Off wins ACTRA award

Journalist Carol Off has been named the winner of the John Drainie Award. The award honours those who have made a “distinguished contribution” to Canadian  broadcasting.

Off is currently co-host of CBC’s current affairs radio program As it Happens. She has covered conflicts all over the world, including in the Middle East, Haiti, the Balkans, the former Soviet Union, Europe and Asia, as well as here at home.

Off has made documentaries such as Fatwas and Beauty Queens, Children of Chernobyl and Flight from Bosnia.

She is also author of Bitter Chocolate: Investigating the Dark Side of the World’s Most Seductive Sweet, an investigative work about the international cocoa industry.

Of her winning of the award, Off said:

“There’s no greater honour to receive as a broadcaster than the John Drainie Award. I am thrilled to win but deeply humbled by the company I will keep on its honour role.”

Past recipients of the award include Wendy Mesley, David Suzuki, Shelagh Rogers, Pierre Berton, W.O. Mitchell, Knowlton Nash, Peter Gzowski, Joe Schlesinger, Barbara Frum and Vicki Gabereau.

The award will be presented at a reception this fall.