24 ~ Sunday. September 15, 1991 - Norih Shore News Jan Tennant enjoying time of her life CBC’s first woman announcer now makes North Shore home “IT’S A Leave it To Beaver-type rancher,”’ says freelance broadcaster Jan Tennant cheerfully, at the end of a detail- ~ NEWS photo Mike Wakelieid Jan Tennant has plenty to smile about. She Is enjoying life on the West Coast, and always one te accepi interesting oppor- tunities, has remained busy with an assortment of projects, which indlude hosting the upcoming television series The Time of Your Life. Planning to move? be sure to call Veena} SINCE 1930 926-2753 or 980-9738 % 5% CAC TP, $19,152 17398 aor ABS, Anti-lock broke system. Air conditioning. Power windows wilh one- touch open feature for driver's window. Central locking. Metailic and black paint. AMIFM stereolcassette with anti-theft feature. Front and rear speakers. ed explanation on how to home. The comment gives insight intc Tennant’s character. Although a well-known talent in the broadcast industry, Tennant shows a modes- ty not always observed in high profile people. She sounds like a down-to-earth person with a delightful sense of humor. The easy-to-follow instructions lead directly to the elegantly fur- nished but comfortable home she shares with retired television pro- ducer George Robertson. Two-and-a-half years ago, the couple moved to the West Coast from Toronto. Robertson, 62, a handsome, trim-looking man, originally from Vancouver, was more than keen on the idea. And Tennant, who locks healthy, happy, and considerably younger than her 54 years. is pleased with the move. “| haven't had any home- sickness or any problems ad- justing. 1 think it is absolutely wonderful here — I love it.” Tennant was born and raised in Toronto, where, for close to two decades she made an indelible im- _ print on the broadcast industry. She was the first female an- nouncer hired by the CBC, the first woman to anchor The Na- tional, and is considered to be among the best — and mosi credentialed — broadcasters in Canada. But Tennant was not goal- driven to the much-envied position of anchorwoman. She was, however, determined to seize opportunities that came her way, and to work at a career that she found interesting. After graduating from the Uni- versity of Toronto with an honors degree in health and_ physical education, she embarked on Saab 9600S Saab ABS +3, Anti-lock Graking System. a conditioning. ruise trol. i WITH $5,000 Light alloy wheels. | Central tocking. DOWN PAYMENT Electrically adjystabie, heated TP. $28,752 exterior rearview mirrors. Leather upholstery. Fog tamps. Anti-theft alarm. Electrically operated steel suntaot. $599). 7.9% 48 MONTHS LEASE locate her West Vancouver By Ann Hamilton News Reporter various short-lived careers, in- chiding school teacher, model, ex- ercise instructor and assistant wardrobe mistress. Her introduction to the broad- cast industry came in October 1967 when she was hired as the secretary of a half-hour current affairs prugram at the CBC. Hard work and dedication resulted in a promotion to script assistant a year later. For the next two years she worked on a myriad of projects. **E did whatever came along — Take 30, The National, the supper hour (news) show, The Nature of Things — | was always learning, it was an interesting experience. ‘*Then,’’ she says casually, ‘‘! auditioned for an announcer’s position. ht didn’t occur to me that I should be scared, and that this was a big deal, so | just went in and did the audition. I didn’t expect to be hired because there weren’t any woman announcers.”’ Bit the Royal Coinmission on the Status of Women had recently recommended that Crown cor- Porations — tax supported agen- cies — give more equal oppor- tunities to female employees. The task force recommendations coupled with Tennant’s depen- dability and authoritative voice contributed to her appointment as the CBC's first female announcer. Over the next 12 years, Ten- nant’s voice was welcomed into Canadian homes via CBC radio and tetevision. Among other FOR A FREE ESTIMATE VISIT OUR SHOWROOM 985-9527 FAX 985-1452 © NAME: Jan Tennant © BORN: Toronto, Ontario © RESIDENCE: West Vancouver ®* EDUCATION: University of Toronto graduate , * OCCUPATION: Broadcaster ¢ HOBBIES: Gardening, ting, decorating, cooking Freelance travel- things, she worked on news pro- grams and spent nine years as host of Reach for the Top, which was added to her agenda when the former host, Alex Trebek, resign- ed to pursue a career in the Unit- ed States. Tennant later joined the Global Television Network where she spent five years as anchorwoman. But it was while she was working in FM radio, doing CBC's Listen To the Music, that she and Robertson decided to move to the North Shore. Tennant, now semi-retired, doesn’t rest on her laurels. She remains active as 2 freelance an- nouncer, and the phone continues to ring with offers for new challenges. _ Recent ventures include a series on energy for the Knowledge Network, and a documentary about Rideau Hall — a joint ef- fort by Radio Canada and Access TV, which is yet to be released. When she speaks about her cur- rent undertaking, a television series called The Time of Your Life, which focuses on the lifestyles of people aged 45 and older, Tennant’s voice is punc- tuated with enthusiasm. “The show is an_ interesting idea, because we are all interested in what people are doing with their lives. The program is gentle, not confrontational, and we don’t 1300 LLOYD AVE., N.VAN. V7P 339