Ageism in Canada
A famous Canadian TV anchor was fired after 25 years for going gray.
Lisa LaFlamme was the host of one of Canada's most popular late-night shows for 35 years. She recently posted a two-minute video announcing that she had been fired for refusing to cover her gray hair. Outraged subscribers began circulating the video, and it quickly gained more than 4 million views.
The presenter says, "I’m still shocked and saddened. At 58, I still thought I’d have a lot more time to tell more of the stories that impact our daily lives."
LaFlamme has been covering conflict zones and devastating disaster scenes. She recently won best presenter at the Canadian Screen Awards. Dissatisfaction with her dismissal is sweeping the Canadian media, with statements from prominent figures in politics and business.
The most pressing issue was ageism, which is not often seen in progressive Canada: the recent expert discussions on the topic of labour shortages suggest that the country not only welcomes the participation of older people in any industry, but also plans to bring back those who have already retired. The presenter, who is only 58 years old, is far from a "senior citizen," but nevertheless, her services are no longer needed.
Arlene Dickinson, a prominent investor, praised LaFlamme for "aging gracefully" on national television and for inspiring other women. Dickinson added that she considered the termination of the anchor's contract a manifestation of female ageism and accused the CTV News team of discrimination.
The full article is only available to members of the Immigrant.Today community. Log in to your account to read it for free.
