying the maximum number of occupants of the facility 'was exceeded.'
Kitchener
-
Brantford police looking for two suspects who escaped from police during chase
Brantford Police have issued an arrest warrant for a man and are asking the public for help identifying a second man following a police chase which resulted in multiple collisions and the two suspects evading arrest.
-
Motorcycle rider suffers life-altering injuries after crash between Kitchener and Guelph
A crash between a sedan and motorcycle, on a highway in between Guelph and Kitchener, has resulted in life-altering injuries.
-
Waterloo-Wellington remains under heat warning
Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for most of southwestern Ontario, including Waterloo-Wellington, with local temperatures expected to climb into the high twenties or low thirties.
Windsor
-
Windsor police seek four suspects after assault on Glengary Avenue
Windsor police are looking for four suspects after an assault on Glengarry Avenue.
-
Cyclist taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after hit and run
Windsor police are asking for the public’s help after a hit-and-run collision between a cyclist and a vehicle.
-
WECHU issues almost 8,000 suspension orders to Windsor-Essex high school students
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has issued 7,858 suspension orders to local high school students over incomplete immunization records.
Barrie
-
Large explosive barn fire in Essa Township kills livestock
More than 50 cows were killed in a fire that broke out at a barn in Essa Township on Sunday afternoon.
-
Police recover body from lake in Grey Highlands
Officers from the OPP's Grey Bruce detachment are investigating after recovering the body of a missing person from a lake.
-
Single-vehicle crash leads to impaired driving charges in Angus
Police in Angus said a 46-year-old man is facing an impaired driving charge after a truck crashed into a ditch.
Northern Ontario
-
Timmins police say girl, 14, was swarmed, beaten and robbed by five other teens
Police in Timmins say a 14-year-old girl was injured Aug. 5 when she was surrounded and assaulted by five other teens in a school parking lot.
-
Highway 69-400 reopened following crash
The Trans-Canada Highway has reopened in both directions between Ba Sa Gim Road on Highway 69 in Shawanaga First Nation and the intersection of Highway 400 and 559 in Nobel on Monday following a crash, police say.
-
Lotto 6/49 jackpot ticket sold in Toronto, two $1M prizes in northern Ontario
Did you buy a Lotto 6/49 ticket in Ontario for the Aug. 6 draw? Lottery officials say five big prizes were won in these areas of the province.
Ottawa
-
Three injured in fiery Highway 174 crash
Three people were injured, one critically, after a fiery crash on Highway 174 overnight.
-
Chiarelli promises property tax freeze in first year if elected mayor of Ottawa
Bob Chiarelli is promising to freeze property taxes and fees in the first year of his mandate if elected mayor of Ottawa this fall, saying he believes efficiencies can be found in the city's multi-billion dollar budget to cover costs.
-
Full Ottawa LRT line to be closed early 10 days this month for track maintenance
Ottawa's Confederation Line LRT will be closing early on a total of 10 days this month as crews perform maintenance on the tracks, with reduced service planned on parts of the line for two other nights.
Toronto
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Two workers trapped, two others taken to hospital after trench collapses at Ajax construction site
Four workers have been injured in a trench collapse at a construction site in Ajax.
-
Police make arrest in Hamilton homicide but say they are still working on identifying victim
Police have charged a 41-year-old man with second-degree murder after a male was found dead inside an apartment building in Hamilton over the weekend.
-
Advocates in Toronto urge city to rethink 'inaccessible' heat strategy, bring back cooling centres
Advocates are sounding the alarm on the city’s current approach to extreme heat, saying the framework does little for Toronto's homeless community, as the city sees its third straight day of heat warnings.
Montreal
-
Man found dead in bin during Montreal east-end recycling collection
Montreal police are investigating the suspicious death of a man discovered in a bin during recycling collection in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Monday morning.
-
Montreal Pride parade cancelled hours before event due to lack of volunteers
Montreal Pride parade organizer Simon Gamache admits that they messed up when they cancelled the event at the last minute Sunday.
-
Body pulled from St. Lawrence River near Montreal east end, police investigating
Firefighters pulled a dead body from the St. Lawrence River in Montreal's east end Monday morning.
Atlantic
-
Community cut off by Newfoundland forest fires running out of food, says deputy mayor
The deputy mayor of a southern Newfoundland town says his community is running out of food as it remains cut off from the rest of the island due to the worst forest fires the province has seen in more than 60 years.
-
Halifax cancels 75 bus trips, transit union says staff shortages will get worse
Halifax has cancelled 75 bus trips due to a lack of transit staff, and the union representing the drivers says staffing levels will likely get worse before they get better.
-
Kalin's Call: Summer soak, rain alerts for parts of Maritimes
A weather front sprawling out of Ontario and Quebec is leading a low pressure system across the Maritimes Monday through Tuesday. Rain, drizzle and fog are expected in the region with some areas experiencing heavy rain for a period of time.
Winnipeg
-
'I want to move out': Police investigate River East shooting
Winnipeg Police are looking into a reported shooting early Sunday morning in River East.
-
West End fire sends one firefighter to hospital
A fire in Winnipeg’s West End on Sunday evening sent one firefighter to hospital.
-
Sherbrook Street stabbing leaves one in hospital
A woman has been hospitalized after she was stabbed at a residence on Sherbrook Street over the weekend.
Calgary
-
Calgary man charged with murdering roommate after dispute: police
Calgary police have laid charges in a brutal assault last month that resulted in a man's death, saying the victim and the accused were roommates.
-
Man shot by Calgary police Friday had 2 weapons: ASIRT
Officers were called to the 1500 block of 35th Street S.E. at 10 p.m. for reports of a man with weapons who was acting erratically.
-
Heat warning issued for Calgary with hot weather expected all week
Calgary is expected to see temperatures ranging between 29 C to 34 C on Monday.
Edmonton
-
2 no longer 'at large' after 'possible abduction' northeast of Edmonton: RCMP
Police say two people are no longer "at large" after a "possible abduction" from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation in northern Alberta Monday morning.
-
Thousands of tickets still available for World Junior Championship games in Edmonton
Odd summer timing and an ongoing sexual assault scandal at Hockey Canada could be the reason thousands of tickets to the World Junior Hockey Championship are still available on the eve of the tournament, says an Edmonton professor.
-
Impaired woman caught driving 80 km/h over speed limit: RCMP
An Edmonton woman was charged after she was pulled over for excessive speeding while impaird with a child in the car, police say.
Vancouver
-
'New world order' conspiracy theory not a valid argument in foreclosure case: B.C. judge
A conspiracy theory about 'new world order' is not a valid argument in a recent foreclosure case involving a home in Vancouver, a judge in British Columbia ruled.
-
Teen without a helmet killed in ATV rollover on B.C. trail: RCMP
A teenager died following an ATV rollover in the Williams Lake area over the weekend, police in that area say.
-
Controlled burns, sprinkler systems used to combat Keremeos, B.C., wildfire
The BC Wildfire Service says it is using a combination of tools to control a blaze on the outskirts of the southern Okanagan region.