Lillian Pakula, or Lily as CTV Northern Ontario knows her as, has been a guiding force for many in the journalism industry over the last 50 years. It’s hard to believe in this day and age where people have to work multiple shops that someone would reach 50 years. She’s seen our TV station as an editor/director through countless transitions, owners, and management.

She’s worked with the best of the best in the industry, helping them to shape their own journeys as they move onto bigger stations, bigger cities and new adventures around the world. She’s been a mentor to many of us working in the building who look to her for guidance, input on our own craft, and she always wants us to succeed. She’s all of this on top of doing her daily job as an incredible editor/director in the building.

She’s worked alongside us, and she would be an incredible asset to honour as one of those amazing people behind the scenes who help us tell the stories that are important to are viewers. CTV Northern Ontario or MCTV as the Northerners still call us may be an institution, but Lily Pakula is our own institution. I can’t imagine our operation without her.

Nominator: Ian Campbell, CTV Northern Ontario