Sandie Rinaldo

Early life and education

Sandie Rinaldo was born Sandra Brycks on 16 January 1950 in Toronto, Ontario. Her first appearances on television came during her teenage years in the mid-1960s, not as a journalist but as a dancer on CBC Television youth series such as Where It's At. She pursued higher education at York University, enrolling in its Fine Arts program. Rinaldo graduated in 1973 with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree, a credential that would soon launch her into the professional world of broadcast news. Her background in the arts provided a unique foundation for a career that would later blend performance with rigorous journalism.

Career at CTV News

Rinaldo's entire professional broadcasting career has been with the CTV Television Network, beginning just one week after her university graduation in 1973. She started in a clerical role, working as a junior secretary to the network's director of news, Donald Cameron. Her talent and drive led to rapid promotions, first to production manager and then to a research role for the investigative program W5. She also began reporting for flagship programs like CTV National News and the morning show Canada AM, building a reputation as a capable and insightful journalist. In 1980, Rinaldo achieved a historic milestone when she was named the anchor for the newscasts on Canada AM. This appointment made her the first woman in Canada to hold a full-time position as a national news anchor, breaking a significant barrier in the industry.

Five years later, in 1985, she transitioned to the role of weekend anchor for CTV National News, a position she has held consistently ever since, apart from a brief period from 1989 to 1991. During that interval, she co-anchored the local World Beat News on CFTO, CTV's Toronto affiliate, alongside Tom Gibney. Following the retirement of longtime weekday anchor Lloyd Robertson in 2011, Rinaldo frequently served as the substitute anchor for his successor, Lisa LaFlamme, on the main weekday national newscast. Since 2009, she has also anchored the CTV News Channel on three weekday afternoons each week. Her role expanded in 2023 when CTV launched a new early edition of CTV National News airing at 5:30 p.m., with Rinaldo as its anchor. This newscast continues to air as of 2026, solidifying her ongoing presence in Canadian evening news.

Landmark interviews and career highlights

Over her long career, Sandie Rinaldo has conducted interviews with a wide array of prominent figures from entertainment, music, and public life. Her notable interviewees have included Canadian comedy icon John Candy, legendary singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, and reggae superstar Bob Marley. These conversations demonstrated her versatility and ability to connect with subjects beyond hard news. In 2023, CTV celebrated Rinaldo's 50th anniversary with the network by broadcasting a one-hour retrospective special about her career on 12 May. The special, titled Sandie Rinaldo's 50/50, featured her reflecting on her career and, for the first time, opening up about aspects of her personal life in a public forum. Throughout her tenure, Rinaldo has been known for her skill in getting interview subjects to reveal a more personal side.

She has described her approach as trying to get Canadian politicians, celebrities, and sports heroes to pull back the veil and show a dimension beyond their public persona. This technique has contributed to her enduring appeal and the depth of her reporting. Her work has also extended to producing and writing, with credits on programs like E.N.G. and the award-winning documentary Childbirth: From the Inside Out. The documentary on childbirth earned her an American Film & Video Award in 1990, an achievement that highlights her ability to tackle complex and intimate subjects with journalistic integrity and skill.

Awards and recognition

Sandie Rinaldo's journalistic work has been recognized with numerous awards from industry organizations and festivals. Her honours span several years and categories, reflecting excellence in newscast production, anchoring, and documentary filmmaking. The list includes the Bryden Alumni Award from York University in 2005 and an RTNDA award for Best Newscast for coverage in 1999. International recognition came from festivals in New York and Houston, with medals awarded for her anchoring and news story analysis in the early 1990s. These awards demonstrate the consistent quality and professional respect associated with her work. The Bryden Alumni Award specifically acknowledges her distinguished career and her status as an accomplished graduate of York University, linking her success back to her academic beginnings.

• Bryden Alumni Award from York University (2005)
• RTNDA award for Best Newscast for coverage (1999)
• World Medal from the International Film and TV Festival, New York (1997)
• Finalist Certificate for Best News Anchor, International Film and TV Festival, New York (1991)
• Silver Medal for Best Coverage of an Ongoing News Story, International Film and TV Festival, New York (1991)
• Bronze Medal for Best News Anchor, International Film & TV Festival, New York (1990)
• Silver Medal for Best Analysis of a Single Current News Story, Houston International Film Festival (1990)
• American Film & Video Award for Childbirth From Inside-Out (1990)

Sandie Rinaldo won an American Film & Video Award in 1990 for the documentary "Childbirth From Inside-Out." This award recognized her work beyond daily news reporting. She also received a World Medal from the International Film and TV Festival in New York in 1997. In the early 1990s, she earned a Finalist Certificate for Best News Anchor from the same festival. She won multiple Silver and Bronze medals from the International Film and TV Festival in New York for her anchoring and news coverage. These awards indicate sustained international acclaim for her work throughout the 1990s.

Personal life

Sandie Rinaldo was married to Michael Rinaldo, who was born around 1945 and passed away in 2005. Together they had three daughters. Rinaldo is Jewish and is the daughter of Holocaust survivors, a background that has informed her perspective and life experiences. While she has historically kept her private life separate from her public role, the 2023 anniversary special provided a platform for her to discuss her family and personal history more openly with viewers. This revelation added a deeper layer of understanding about the resilience and determination that have characterized her five-decade career in journalism. Her personal story of being the child of survivors connects to a broader narrative of perseverance that resonates with many Canadians.

Questions about Sandie Rinaldo

How long has Sandie Rinaldo been with CTV News?

Sandie Rinaldo has been with CTV News for over 50 years. She joined the network in 1973, immediately after graduating from university, and celebrated her 50th anniversary in 2023. CTV marked the occasion with a one-hour retrospective special about her career. She remains an active anchor for the network as of 2026.

What is Sandie Rinaldo's current role on CTV?

As of 2026, Sandie Rinaldo anchors an early evening edition of CTV National News at 5:30 p.m. She has been the weekend anchor of CTV National News since 1985. Since 2009, she has also been anchoring CTV News Channel three weekday afternoons. She is a co-host of W5 and a contributing reporter.

What awards has Sandie Rinaldo won?

Sandie Rinaldo won the Bryden Alumni Award from York University in 2005. She received an RTNDA award for Best Newscast in 1999. She won a World Medal from the International Film and TV Festival in New York in 1997. She earned a Finalist Certificate for Best News Anchor from the same festival in 1991. She also won Silver and Bronze medals from the International Film and TV Festival in New York in the early 1990s. She received a Silver Medal from the Houston International Film Festival in 1990. She won an American Film & Video Award for "Childbirth From Inside-Out" in 1990.

What is Sandie Rinaldo's background?

Sandie Rinaldo was born Sandra Brycks in Toronto on 16 January 1950. She is a graduate of York University's Fine Arts program. She is Jewish and the daughter of Holocaust survivors. She was married to Michael Rinaldo until his death in 2005, and they have three daughters together. Before journalism, she appeared on CBC Television as a dancer in youth programming during the 1960s.

What was Sandie Rinaldo's historic first?

Sandie Rinaldo became anchor for the newscasts on Canada AM in 1980, making her the first woman in Canada to hold a full time position as a national news anchor. She achieved this milestone after advancing through various roles at CTV News, where she started as a junior secretary after graduating from York University in 1973. Her career at CTV began a week after her graduation and she worked as a production manager and researcher for W5 before her historic appointment. This pioneering role established her as a trailblazer for women in Canadian broadcast journalism. She has since maintained a prominent anchoring position for decades, most notably as the weekend anchor of CTV National News since 1985.

Who are some famous people Sandie Rinaldo has interviewed?

Sandie Rinaldo has interviewed several top celebrities during her broadcasting career, including John Candy, Gordon Lightfoot, and Bob Marley. These interviews were conducted throughout her long tenure at CTV News, where she has served as an anchor and reporter on programs like CTV National News and Canada AM. Her role as an interviewer allowed her to engage with prominent figures from the worlds of comedy, music, and entertainment. This aspect of her work contributed to her reputation as a seasoned and respected journalist. Her career retrospective special in 2023, celebrating 50 years with CTV, also highlighted her notable interviews and conversations with Canadian politicians, celebrities, and sports heroes.

Sources and further reading

• Sandie Rinaldo (Wikipedia)
• CTV National News with Sandie Rinaldo - 2026 (primevideo.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-27.