Tony Grace says goodbye to CTV Kitchener
After four years in Kitchener, and 22 years with CTV, Tony Grace is taking his talent to CTV National News.
On his last week at CTV Kitchener before embarking on a new adventure, he sat down with CTV’s Leighanne Evans to look back at some of his memories in Waterloo Region.
Tony has been in the industry for 26 years and said there’s always been something extra special about telling local news stories.
“The family environment in the newsrooms, in the communities where you live, you see people who watch on a regular basis. You meet them at the grocery store and at the gas station – just living out in the community. And there’s something that’s always been so fulfilling about that,” Tony said.
He said he’s grown to love Waterloo Region, and it’s difficult to leave such a great local news team, but he’s also up for a new challenge.
“I feel ready,” he told Leighanne.
In addition to his duties at CTV Kitchener, Tony has also been occasionally filling in as a backup anchor on CTV News Channel since 2021.
He says delivering breaking news to a national audience is an incredible responsibility which he’s grown to enjoy.
While he’s excited about the new chapter, he says saying goodbye to Waterloo Region and the connections he’s made isn’t easy.
“We show up for each other every day. We show up for one another. This is a team sport. We’re part of each other’s lives,” he said about his coworkers at CTV Kitchener. “This is a family.”
“You made this newsroom whole. We’re going to miss you so much,” said Leighanne.
Leighanne also asked some bucket list question to lighten the mood that included his dream interview, favourite food and places.
ON TO NATIONAL NEWS
Tony said he’s looking forward to being a part of the national team, sharing the day’s news to the country, at a time when accurate, credible information has never been more important.
“The opportunity to be part of a team that delivers that on a national level is going to be an incredible privilege.”
Tony starts his role at CTV National News on Sunday.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW
NEW Amid concern over Canadians going hungry, Conservatives criticized for voting against school food bill
As Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre continues to voice concern over the increase in food bank usage, his party is being criticized by some for voting against a private member's bill that would advance a framework for a national school food program.
BREAKING
BREAKING Cindy Woodhouse to be AFN national chief after David Pratt concedes
Cindy Woodhouse will be the new national chief of the Assembly of First Nations after David Pratt conceded the election following six rounds of voting.
Canada being hit by 3 separate storm systems: Here's where
Winter weather is underway in parts of Canada with three storm systems bringing messy conditions from B.C. to Newfoundland and Labrador.
HIV diagnoses hit 10-year high in Montreal, cases more than double between 2021-22
Public health officials say they recorded in 2022 the highest number of new HIV diagnoses in 10 years in the city of Montreal and its on-island suburbs. Data shared last week shows the number of new reported HIV cases more than doubled between 2021 and 2022, to 310 from 141.
Joly condemns Hamas rapes of Israeli women after weeks of pressure
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is condemning sexual violence committed by Hamas during its attack on Israel, after weeks of pressure to speak out.
Calgary mayor won't attend annual menorah lighting ceremony
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek won't be attending this year's annual menorah lighting, a ceremony that marks the beginning of Hanukkah.
Amanda Todd's mom urges more jail time for tormentor, as Dutch court mulls sentence
The mother of B.C. teenager Amanda Todd, who was bullied into suicide by a Dutch national, says she'll be “so angry” if a court in Amsterdam doesn't give him significant extra jail time on the basis of his Canadian conviction last year.
A massive garden light display is one of the newest holiday traditions in St. John's
The Merry and Bright light festival has illuminated the botanical gardens in St. John's, N.L. for seven years, and it just keeps getting bigger.
The stunning 30-hour train ride that sells out in seconds
Historically a commuter train from Ankara to Kars, the train has gone viral among Turkish influencers in recent years for its stunning scenery through the east, full of off-the-beaten-path treasures.
London
-
14-year-old pedestrian killed in hit-and-run
Just before 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, OPP and EMS responded to the scene of a crash between a car and a pedestrian on Fairground Road near Cultus.
-
Crossing the street a little 'out of reach' in Old East Village
A London woman has generated some buzz on social media after a post on Facebook from an Old East Village neighbourhood.
-
More beds being added to Children's Hospital ED
The emergency department at Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre is expanding.
Windsor
-
'It’s the talk of the town': Here’s what you need to know to enter the EV auto sector
Workforce Windsor-Essex has launched a website specifically designed to outline skills required to get into the industry.
-
Woman charged with impaired driving after fatal west end crash
Windsor police are investigating a serious collision in the west end.
-
271 ER trips diverted by Nurse Police Team
Windsor police say the Nurse Police Team has diverted 271 visits to hospital emergency departments in almost seven months.
Barrie
-
Penetanguishene jail guard arrested for bringing contraband items inside facility: OPP
A guard at the superjail in Penetanguishene faces several charges for allegedly bringing contraband items into the correctional facility.
-
3 suspects break into house in Barrie neighbourhood
Police hope to identify a suspect wanted in connection with a break-in at a house in Barrie.
-
Barrie man faces child pornography charges after lengthy police investigation
A 37-year-old man faces charges in connection with a child exploitation investigation in Barrie.
Northern Ontario
-
North Bay police use drone, thermal imaging to catch suspect on the run
A North Bay suspect who fled police on an ATV into the woods was captured using a drone with night vision.
-
Information of hundreds of drivers trafficked in auto-theft ring involving ServiceOntario employees: police
Toronto police say the information of hundreds of drivers in the province was trafficked to suspects allegedly running an auto-theft ring involving employees at ServiceOntario.
-
Driver ticketed for hauling trailer with dolly strapped to in place of wheel
A provincial police officer with a keen eye conducted a traffic stop after spotting a vehicle featuring a rather unconventional "quick fix" in Penetanguishene.
Ottawa
-
Ottawa issues $400,000 in fines for violating winter weather parking ban during first storm of the season
Bylaw officers buried Ottawa motorists in parking tickets for violating the winter weather parking ban during the first significant snowstorm of the season.
-
Shooting at Hull home had the wrong target, Gatineau police say
No one was hurt when several shots were fired at a home on rue Saint-Hyacinthe at approximately 12 a.m. on Wednesday.
-
Ottawa home sales slow as interest rate brings about hesitancy
Ottawa's real estate market typically slows down during the colder months of the year, and this year is shaping up to be no exception.
Toronto
-
Toronto sees first snowfall of the season, but when will it melt?
Torontonians woke up to the first snowfall of the season Thursday morning as three to six centimetres of the white stuff blanketed the city overnight.
-
Police release image of suspects wanted in Yorkdale Cartier store smash-and-grab
Toronto police have released images of three of the four suspects allegedly responsible for a smash-and-grab robbery at a high-end jewelry store at Yorkdale Shopping Centre earlier this week.
-
'We're still together': Family, friends testify in defence of Toronto mother, once convicted of killing disabled daughter
Taking the stand for a second time in her life, Amanda Ali rejected prosecutor’s suggestions that her mother smothered her disabled teenage sister in an act of mercy at their Scarborough townhouse in 2011, instead detailing a loving and happy home life.
Montreal
-
Union negotiations: Legault 'very open on monetary issues'
While Premier François Legault says he's 'very open on monetary issues' in exchange for more flexibility on the part of unions in managing public services, the Common Front counters that 'their flexibility means ripping pages out of our collective agreements.'
-
HIV diagnoses hit 10-year high in Montreal, cases more than double between 2021-22
Public health officials say they recorded in 2022 the highest number of new HIV diagnoses in 10 years in the city of Montreal and its on-island suburbs. Data shared last week shows the number of new reported HIV cases more than doubled between 2021 and 2022, to 310 from 141.
-
Quebec adds $8 million to food banks coffers
Faced with worsening food insecurity, Quebec is extending another $8 million to food banks in the province, bringing total assistance to $18 million, the amount the group initially requested.
Atlantic
-
Here's how much more it's expected to cost to feed a family of 4 in Canada next year
A new report by more than 30 researchers is estimating how much food will cost in 2024 and how much money it will take to feed families.
-
Nova Scotia information commissioner to investigate file-sharing cybersecurity breach
Nova Scotia's information and privacy commissioner has launched an investigation into the theft of personal information from a file-transfer system used by the provincial government.
-
Road rage suspect hit by car in Saint John: police
Police in Saint John, N.B., say they are searching for witnesses and video following a road rage incident on Highway 1 around noon Tuesday.
Winnipeg
-
Slew of heat records broken in Manitoba
A number of southern Manitoba cities, towns and communities broke heat records on Wednesday, with above-seasonal temperatures expected to continue for the next few days.
-
BREAKING
BREAKING Cindy Woodhouse to be AFN national chief after David Pratt concedes
Cindy Woodhouse will be the new national chief of the Assembly of First Nations after David Pratt conceded the election following six rounds of voting.
-
Bills to commemorate Orange Shirt Day and Louis Riel pass final vote in Manitoba
A bill to make Orange Shirt day a statutory holiday in Manitoba has passed its final vote in the legislature.
Calgary
-
Calgary mayor won't attend annual menorah lighting ceremony
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek won't be attending this year's annual menorah lighting, a ceremony that marks the beginning of Hanukkah.
-
Oil and gas sector warns emissions cap could lead to production curtailments
Canada's oil and gas industry says the emissions cap framework announced by Ottawa could result in significant production curtailments by companies.
-
Calgarians greeted by snow following weeks of warm weather
After enjoying a month of above seasonal temperatures, residents in Calgary are being reminded of winter and all the cold temperatures and slippery roads that come with it.
Edmonton
-
Woman killed by police in southeast Edmonton
Edmonton police shot and killed a woman in southeast Edmonton on Wednesday.
-
5 accused of uploading, accessing child sexual abuse material in Grande Prairie
Five people in Grande Prairie were recently charged with accessing, possessing and transmitting child pornography.
-
Alberta Pension Protection Act passes third reading in early morning vote
The Alberta Pension Protection Act passed its third reading early Thursday morning.
Vancouver
-
Amanda Todd's mom urges more jail time for tormentor, as Dutch court mulls sentence
The mother of B.C. teenager Amanda Todd, who was bullied into suicide by a Dutch national, says she'll be “so angry” if a court in Amsterdam doesn't give him significant extra jail time on the basis of his Canadian conviction last year.
-
'Targeted' shooting in Mission Superstore parking lot leaves man seriously injured
A shooting in a Superstore parking lot in Mission left one man seriously injured Wednesday evening, according to authorities.
-
Men charged with assault with a weapon, forcible confinement in 'targeted' incident on Vancouver Island
Mounties on Vancouver Island say two men are facing multiple charges after investigators found evidence that another man had been forcibly confined and assaulted with a weapon.
