Nerene Virgin
Encyclopedia
Nerene Virgin is a Canadian
journalist, actress and television host, best known for her role on the children's television series Today's Special
.
, Ontario
, she attended Toronto Teacher's College. Virgin was also certified as a Special Education teacher at Brock University
focussing on intellectually gifted children and holds special qualifications in teaching Integrated Arts. Virgin began her career as a teacher, working for the Toronto Board of Education. She later moved into children's programming with Ontario's public broadcaster TV Ontario, playing "Jodie" on Today's Special. This internationally acclaimed series was in production for seven years. Virgin also had recurring roles on other television programs, including The Littlest Hobo
, Night Heat
and Ramona
. She appeared in numerous film roles such as Gotti, The Undergrads, Murder in Space
, and Right of the People.
Virgin worked as the weather and community reporter for CBOT
, the local CBC Television
station in Ottawa
, in the late 1980s. She then worked at CTV
station CFTO
in Toronto
as the host of Eye on Toronto, co-host for the entertainment show Showbuz, and a host on CTV's annual Miracle Network Telethon for the Hospital for Sick Children
.
In 1996, Virgin became the host for the daily national current affairs show Coast to Coast for CBC Newsworld
in Calgary
, Alberta
. She returned to Toronto as the anchor to launch the national weekend newscast Saturday Report
for CBC Television
. She then moved to the anchor chair at Newsworld International
until it was dismantled and taken over by Al Gore's Current TV
in July 2005. Virgin then chose to leave CBC to complete further studies, gaining certification in teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) and taught students in Linhe, Inner Mongolia
, China
. She later taught French in Stoney Creek
.
She currently serves on the board of directors for Phoenix Place, a second stage home for women and children who have survived domestic violence. She is also a member of the council for the College of Early Childhood Educators, the first such college in North America. Virgin serves as a member of Hamilton's Committee Against Racism for the 2010-2014 Term of Council.
but she later withdrew from the race. She then decided to seek political office in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek
, even though she resides outside the riding boundaries.
On July 31, 2007, after using a three member panel interview process, the Ontario Liberal Party
announced that Virgin had been acclaimed
as the candidate in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek
for the 2007 provincial election
. The panel consisted of incumbent MPP Jennifer Mossop
(who did not seek reelection), a party organizer, and the riding
president. The decision to appoint Virgin upset some local Liberal party members but Virgin expressed optimism in being able to reach out to the grassroots. Mossop, the Stoney Creek
incumbent MPP, is also a former television journalist.
In the aftermath of Virgin's acclamation as a candidate, she was racially slurred and allegedly misrepresented in the media, with the Hamilton Community News, a weekly newspaper in Hamilton, referring to her as a "tar baby
". While the paper issued an apology for its use of the pejorative term, Virgin indicated that the paper should do more than just apologize, suggesting setting up a scholarship, or a program designed to address racism and discrimination.
On election day, Virgin finished second to New Democrat
candidate Paul Miller
.
|-
|Paul Miller
|align="right"|16,256
|align="right"|37.6
|align="right"|
|-
|Nerene Virgin
|align="right"|15,171
|align="right"|35.1
|align="right"|
|-
|Tara Crugnale
|align="right"|9,195
|align="right"|21.3
|align="right"|
|-
|Raymond Dartsch
|align="right"|2,122
|align="right"|4.9
|align="right"|
|-
|Robert Innes
|align="right"|451
|align="right"|1.0
|align="right"|
|}
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
journalist, actress and television host, best known for her role on the children's television series Today's Special
Today's Special
Today's Special is a Canadian children's television show produced by Clive VanderBurgh at TVOntario from 1982 to 1987. It also ran on Nickelodeon and the Faith and Values Channel as well as many PBS stations throughout the United States. It was set in a department store, based on the flagship...
.
Background
After growing up in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, she attended Toronto Teacher's College. Virgin was also certified as a Special Education teacher at Brock University
Brock University
Brock University is a comprehensive university located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Brock offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs that include co-op and other experiential learning opportunities to an enrolment of over 17,000 full-time students.The enabling legislation is...
focussing on intellectually gifted children and holds special qualifications in teaching Integrated Arts. Virgin began her career as a teacher, working for the Toronto Board of Education. She later moved into children's programming with Ontario's public broadcaster TV Ontario, playing "Jodie" on Today's Special. This internationally acclaimed series was in production for seven years. Virgin also had recurring roles on other television programs, including The Littlest Hobo
The Littlest Hobo
The Littlest Hobo is a Canadian television series based upon a 1958 American film of the same name directed by Charles R. Rondeau. The series first aired from 1963 to 1965 in syndication, and was revived for a popular second run on CTV from October 11, 1979 to March 7, 1985.All three productions...
, Night Heat
Night Heat
Night Heat is a Canadian police drama series, which aired on CTV from 1985 to 1991. The show also aired on CBS in the United States from 1987 to 1993 and was the first Canadian-produced drama series to air on an American network...
and Ramona
Ramona (1988 TV series)
Ramona is a Canadian children's television series which followed the life of eight-year-old title character Ramona Quimby . It was based on the Ramona book series by Beverly Cleary....
. She appeared in numerous film roles such as Gotti, The Undergrads, Murder in Space
Murder in Space (TV series)
Murder in Space is a science fiction murder mystery movie set in the near future. The crew of an international space mission are on the return leg from Mars to Earth when an explosion occurs on the craft Conestoga, shortly after the murders start...
, and Right of the People.
Virgin worked as the weather and community reporter for CBOT
CBOT (TV)
CBOT-DT is a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television station in Ottawa, Ontario. The station's studios are located in the CBC Ottawa Broadcast Centre.-History:...
, the local CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
station in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, in the late 1980s. She then worked at CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
station CFTO
CFTO-TV
CFTO-DT, broadcast on channel 9 and cable 8, is a television station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, owned by Bell Media. Currently branded as CTV Toronto, it is the flagship station of the CTV Television Network, and was one of the charter members of the network when it was launched in 1961. It...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
as the host of Eye on Toronto, co-host for the entertainment show Showbuz, and a host on CTV's annual Miracle Network Telethon for the Hospital for Sick Children
Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children – is a major paediatric centre for the Greater Toronto Area, serving patients up to age 18. Located on University Avenue in Downtown Toronto, SickKids is part of the city’s Discovery District, a critical mass of scientists and entrepreneurs who are focused on...
.
In 1996, Virgin became the host for the daily national current affairs show Coast to Coast for CBC Newsworld
CBC Newsworld
CBC News Network is a Canadian English language Category C specialty news channel owned and operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . It broadcasts into over 10 million homes in Canada. It is the world's third-oldest television service of this nature, after CNN in the United States and...
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. She returned to Toronto as the anchor to launch the national weekend newscast Saturday Report
Saturday Report
Saturday Report was the primary Saturday newscast aired on CBC Television and CBC Newsworld from 1982 to 2009. Jacquie Perrin was the program's most recent regular anchor, although that position had rotated frequently among CBC personalities in the newscast's later years...
for CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
. She then moved to the anchor chair at Newsworld International
Newsworld International
Newsworld International was a cable TV news channel broadcasting in the United States, whose content contained a mix of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and other international newscasts. The channel reached about 20 million homes and provided its audience with the news from a variety of global...
until it was dismantled and taken over by Al Gore's Current TV
Current TV
Current TV, or Current, is a media company led by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and businessman Joel Hyatt. Comcast owns a ten percent stake of Current's parent company, Current Media LLC....
in July 2005. Virgin then chose to leave CBC to complete further studies, gaining certification in teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) and taught students in Linhe, Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. She later taught French in Stoney Creek
Stoney Creek, Ontario
Stoney Creek is a community in Ontario, Canada.Note: This article will only deal with matters up to its amalgamation with Hamilton.-Geography and population:...
.
She currently serves on the board of directors for Phoenix Place, a second stage home for women and children who have survived domestic violence. She is also a member of the council for the College of Early Childhood Educators, the first such college in North America. Virgin serves as a member of Hamilton's Committee Against Racism for the 2010-2014 Term of Council.
Political career
Virgin first sought political office in 2007 in the federal riding of Hamilton MountainHamilton Mountain
Hamilton Mountain is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968. The riding is located in the Hamilton, Ontario region....
but she later withdrew from the race. She then decided to seek political office in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek
Hamilton East—Stoney Creek
Hamilton East—Stoney Creek is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.The riding was formed in 2003 from parts of the former ridings of Hamilton East and Stoney Creek....
, even though she resides outside the riding boundaries.
On July 31, 2007, after using a three member panel interview process, the Ontario Liberal Party
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
announced that Virgin had been acclaimed
Acclamation
An acclamation, in its most common sense, is a form of election that does not use a ballot. "Acclamation" or "acclamatio" can also signify a kind of ritual greeting and expression of approval in certain social contexts in ancient Rome.-Voting:...
as the candidate in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek
Hamilton East—Stoney Creek
Hamilton East—Stoney Creek is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.The riding was formed in 2003 from parts of the former ridings of Hamilton East and Stoney Creek....
for the 2007 provincial election
Ontario general election, 2007
The Ontario general election of 2007 was held on October 10, 2007 to elect members of the 39th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada. The Liberals under Dalton McGuinty won the election with a majority government, winning 71 out of a possible 107 seats with 42.2% of the popular...
. The panel consisted of incumbent MPP Jennifer Mossop
Jennifer Mossop
Jennifer F. Mossop is a former politician and journalist in Ontario, Canada. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Stoney Creek for the Ontario Liberal Party from 2003 to 2007.-Journalism:...
(who did not seek reelection), a party organizer, and the riding
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
president. The decision to appoint Virgin upset some local Liberal party members but Virgin expressed optimism in being able to reach out to the grassroots. Mossop, the Stoney Creek
Stoney Creek
Stoney Creek may refer to:In Australia:*Stoney Creek Falls, in Queensland, AustraliaIn Canada:*Stoney Creek, Ontario, was a municipality that is now part of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada**Stoney Creek - an electoral district in Ontario...
incumbent MPP, is also a former television journalist.
In the aftermath of Virgin's acclamation as a candidate, she was racially slurred and allegedly misrepresented in the media, with the Hamilton Community News, a weekly newspaper in Hamilton, referring to her as a "tar baby
Tar baby
The Tar-Baby is a doll made of tar and turpentine used to entrap Br'er Rabbit in the second of the Uncle Remus stories. The more that Br'er Rabbit fights the Tar-Baby, the more entangled he becomes...
". While the paper issued an apology for its use of the pejorative term, Virgin indicated that the paper should do more than just apologize, suggesting setting up a scholarship, or a program designed to address racism and discrimination.
On election day, Virgin finished second to New Democrat
Ontario New Democratic Party
The Ontario New Democratic Party or , formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party. It was formed in October 1961, a few months after the federal party. The ONDP had its...
candidate Paul Miller
Paul Miller (Canadian politician)
Paul Miller is a politician in Hamilton, Ontario, and Member of Provincial Parliament representing the provincial constituency of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Miller belongs to the Ontario New Democratic Party...
.
Electoral record
|-
|Paul Miller
Paul Miller (Canadian politician)
Paul Miller is a politician in Hamilton, Ontario, and Member of Provincial Parliament representing the provincial constituency of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Miller belongs to the Ontario New Democratic Party...
|align="right"|16,256
|align="right"|37.6
|align="right"|
|-
|Nerene Virgin
|align="right"|15,171
|align="right"|35.1
|align="right"|
|-
|Tara Crugnale
|align="right"|9,195
|align="right"|21.3
|align="right"|
|-
|Raymond Dartsch
|align="right"|2,122
|align="right"|4.9
|align="right"|
|-
|Robert Innes
|align="right"|451
|align="right"|1.0
|align="right"|
|}