Canadians are honouring veteran journalist Beverly Thomson who died over the weekend, following a decades-long battle with cancer.
Thomson passed on Sunday morning surrounded by family at age 61, after 23 years of battling the illness.
Known for being a trusted voice on-air for years, her career began at a small radio station in Newmarket, ON. She then worked at what is now known as CityNews 680, and later went on to Global News to anchor their flagship newscast in Toronto for seven years.
Canadian TV personality Leslie Roberts posted a tribute to Thomson, reminiscing on when they were co-hosts on Global News.
Thinking of the family of Beverly Thomson. Solid news anchor, mother and friend. As my first Toronto co-anchor, she always had my back. No one better to have as a "work wife".
— Leslie Roberts 🇨🇦 (@MrLeslieRoberts) September 14, 2025
Bev bravely fought breast cancer for over 2 decades.
She died this morning at age
61. Rest well Bev. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/OJlnKDhLNF
“Solid news anchor, mother and friend,” he wrote. “As my first Toronto co-anchor, she always had my back.”
After Global News, she joined CTV News Toronto as a reporter and took on a co-host job at CTV’s Canada AM from 2003 until its cancellation in 2016. She was most recently a CTV News Channel anchor.
“Bev Thomson was a trusted voice to Canadians and a valued teammate to all of us at CTV News,” Richard Gray, vice-president of news at Bell Media, said in a statement on Sunday.
“Bev’s natural on-air style created an immediate connection with viewers. For decades, she also made a significant impact across the country with her vocal support and advocacy for cancer charities. Bev will be dearly missed by all of us at CTV News. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones,” he continued.
Marci Ien, Jeff Hutcheson, and Seamus O’Regan, fellow journalists and personalities that worked alongside her on the daytime show, released a joint statement honouring her life and impact. The trio described Thomson as “a committed and passionate journalist who persevered at work and in life.”
“Bev was such a good and kind and thoughtful friend,” they wrote.
“We will miss her laugh. When she got going on the show, she couldn’t stop, and then neither could we, and we would laugh until we all cried, well after the show went to black.”
Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and former journalist Evan Solomon said he was “broken hearted” to hear of her death.
“She was not only warm, curious and generous, but also a fiercely talented journalist,” he wrote on X.
Like so many Canadians, I am broken hearted to hear the news about Bev Thomson. She was not only warm, curious and generous, but also a fiercely talented journalist. She beloved by so many at CTV and beyond. Rest in peace Bev. You will be missed. https://t.co/ATKZ0iPVWe
— Evan Solomon (@EvanLSolomon) September 15, 2025
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles also reacted online, saying “we’ve lost a remarkable voice.”
“For decades she was a trusted presence in Canadian journalism, and through her own battle with breast cancer she became a powerful advocate and a source of hope to many,” she said on X.
We’ve lost a remarkable voice in Beverly Thomson. For decades she was a trusted presence in Canadian journalism, and through her own battle with breast cancer she became a powerful advocate and a source of hope to many. My love and condolences go to her family, colleagues, and… https://t.co/pVCXm8SEd7
— Marit Stiles (@MaritStiles) September 15, 2025
Following her own diagnosis in 2002, Thomson became active in breast cancer fundraising and awareness. She became an official spokesperson for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, and in 2019 was awarded the Order of Canada for her volunteer work in fundraising for multiple breast cancer organizations, as well as her contribution to Canadian broadcast.
Last October, Thomson received a lifetime achievement award by the Radio Television Digital News Association of Canada.
She leaves behind two children, Taylor and Robbie.
