Shelagh Rogers


Shelagh Rogers, OC, is a Canadian broadcast journalist based in British Columbia. She is the host and producer of CBC Radio One's The Next Chapter, and chancellor of the University of Victoria.

Background

Rogers grew up in Ottawa, Ontario. Rogers began in broadcasting at CFRC, the campus radio station of Queen's University. She also worked at Kingston, Ontario's CKWS, hosting a country music program while still a student at Queen's. She later went on to produce a daily current affairs TV show and served as the station's late-night weather presenter.
Rogers graduated from Queen's University's arts program in 1977.

CBC Radio

In 1980, she joined CBC radio in Ottawa, hosting local current affairs programs and jazz and classical music broadcasts. In 1982, she became host of the national classical concert program Mostly Music.
In 1984, she moved to CBC Toronto. In addition to hosting local programs, she became a frequent contributor to many national shows, including Morningside and Basic Black. She was also the founding host of The Arts Tonight.
She became a frequent guest host of Morningside, and in 1995 the program's host, Peter Gzowski, named Rogers the show's permanent guest host.
In 1997, Rogers moved to CBC Radio Two as host of Take Five. During this time, Rogers was also a contributor to TVOntario's book program, Imprint, and host of Saturday Night at the Movies.
In 2000, Rogers returned to Radio One as host of This Morning, which she hosted for two years. In 2002, she became host of Sounds Like Canada.
Rogers left Sounds Like Canada at the end of May 2008. She is now the host and a producer of The Next Chapter, an award-winning weekly show about writers and writing in Canada.
In June 2011, she was inducted as an honorary witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
Also in 2011, she was named an Officer of the Order of Canada "for her contributions as a promoter of Canadian culture, and for her volunteer work in the fields of mental health and literacy." Her Order of Canada citation reads: "Shelagh Rogers is a passionate journalist, activist and promoter of all things Canadian. A nationally renowned radio broadcaster, she is best known for hosting the CBC’s “This Morning” and “Sounds Like Canada.” Also highly regarded for her advocacy work, she has spoken out to help destigmatize mental illness, and has raised awareness and funds for adult literacy initiatives. She now champions reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people as an honorary witness to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada."
Rogers is the co-editor of Speaking My Truth: Reflections on Reconciliation and Residential School, Reconciliation and the Way Forward and Speaking My Truth: A Journey to Reconciliation.
She was appointed Chancellor of the University of Victoria for a 3-year term beginning January 1, 2015 and was officially sworn into the position on June 8, 2015.

Awards and accolades