A well-known face to Torontonians everywhere, Gord Martineau signed off as anchor of the six o’clock news for the last time and left the newsroom he has personified for nearly four decades. A leading figure in Canadian news broadcasting and a Toronto television icon, the veteran news anchor stepped down from the position after a record 39 years in the newsroom.
“Gord is the one of the most beloved anchors in the country,” said Dave Budge, General Manager, CityNews Toronto. “Gord has been a trusted face invited into the homes of our viewers for the past four decades and a leader in the vision of City. We look forward to working with Gord on the Herbie Fund, an organization that is dear to all of us and enriches the lives of children around the world.”
CityNews will pay homage to Martineau’s landmark career this week during the evening and late night newscasts, reflecting on his most memorable moments, ground-breaking interviews, and heartfelt moments from the past four decades. Details of Martineau’s succession plan will be announced in the coming weeks.
Martineau began his career with City back in 1977 as anchor of CityPulse. A Montreal-native, Martineau easily adapted to the Toronto environment and became an important part of the community, bringing a new brand of newscast to Torontonians. Throughout the years, he led coverage of the biggest local stories of our time, from Terry Fox’s heroic marathon run, to international affairs including Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan, and the events surrounding former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
During his time at City, Martineau received many respected awards honouring his work. Most recently, Martineau was part of the team awarded the 2024 Canadian Screen Award for “Best Local Newscast” for CityNews at 6. In 2024, he was recognized with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal. Martineau has also been awarded with a Gemini Award for “Canada’s Best News Anchor”, a Gemini Humanitarian Award, and a RTNDA Canada Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.
Martineau is committed to giving back to the community, most remarkably with the Herbie Fund, a foundation in support of The Hospital for Sick Children. Acting as the organization’s Goodwill Ambassador, Martineau has highlighted the efforts of the Herbie Fund year-by-year during a week-long CityNews television special. He has also travelled around the world to meet with former patients who received life-saving surgeries at SickKids made possible by the fund.