Liz Pettapiece-Phillips holds a unique distinction: she was the very first person born in Manitouwadge — delivered at one of the mine’s safety offices before the town even had a hospital. From that beginning in a brand-new mining camp, she went on to build a remarkable 36-year career at the CBC in Toronto.
She served as Associate Director on The National, Canada’s flagship newscast, and developed a training program for news associate directors. As a certified Project Manager, she organized crew and broadcast logistics for some of the CBC’s biggest productions — Dragons’ Den, The Fifth Estate, Marketplace, Canada Day specials, and The Tragically Hip’s final concert.
After retiring from the CBC, Liz returned to southwestern Ontario to teach at St. Clair College. She has also mentored new immigrants through the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council.
“If anyone had told me as a young girl growing up in the small town of Manitouwadge that I could have such an interesting and varied career,” she once said, “I probably wouldn’t have believed them.”
