#49 Tess Van Straaten: Destroying Double Standards

Women in MediaWomen in BroadcastingWomen in Television

Jan 9

I'm, laughing. Tess is laughing. Why are we still policing what women wear on television in 2023? My first guest of the year is Tess van Straaten, an award-winning journalist, weather anchor & host for Chek News in Victoria. She's been working in broadcasting for 20+ years and you'll hear more about her story from Ontario to Victoria and everywhere in between. She is a fourth-generation Victorian, went to Carleton University in Ottawa and got her first big break working on Parliament Hill as a reporter. Anchor jobs across the country followed before Tess moved back to Victoria and joined CHEK News in 2009.

A photo of Chek News Weather Anchor Tess van Straaten smiling with earrings and a blue neckleace.

Over the years, Tess has interviewed three of the last four prime ministers, broke many stories of national interest and had her reports air on CTV National News, CBC Newsworld and CNN. Career highlights include covering Royal Visits, going to Hudson Bay to see how climate change is affecting polar bears, and landing a coveted interview with a sky-diving wiener dog.

Tess was also awarded a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal for her volunteer work. An avid traveller, Tess has been to more than 50 countries on six continents and lived ‘Down Under’ in Australia for three years.

Read more about her viral sleeveless story HERE.