As a full partner in Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, OMNI Television has committed to delivering 100 hours of Vancouver 2010 coverage in a total of seven languages:
· Cantonese (on OMNI.2 Ontario, OMNI Calgary, OMNI Edmonton, OMNI BC);
· Italian (on OMNI.1 Ontario);
· Mandarin (on OMNI.2 Ontario, OMNI Calgary, OMNI Edmonton, OMNI BC);
· Polish (on OMNI.1 Ontario);
· Portuguese (on OMNI.1 Ontario);
· Punjabi (on OMNI BC); and
· Ukrainian (on OMNI.1 Ontario)
Marking a milestone in Canadian multilingual/multicultural television, OMNI's coverage of the Winter Games will average six hours per day, 95 hours in prime time, throughout OMNI's reach to more than 23 million people in major market areas.
Cantonese |
|
|---|---|
|
Alex Chum
|
Alex Chum came to Canada from Hong Kong in 1990 and in 1996 joined OMNI Television (then known as CFMT-TV) as sports anchor/reporter for its daily Cantonese newscast. He speaks English as well as his native Cantonese. Over and above his work at OMNI News: Cantonese Edition, Alex has hosted live play-by-play for many major sports teams and events, including: Toronto Raptors games from 2000 to 2004; numerous NHL games - plus, World Cup Soccer in 1998 and 2006, and the 2008 Euro Championship. Alex Chum also regularly hosts special series including last year's Road to Beijing. He has worked on OMNI's highlight coverage of the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Sydney, Athens to name a few, and is excited to be a part of OMNI's in-depth multilingual coverage of Vancouver 2010. |
Italian |
|
|
Vincenzo Somma
|
A familiar face with the local Italian language community, Vincenzo Somma brings more than 25 years of experience in the broadcast industry to OMNI's Italian language coverage of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. He's currently both Anchor of Associate Producer of OMNI News: Italian Edition. Vincenzo moved to Canada from Naples, Italy in 1980 and joined OMNI Television (CFMT-TV) in 1985 as a sports anchor. In 1987 he began co-hosting Incontri (Encounters), a nightly half-hour of current affairs that was soon after awarded "Most Innovative Programme" by the Canadian Ethnic Media Association. During his career with OMNI, Vincenzo has been privileged to interview internationally renowned personalities ranging from the Prime Minister of Canada to Sophia Loren. He also hosted OMNI's live coverage of Pope John Paul ll's visit to Toronto. Vincenzo has worked on OMNI's highlight coverage of previously-held Olympic Games and his favourite memory of the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games is when Italian skier Alberto Tomba won two gold medals. |
Mandarin |
|
|
Wei Lee
|
Wei Lee has been the lead anchor for OMNI News: Mandarin Edition since 2002, and brings over 20 years of broadcast experience to OMNI's Mandarin language coverage of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Before joining the OMNI daily newscast, Wei anchored its weekend counterpart, OMNI News: Mandarin Weekend Edition. Prior to his work with OMNI Television, Wei used his varied talents as producer, writer, director and host at a number of Chinese media outlets. Over the years, Wei has covered a range of stories affecting Canada's growing Chinese community. Wei represents OMNI at various events; hosting fundraisers and galas within and beyond the Chinese community. |
Polish |
|
|
Wojciech Sniegowski
|
Wojciech Sniegowski was born in Krakow, Poland and moved to Canada in 1983. He brings over 20 years of broadcasting/live commentator experience to OMNI's Polish language coverage of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Prior to his current role as Producer of Polish programming for OMNI Television, Wojciech was Host-Reporter for OMNI's Polish-language public affairs programme, Rosmaitosci, and produced more than 200 feature stories. His experience with OMNI also encompasses live reporting and colour commentary on internationally significant events such as Euro Cup Soccer 2008 and Pope John Paul ll's visit to Toronto. |
Portuguese |
|
|
Lidia Ferreira
|
Lidia Ferreira, producer of OMNI News: Portuguese Edition, began her career in the field of journalism at a national radio station in her birthplace of Lisbon, Portugal. After moving to Toronto in 1984, Ferreira spent four years in radio and in 1989 joined OMNI Television (known as CFMT-TV at the time) as a host for the entertainment program Lamiré.During her career with OMNI she has worked on OMNI's highlight coverage of the Olympic Games from 1989 to present day. She has also contributed to OMNI's Portuguese language coverage of World Cup Soccer (1990, 1994 and 1998) and Euro Cup 2008. She has also covered numerous events such as the Toronto International Film Festival and Pope John Paul II's visit to Toronto. Telenovela fans will remember her on-location interviews with some of Brazil's most prominent actors. She has also received an Honourable Mention by the Portuguese government for her investigative reporting. |
Punjabi |
|
|
Jasdip Wahla
|
Jasdip Wahla was born in Gurdaspur, India and migrated to Canada from Punjab in 2000. He joined OMNI Television in BC (formerly known as channel m) in 2004 and is the inaugural and current anchor for OMNI News: Punjabi Edition -- Canada's first-ever LIVE 60-minute newscast delivered in Punjabi. Jasdip speaks English, Hindi and Punjabi and brings a well-established presence in the local South Asian community and solid journalism skills to OMNI's Punjabi language coverage of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. He has a combined Masters Degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Punjabi University Patiala and in addition to broadcasting, Jasdip has worked in print with such publications as Indian Express, the leading English Daily in India, and the Jalandhar based Punjabi Newspaper Nawan Zamana. Jasdip's previous Olympic coverage includes providing highlights for The Games in Athens, Turin, and Beijing. He is excited to be a part of OMNI's in-depth multilingual coverage of Vancouver 2010. |
|
Bhupinder Hundal
|
Bhupinder Hundal is the News Assignment Editor at OMNI BC and has worked in television news for over six years. He manages OMNI BC's day-to-day news gathering operations for the news department. During his career at OMNI, Bhupinder has been the leader in developing and executing OMNI's special news coverage. Most notably, he has planned and coordinated OMNI BC's Federal and Provincial Election coverage. Experienced on both sides of the camera, Bhupinder frequently appears on-air during OMNI News: Punjabi Edition, providing live coverage and insight on issues ranging from politics, crime, and sports. Specific sports highlights include coverage of the Vancouver Canucks and the 2007 Memorial Cup in Vancouver. Bhupinder was born in Port Alberni, British Columbia and speaks English and Punjabi. |
|
Jatinder (Jett) Bassi
|
Jatinder (Jett) Bassi was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, where in sub-zero weather he learned the Canadian game of hockey. Jett has been presenting sports in Punjabi for over three years at OMNI Television (formerly channel m). He was with OMNI BC when it became the first ethnic station in Vancouver to gain a press box seat with an NHL team - a milestone of which he is most proud. He contributed to OMNI BC's tri-lingual coverage (Cantonese, Mandarin and Punjabi) of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Summer Games. He is looking forward to making Canadian broadcast history by presenting Olympic Hockey in his native tongue. He grew up speaking Punjabi at home and learned English at school. In his youth, Jett was active in all types of sports and continues to wrestle and play soccer in his free time. |
Ukrainian |
|
|
Iryna Korpan
|
The same drive and determination that in 1985 brought Iryna Korpan to Canada from the former Soviet Union has been a continued force throughout her career. Iryna joined OMNI Television (then known as CFMT-TV) in 1991 as a volunteer production assistant with Svitohliad (Point of View), while also hosting a daily Ukrainian radio show. Later in 1991, Iryna became the face of Svitohliad as News Anchor, a role she maintains to this day. During her career with Svitohliad she's interviewed a wide-range of personalities, from Leonid Kravchuk, the first president of an independent Ukraine, to Sergei Bubka, Olympic Gold Medalist and has covered many significant events, including the protests in Ottawa in front of the Russian embassy in 1996 and two presidential elections in Ukraine, 1996 and 2000. Recently, Iryna focused her skills on independent production in conjunction with her full-time role as anchor. Her first documentary, A Man for All Canadians, examined the life of Ramon John Hnatyshyn, the 24th Governor General of Canada. Her interviews with Prime Ministers, Brian Mulroney and Joe Clark; renowned broadcaster, Peter Mansbridge, as well as Hnatyshyn's friends and family - formed the heart of the project. Outside of work, Iryna Korpan is an active member of the Ukrainian community and serves on the board of Canadian Ukrainian Immigrant Society (CIUS) and the Cultural Council of the Ukrainian World Congress |
