Ian Hanomansing

Early Life and Education

Ian Harvey Hanomansing was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago to parents of Indian descent. He immigrated to Canada with his family, where he was raised in Sackville, New Brunswick, alongside his sister Ria by their parents Eunice and Harvey. His first foray into broadcasting came immediately after high school in 1979, when he took a job at a radio station in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Hanomansing pursued higher education at Mount Allison University, graduating in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in political science and sociology. He then attended Dalhousie Law School in Halifax, earning his law degree in 1986, though he would soon choose a career in journalism rather than law.

Broadcasting Career Beginnings

Hanomansing's professional media career began in the summer after his law school graduation at radio station CKDH in Amherst, Nova Scotia. He quickly moved through other Maritime stations, including CKCW in Moncton, New Brunswick and CHNS in Halifax. In 1986, he joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, marking the start of a long and distinguished tenure with the public broadcaster. His early years with the CBC saw him working as a reporter for bureaus in the Maritimes and in Toronto, Ontario, gaining experience that would form the foundation of his national reporting. His relocation to Vancouver opened new opportunities, leading to roles as a network reporter and host of several programs including the international affairs show Pacific Rim Report, the documentary series Foreign Assignment, and Times 7, a news program produced in collaboration with The New York Times.

During his time based in Vancouver, Hanomansing also hosted a summer series on CBC Radio One called Feeling the Heat. This work demonstrated his adaptability across different media formats. He had previously hosted other programs such as Pacific Rim Report and Foreign Assignment. This period established him as a versatile broadcaster capable of handling complex national and international stories.

National Prominence and Anchoring Roles

Hanomansing's profile grew significantly when he was named the anchor of the national segment of the supper hour program Canada Now, a role he held from 2000 until the show's cancellation in 2007. He then became co-anchor of the local CBC News: Vancouver supper hour newscast from 2007 to 2010. A return to national reporting for The National in 2010 was followed by his hosting of the weeknight program CBC News Now with Ian Hanomansing, which broadcast live from Vancouver from 2012 to 2017. A major career milestone came on August 1, 2017, when he was announced as one of four new co-anchors for The National, alongside Adrienne Arsenault, Rosemary Barton and Andrew Chang.

In this role, Hanomansing specifically anchors the Friday and Sunday editions of the flagship newscast. His responsibilities expanded again in 2020 when he was named the interim host of CBC Radio One's national call in show, Cross Country Checkup, while regular host Duncan McCue was on sabbatical. His stewardship of the program was made permanent in 2022, solidifying his role as a key facilitator of the national conversation. His most recent venture is the launch of Hanomansing Tonight, a nightly primetime news program on CBC News Network that began on February 18, 2025, and is broadcast live from Vancouver.

Innovative Journalism and Special Projects

Throughout his career, Hanomansing has been recognized for creating ambitious and impactful live news specials that tackled difficult subjects. In November 1998, during a declared public health emergency, he hosted Downtown Drugs, a special broadcast from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside that reported on a crisis of fatal drug overdoses. Another landmark broadcast was Crime on the Streets in March 2005, which was partially broadcast live from Stoney Mountain Institution, a federal penitentiary in Manitoba. This special is believed to be the only live national news broadcast ever to originate from inside a Canadian federal prison.

These projects were not only journalistically significant but also award winning. The Crime on the Streets special earned a national Justicia Award for Excellence in Legal Reporting as well as a Jack Webster Award. Beyond journalism, Hanomansing demonstrated creative versatility in 2006 by designing Big League Manager, an officially licensed National Hockey League board game. The game was subsequently voted a Best Bet by the Canadian Toy Testing Council, highlighting an unexpected dimension of his interests and talents.

Awards and Recognition

Ian Hanomansing's work has been honoured with some of the highest awards in Canadian broadcasting. His alma mater, Mount Allison University, conferred upon him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2003. In 2008, he won the Gemini Award for Best News Anchor, a notable achievement where he prevailed over prominent anchors Kevin Newman and Peter Mansbridge. He was again recognized as the country's top anchor in 2016, winning the Canadian Screen Award for Best National News Anchor, this time over competitors including Peter Mansbridge and Lisa LaFlamme.

His contributions have also been celebrated in the context of his immigrant story. In 2010, Hanomansing was named one of the recipients of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards presented by Canadian Immigrant Magazine. He has also received other honours including a Gemini Award and a Canadian Screen Award for Best News Anchor. These accolades confirm the consistent quality of his journalism and the high regard in which he is held.

• 2003: Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD), Mount Allison University
• 2008: Gemini Award for Best News Anchor
• 2010: Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award
• 2016: Canadian Screen Award for Best National News Anchor
• Justicia Award for Excellence in Legal Reporting (for Crime on the Streets)
• Jack Webster Award (for Crime on the Streets)

Hanomansing Tonight and Recent Work

The launch of Hanomansing Tonight in February 2025 represents a new chapter in Hanomansing's career, anchoring a daily news program with a distinct Western Canadian perspective. The show airs live from Vancouver on CBC News Network and the streaming service CBC Gem from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The program is designed to deliver the latest breaking and developing news from across the country, capitalizing on his extensive experience and deep roots in broadcast journalism. Episodes from 2026 indicate the program's continued presence as a key part of CBC's news lineup, and Hanomansing has discussed the show as a response to increased demand for trusted Canadian news sources during an unprecedented news cycle.

He continues to balance this role with his ongoing duties as a co-anchor of The National. He anchors The National on Fridays and Sundays. He also served as the permanent host of CBC Radio One's Cross Country Checkup starting in 2022. His sustained presence across multiple CBC platforms demonstrates his enduring role as one of Canada's most versatile broadcast journalists.

Questions about Ian Hanomansing

What is Ian Hanomansing's role on CBC's The National?

Ian Hanomansing is a co-anchor of CBC's flagship nightly newscast, The National. He was named to this role on August 1, 2017, as part of a new team of four anchors. Specifically, he anchors the Friday and Sunday editions of the program. He continues in this role alongside hosting his own nightly show, Hanomansing Tonight.

When did Hanomansing Tonight start and what is it?

Hanomansing Tonight is a nightly primetime news program hosted by Ian Hanomansing that began broadcasting on February 18, 2025. It airs on CBC News Network and CBC Gem from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time, live from Vancouver. The show focuses on delivering breaking and developing news from across Canada, providing a national news perspective rooted in Western Canada.

What awards has Ian Hanomansing won?

Ian Hanomansing has won several major broadcasting awards. He received the Gemini Award for Best News Anchor in 2008 and the Canadian Screen Award for Best National News Anchor in 2016. He also earned a Justicia Award and a Jack Webster Award for his 2005 live news special Crime on the Streets. He was granted an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Mount Allison University in 2003.

Did Ian Hanomansing host Cross Country Checkup?

Yes, Ian Hanomansing is the host of CBC Radio One's weekly call-in show Cross Country Checkup. He initially served as the interim host from 2020 to 2022 while the regular host, Duncan McCue, was on sabbatical. In 2022, Hanomansing was named the permanent host of the program. This role involves leading a national conversation on current affairs, adding to his extensive duties at CBC. His appointment followed his long-established career as a television journalist and anchor for The National.

Where did Ian Hanomansing go to university?

Ian Hanomansing attended Mount Allison University for his undergraduate education, graduating in 1983 with a degree in political science and sociology. He then pursued law, studying at Dalhousie Law School and graduating in 1986. His academic background in these fields preceded his distinguished broadcasting career. Mount Allison University later recognized his achievements by awarding him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2003.

What was Ian Hanomansing's first job in broadcasting?

Ian Hanomansing's first job in broadcasting was at a radio station in Amherst, Nova Scotia in 1979, right after he finished high school. His professional broadcast career formally began after law school graduation in the summer of 1986 at radio station CKDH in Amherst. This early experience was followed by work at stations in Moncton and Halifax before he joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation later in 1986. This initial role marked the start of his decades long journey in Canadian journalism.

Sources and further reading

• Ian Hanomansing (Wikipedia)
• Ian Hanomansing on the launch of CBC News' ' ... (broadcastdialogue.com)

Checked by the Novello Desserts desk. Last updated 2026-10-25.