By Sally Barnes
The world is going to hell in a handbasket of fires, drought, floods, and crazed people.
Meanwhile, here in Canada, we have our knickers in a knot about a TV news anchor who insists on being self-confident and glamorous at the age of 58.
The nerve of this woman!
Truth to tell, the miracle is that Lisa LaFlamme’s celebrity career lasted as long as it did after giving the finger to the small army of purveyors and enforcers who prepare TV personalities for the bright lights and armchair and professional critics.
In an industry that cookie cuts blondes with identical hairstyles, LaFlamme insisted on being her own woman.
During the pandemic, LaFlamme eschewed the hair colouring that is purchased by the vat for those in the entertainment business, public life, corporate boardrooms, and various other endeavours where ageism has been added to other “isms” which dictate the value of people.
“Looking young” is the modern requisite giant step in climbing and clinging to the ladder of success.
Young (and less experienced) staff is also cheaper staff—a big consideration for media outlets struggling to meet payrolls as the competition for advertising dollars increases.
There are few people who are over 55 left in the business and those veterans who do remain must have nightmares about pink slips and unrequited love by their employers.
Lost in the shuffle are senior journalists with many years of experience who are put out to pasture and their expertise and institutional memory go with them. Hosts, pundits, and so-called experts who help fill time on news and current events programs seem to get younger and better coiffed and made up by the day.
From the TV ads to the movie screens and material produced by various professional groups, today’s main characters try to conceal wrinkles and strut-perfect teeth and hair of every shade but grey.
After 35 years as a reporter and anchor at leading TV network CTV, LaFlamme had earned the big salary and self-confidence needed to flaunt her swath of long, grey hair that turned silver under the studio lights.
Insiders say LaFlamme’s decision to go au natural disturbed some of the hierarchy at Bell Media, the parent company, while viewers maintained their loyalty to this leading journalist and the award-winning flagship nightly newscast she anchored.
Her dismissal was a “business decision” about taking a “new direction,” said the powers that be. If that wasn’t hard enough to swallow for someone at the peak of her career and the pinnacle of her profession, they denied her a gracious sendoff and personal goodbye to her millions of viewers.
Viewers mourn her loss and are angry about how her dismissal was staged.
To the company’s chagrin, the public backlash has been swift and bitter—from colleagues to politicians and ordinary TV watchers alike.
There were stories of Lisa’s personal relationships—her acts of kindness to colleagues over the years, her charitable causes, her membership in both the prestigious Order of Canada and Order of Ontario.
A colleague recalled her coverage of foreign wars—Afghanistan, Iraq, and most recently Ukraine—where on the front lines toilets don’t exist and luxury was finding a sink where she could wash her hair before doing her next live broadcast.
Her goal was always to get viewers back home the truth about the war.
Social media and public commentary about the LaFlamme dismissal are full of threats by viewers to boycott CTV and its advertisers. Whether that happens remains to be seen.
People who don’t watch television news (and there are many—especially among the younger generation addicted to and dependent on social media) probably had never heard of Lisa LaFlamme until this week.
News broke that Bell Media had shown her the door after 35 years of service as one of its most acclaimed TV performers with not even a public “here’s your hat..what’s your hurry?”
Defenders of LaFlamme were quick to point out that her CTV predecessor, Lloyd Robertson, was 77 when he retired, and over at CBC Peter Mansbridge was 69 when he handed over the anchor position on the flagship, The National.
Both must have looked in the rearview mirror and saw the creeping and resolute trend of ageism and diversity closing in on them.
Once all-white and mostly male newsrooms have been transformed into career opportunities for a wide range of racial, cultural, and gender-diverse people reflective of today’s population.
LaFlamme’s hold on the top job at CTV news cannot be viewed as an impediment to diversity. In fact, she was an icon for talented and hard-working women who overcame adversity to rise to the top and mentor many along the way.
I consider her a trailblazer—along with so many other women like Flora MacDonald, Judy LaMarsh, Jeanne Sauve, Laura Sabia, Pauline McGibbon, Barbara Frum, June Callwood, Doris Anderson, Christina McCall and so many, many more.
Dammit, the trouble was Lisa LaFlamme was considered too old by bosses at Bell Media struggling with the rest of the media to attract a younger audience, advertising, and the money to stay in business.
I say, forget it, boys. The younger generation has declared newspapers, radio, and TV their grandparents’ media.
All you’re doing is ticking off and failing the mature but loyal audience who grew up wanting to hold a newspaper in their hands with their morning mug of coffee, listen to clever and intelligent CBC Radio programming and tune into the immensely talented and always well-informed Lisa LaFlamme on CTV.
This is all unfolding in an age of wild conspiracy theories, false news and mad politicians and their crazed followers. Public respect for and confidence in the media—along with our other democratic institutions—is under duress in Canada as elsewhere.
Only this week, the legitimacy of the legendary and very staid New York Times has come into question amid allegations of political conflict of interest and tampering with the facts.
In the U.S., the media is so polarized that viewers can choose cable news that reports only stories and opinions slanted to what their audience wants to hear and believe.
FOX News adores former president Donald Trump and supports his re-election hopes. CNN meanwhile hates both FOX and Trump and they daily attack each other.
In the controversy here in Canada over Lisa LaFlamme, the integrity and reliability of CTV and its powerful parent company Bell Media have been tainted.
Our fragile and shrinking media world and our right and responsibility to be well and factually informed, have taken another hit.
All in the name of fearing and disrespecting age and the eternal quest to look younger than we really are.
Why can’t we just grow up for heaven’s sake!
Sally Barnes has enjoyed a distinguished career as a writer, journalist and author. Her work has been recognized in a number of ways, including receiving a Southam Fellowship in Journalism at Massey College at the University of Toronto. A self-confessed political junkie, she has worked in the back-rooms for several Ontario premiers. In addition to a number of other community contributions, Sally Barnes served a term as president of the Ontario Council on the Status of Women. She is a former business colleague of Doppler’s publisher, Hugh Mackenzie, and lives in Kingston, Ontario. You can find her online at sallybarnesauthor.com.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox so you don’t miss anything!
Click here to support local news
Awwww Phil Lam … IF you read the article and forgive me if you’re illiterate but SBarnes defers to Lisa LaFlamme AND her “talking head”(my words) TV termination, NOT “other people” as you are now suggesting w/ your recent rebuttal Phil. Lisa is past early retirement (age 55) heading into her 60s AND Lisa survived the past TWO+ years of FORCED lockdowns FORCED mandates FORCED everything. However, you AND you alone continue to veer off topic (topic IS Lisa LaFlamme) with your quips Phil. My professional opinion “give Allen a call” “grab a hug” “play Joe Cacker” “get some rest” Phil!
Aaaaaa Jane…you referred to “forced mandates”, did you not?
Again, I ask, who cares if Ms Laflamme I rich? What does that have to do with anything? Rich people don’t suffer in your eyes I guess? If “they” lost a business or a beloved family member, would it hurt any less? Maybe we should look at how to support one another, instead of dragging people down because they were successful or made a good honest living. Grow up.
Hey Phil Lam … I’m commenting about RICH Lisa Laflamme and responding back to Allen Markle, does this help you Phil because I did NOT discuss immunization profiles at any time … Get some rest Phil!
Hey Jane…imagine how much worse life would be right now if those of us who voluntarily stayed home, voluntarily rolled up our sleeves to take the shot, didn’t. Hmmm…something to think about. And why “rich”? If you are truly as compassionate as you want people to believe, you would acknowledge that this virus did not, and does not discriminate. I can’t same the same for you. Get some rest. Reflect. Open your eyes. Open your mind.
Hey Allen Markle: Call a friend? GET a hug? NOTE: I do NOT care about a rich person WHO did not suffer “one iota” over the past TWO+ years. Regardless of what you think Allen I want people to know I do NOT have any heartache NOR pain NOR grief for Lisa LaFlamme BUT I CARE tons for people who LOST jobs LOST families LOST friends LOST income LOST businesses … Perhaps YOU are in need of a friend a hug AND a Joe Cacker song Allen!
I’m sitting in my hotel room in Tralee, Republic of Ireland reading all these comments on the dismissal of Lisa LaFlamme….first disclosure, I was never a fan of Lisa LaFlamme from those days when she and Jeff Hutcheson morphed from the small city studios of Kitchener to the National stage at CFTO in Toronto. I don’t know Lisa’s credentials as a so-called “Journalist” on the National stage….to me akin to having Peter Mansbridge hosting the CBC National because he has this arresting voice that transfixed the CBC executive in Winnipeg while reading the subway schedule intercom, into making Peter a so called “Journalist” also on the National platform. Okay so maybe these two did become Journalists….But just so everyone knows, at least Lisa and Peter did have a National platform, and some are feeling bad for her, but there were so many other that were screwed over in private radio and television you will never hear about. Meanwhile Lisa will walk away with a severance package that will feed a small African nation and with opportunities with other forms of media….and for those that had been forced to exit private media, the options were to take their complaints to the Provincial body responsible and having to settle for a 50-50 split as the new owner objected to every claim against him….
Very disappointed Ms Laflamme was let go. I no longer watch evening news on CTV nor E Talk , both programs fired their leading ladies, (Danielle Graham too) to replace them by young men…obviously ageism and sexism are the reasons. Or is it culturally motivated, these 2 women were definitely better at their art then the 2 males that replaced them. Ladies, be warned CTV prefers male anchors no matter if they are talented or NOT…..
You would think that, having had so much forced upon us in the past months, we might now nurture a bit of compassion for others being treated that way. For certain, Lisa Laflamme will survive.
Covid is not gone, just something else loosed upon us from Pandora’s box.
But: Jane McNamara!
Call a friend.
Get a hug.
Listen to Joe Cockers’ version of ‘Lean on me’.
You can hear the pain, but feel the healin’ come stealin’.
I am somewhat struck by the number of people who seem to know all the different news sources PLUS the various names of the commentators who read the stuff. How long is your day?
Listening to all those versions of what happened ‘on this day’, must be like a flight to New Zealand, where your backside begins to look like the fabric of the seat you’re on.
But the flight is worth the time. I don’t think I’d be up for that much news.
Stay safe everyone, ’cause that nasty new virus is still out there. And flu season is coming up!
I will get my flu shot and a Covid booster when it becomes available.
But if I do come down with something, how in hell will I know which one I got?
Britt that’s a very good assessment of the US media in general and CNN/Fox on particular. Your reply to Hugh was well put too. He, like SO many others, calls the ONLY non-left news outlet there is “extreme”. It’s his and the left’s way of silencing anyone who doesn’t agree with them. In today’s world dissent from the majority is not allowed.
Lisa Laflamme will NOT be missed by everyone. This is NOT heartbreaking news for me! MY heart is NOT shattered! Get a grip ppl SHE was just a “recorder” of the news! FORCED lockdowns FORCED mandates FORCED everything IS heartbreaking! Severe emotional distress Severe financial distress Severe family breakdowns Severe mental distress YEAH thats heartbreaking AND shattering! Get a grip on reality ppl!
WOW! This happens to everyone in all business. You can always get someone cheaper to do the job! As far as this goes .. “In the U.S., the media is so polarized that viewers can choose cable news that reports only stories and opinions slanted to what their audience wants to hear and believe.” In Canada we have the same problem! In my opinion, JT controls all the new media and all our news reporting is about JT and his programs. Not once does any Canadian ‘news’ outlet ever disagree with JT or even have a debated about anything JT does. All they do his bad mouth conservatives over and over! Watch any CBC, CTV, Global etc etc ‘news’ cast and they are ALL the same! Our news is a joke .. but .. you NEVER bite the hand that feeds ($$$) you!
I so enjoyed reading Sally Barnes’s comments..I also was shocked and disappointed with Ms.Lisa LaFlamme’s exit( firing) from CTV..Over the last few years I personally feel they have slowly destroyed their reputation and have brought on their decline themselves.. I wish them good luck trying to recover.
TOO TRUE….I WILL MISS LISA. AND NOT SURE I WANT TO WATCH THIS NEWS SHOW ANY MORE.
Perhaps, financially, Ms LaFlamme “…will be just fine once her wrongful dismissal case ends” is not the point. To some people, money isn’t everything. I suspect Ms. LaFlamme is one of ‘some people.’
That “…she would have enjoyed a comfortable retirement without the top up” is also not the point. To abruptly dismiss a long time, respected, admired, hardworking, dedicated, passionate employee will/may have adverse side effects for said employee. The dismissal appears to be cruel and unjust. She seems to have been treated unfairly. Sad.
Adam G. Yes. Big mistake. She will be missed. Hopefully, not forgotten.
Big mistake, She will be missed
My apologies Mrs Leflamme was at CTV not CBC . I get confused because apparently we fund both of these organizations for no apparent reason.
Now that the CBC has become a propaganda arm of the Federal Government. They have no choice but to change the form of delivery in order to attempt to remain relevant with Canadians. I’m not sure this move will help the credibility of the CBC. It may prove not to be very cost effective .
. I’m sure Mrs Leflamme will be just fine once her wrongful dismissal case ends. Rest assured she would have enjoyed a comfortable retirement without the top up.
They fired me. because of my choice of hair colour. That’s rich, George Carlin where are you when I need you?
I was sorry that Lisa LaFlamme is not doing the news now but hoped that she had something else she wanted to do but right enough if that had been the case, she would have had a great send-off. Shawn Connell mentioned that the Government funds Mainstream News outlets – the news gets slanted to prop up the government and their agendas. Surely this is not right but I guess if it wasn’t Government funding them then it would be advertisers of rich business owners that would be doing this and perhaps that would be worse. It’s hard to know what is truth anymore, we have to try to read between the lines, between what we are told is false news and what is truth, it’s becoming anyone’s guess – pretty scary times. I felt that Lisa told it like it was and I wonder if that’s why she has been let go.
I noticed the quality of reliable Mainstream News decline March 2020 as it quickly became obvious CBC, Global and even CTV were reporting almost word for word on the Pandemic. And I quickly stopped watching any CBC & Global telecasts immediately, but I continued to trust CTV and BBC into 2021. I now DON’T trust any of them, when the Government funds Mainstream News outlets the news gets slanted to prop up the government and their agendas.
Hugh: the main difference between FOX and CNN is that FOX continues to outperform CNN by a wide margin in terms of viewership and profits so it can do whatever it wants. My point was that CNN has been experiencing a steep decline in viewership and can no longer afford to stay the course. CNN has very little to talk about and they cycle it over and over jumping at any and every opportunity to lean left whether it’s a doctor like Sanjay Gupta or Anderson Cooper.
FOX is guilty of the same for sure but only from their “opinion segments” with Tucker, Gutfeld, Waters or Hannity for example who’s salaries are at least twice as much as their CNN counterparts. Love them or hate them they are smart people with far more depth to their arguments no matter how far right they are.
CNN does not have a Chris Wallace (FOX Sunday) who hammers everybody for answers. He is relentless when interviewing republicans and democrats but still very respectful and not condescending. CNN rarely interviews republicans.
FOX also has way more neutral non partisan everyday reporting whether it be business and economics, the environment, international affairs etc.. CNN use to be great but things have changed and so has their viewership.
99% of Canadians watch CNN simply because it is usually free with your cable or internet TV bundle. FOX is an extra charge. I am guessing this why a disproportionate number of Canadians lean left with regard to US politics? In the USA less than 1 in 3 watch CNN.
I would rather look at silver hair than 5 o’clock shadow. I will not watch CTV news until Lisa LaFlamme returns. Alternatively, The National could replace Adriane Asenault with Lisa.
Out with the old and in with the new.
It’s simple, replacement is Omar Sachedina.
They are catering to the immigrant population.
He is rather good looking , I will admit.
Britt: I agree with you about CNN needing to move closer to the centre in their political reporting. But you make no similar comment about the extreme rightwing Fox. Do you really think Fox commentators like Sean Hannity, Laura Ingram and Tucker Carlson are anything but propaganda voices for the far right? Do you really think they are balannced in their political reporting? Don’t you think all Cable news sources should be balanced in their reporting, or is it just CNN?
I agree with Dale Hajas comments. We all loved Lisa Laflamme but we do not really know why she was fired. I suspect as ratings dropped and CTV continues to lose money things had to change grey hair or not. I think they hung on to Lloyd Robertson far too long. CTV is always hours behind the news cycle which is a lifetime in the news industry. There website is hard to navigate. It kind of feels like 1985 when I watch CTV once in a blue moon.
CNN has similar problems and the new owners are swiftly making changes. CNN has drifted so far left with its opinion news and with Trump gone they do not have much to talk about. More people watch the History channel than CNN. They have less then 1/3 the viewers that FOX has while FOX continues to grow. The new owners fired the president and recently let Brian Stelter go on the weekend. CNN says they want to move back to the centre with their reporting. More news, better reporting, more facts and less opinion.
Sally as usual many of your comments concerning the present media are accurate. As to LaFlamme sha was acceptable to me but then I am old. The grey hair I put to Covid I hah a blonde at the start of Covid hair dressers closed and she caught up to me in grey colour.
Very few have added her CBD endeavours as a reason.
There’s been so much speculation as to why Ms. LaFlamme was terminated.
Given that she is as gorgeous as a runway model I don’t think it was the hair; given that Sandi Rinaldo is still working at CTV, I don’t think it was ageism.
My speculation is either that her new boss just didn’t like her or that it was a financial decision to rid the company of someone at the top of the compensation mountain in favour of a newer, cheaper flavour of the month.
The optics are bad for CTV and Bell Media and the spinning they’ve been doing isn’t making it any better. I hope they pay a price for this bad decision.
I so admire Ms. LaFlamme, who was a solid presence at the helm of so many important news stories. I really enjoyed her dispatches from the field too. I will miss her. But I suspect that she is going to be just fine and I look forward to seeing where she lands next.
Sally, you’ve hit the nail on the head! I might suggest that your last comment, “why can’t we just grow up for heaven’s sake!” is kinder and more diplomatic than what I would have said. But, I’d be censored!
I was speechless when I heard the news about Lisa LaFlamme. Perhaps this is yet another example of The Old Boys’ Club. Ya think! Interesting that grey-haired men are viewed in a more positive light. I concur that hiring a younger person (without grey hair) does save money and may very well be one another reason for the dismissal of Ms. LaFlamme. Grey hair, female, and 58 are not going to pave the way for you to a job with Bell Media. So it seems.
I would like to comment on this but it would likely not be posted so i’ll just not bother