TORONTO - CTV's national affairs correspondent Lisa LaFlamme, a hard-nosed journalist who spent much of the last decade covering wars, elections, and natural disasters around the world, is coming in from the field to take over chief anchor duties from departing newscaster Lloyd Robertson.
LaFlamme said Friday that she'll ease into the post gradually over the coming year, frequently filling in for Robertson on "CTV National News" before assuming the position full-time in 2011.
The seasoned reporter said she and Robertson teared up while discussing the transition and that she was excited by what the future holds.
"It's a new challenge for me and I'm ready for it. I'm ready," said LaFlamme. "And I won't be living out of a suitcase," she added, laughing.
The 45-year-old said it's been an overwhelming week since learning Tuesday that she'd eventually take over Canada's highest-rated nightly newscast.
"As you can imagine, replacing Lloyd Robertson -- I don't even think anyone replaces Lloyd Robertson -- so it's just humbling," said LaFlamme.
"And I know that sounds cliche but it's a pretty humbling experience and I just feel so honoured to be doing it."
Robertson welcomed her appointment and said "Canadians will appreciate it's the right choice."
"Lisa is a wonderful talent, a great correspondent," said Robertson, a TV fixture who began his CTV hosting duties in 1976 and became chief anchor in 1983.
"She's done everything that could be done, she wins this on merit, no question about that, and I think she'll be a hands-on anchor."
The 76-year-old Robertson made a show of literally passing the anchor chair to LaFlamme during a small press conference at the CTV newsroom. LaFlamme joked the seat had been set too high and she'd have to make some adjustments.
With her promotion, LaFlamme is believed to be Canada's first full-time female anchor to helm one of the three major English-language national flagship newscasts. It's an honour she doesn't take lightly, although she downplays its significance somewhat.
"I really believe there's been so many fabulous, accomplished women in this industry over the years, I mean, many of them are the women I grew up watching: Pam Wallin, Barbara Frum," she said.
"I've always felt ... that hard work, and in this case good news judgment, sort of neutralizes the gender issue. And CTV has always given me every opportunity, it's not about whether you're a man or a woman, it's about how you do the job.
"But I am getting a lot of high fives from my girlfriends and the women I work with."
LaFlamme is no stranger to high-profile hosting duties. She's been a fill-in host for "CTV National News" since 2003 and before that, co-hosted "Canada AM," the network's national morning show.
Her extensive reporting career includes stints in Iraq, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Haiti, and as a political correspondent for "CTV News" in Ottawa.
LaFlamme said she'll continue to indulge in on-the-ground reports from behind the anchor desk, noting that the newscast often travels to the heart of the news during major events like the last Winter Olympics.
She counts her live coverage of the G20 meetings in Toronto as one of the most important assignments of her career.
"That was a really difficult time in the history of Toronto," she said.
"It's interesting because I had been in many war zones, Iraq, Afghanistan, various riots and G8 summits around the world -- and all those things have been important news stories -- but I recognized almost immediately this one, on the streets of Toronto, resonated so much with Canadians.
"It had a more intense meaning behind it."
LaFlamme takes over from a veteran newsman regarded as one of Canada's most familiar and trusted faces on television.
Robertson announced Thursday that he will retire as CTV's chief anchor in the middle of 2011 but will move on to other roles within the network, including co-host of the current affairs series "W5."
By the time Robertson steps down, he will have marked 35 years with network, and 28 years presenting its flagship news program.
Robertson boasts more than 50 years in the business and was voted Canada's most trusted news anchor by TV Guide readers for 11 years in a row.
