CTV Northern Ontario producer wins lifetime achievement award

A woman who has worked for CTV News Northern Ontario for 50 years was honoured Tuesday night with a lifetime achievement award.

CTV News Northern Ontario producer Lillian Pakula (right) accepts RTDNA Canada lifetime achievement award. Oct. 1, 2024 (Supplied)

Lillian Pakula – known behind the scenes as Lily or Lil -- was called a guiding force for many in the journalism industry by RTDNA Canada President Lis Travers in a news release.

When Lily started in the master control department at Mid Canada Television (MCTV) in 1974, Mary Tyler Moore was on air.

Much like Moore's character, Pakula worked hard to make a name for herself in a male-dominated industry.

Five decades later, the Sudbury TV station is completely managed by women and the number of women working at the station outnumber the men.

Pakula has served in various technical roles over the years and is currently the technical producer for the live newscasts weeknights at 5, 6 and 11:30.

"I've been through so many changes, technological changes, from film to tape to file from Telex to Fax to smartphones, from microwave to satellite to fibre," she said in an award acceptance video.

"Those were some major changes, but embracing each and every change has been both challenging and rewarding."

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Lily also remarked that while the technical delivery of news has changed, the passion and pride of news gathering and all the people involved in presenting it haven't.

As one of four recipients of the lifetime achievement award for the central region, she attended the RTDNA awards gala in Toronto on Tuesday night where she received a plaque.

"It’s hard to believe in this day and age where people have to work multiple (jobs) that someone would reach 50 years," Travers said.