Todd van der Heyden

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Todd van der Heyden, born October 16th, is an award-winning Canadian investigative television reporter and news anchor with CTV News in Montreal, Canada.

Todd graduated in 1996 with a bachelor in Journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada with a minor in Psychology and in 2004 with a graduate diploma in Communication Studies from Concordia University in Montreal. He also has a number of professional development certificates and training seminars such as television screenwriting, anchoring, public speaking and television directing, including from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles.

Todd started his television career in 1997 at Videotron's Cable 9, a Montreal community access TV station, working as a reporter, researcher and host. During that time, he also freelanced for CBC Radio in Montreal and wrote articles for the Toronto Star newspaper. In January 2000, Todd was hired by CFCF Television as a daily news reporter for Pulse News. in December 2001, Todd also assumed the position of back-up news anchor.

One of the stories that had the most profound impact on Todd’s career was the September 11th terrorist attacks. Todd spent five days in New York City on site at Ground Zero, covering the aftermath. Other highlights include covering the riots in Quebec City during the 2001 Summit of the Americas and being a political reporter on the Charest Liberal campaign bus during Quebec's April 2003 provincial election.

In October 2003, Todd was promoted to reporter/producer of the new feature segment "On Your Side", doing investigative and current affairs journalism - as well as helping viewers solve problems and reporting on consumer issues. His mandate involves trying to hold the system accountable, getting answers and finding justice for people. He has since filed hundreds of exclusive stories and his segment has become one of the most popular features of the CTV News Montreal broadcast. In a feature profile from the Montreal Gazette newspaper, Todd referred to reporters as "agents of change" that are able to make a small difference in the world.

In February 2005, Todd also became the co-anchor of the 6pm weekend newscast, joining Tarah Schwartz. Then, in January 2007, Todd’s career reached another benchmark, when he moved from weekends to weekdays at noon, co-anchoring with veteran CTV Montreal newscaster Mutsumi Takahashi. Todd still continues to file investigative reports for his "On Your Side" segment. He will also be anchoring the daily election notebook for the Quebec 2007 provincial election.

Todd has also been selected several years running as one of Montreal's top ten media personalities and one of the city's top sexiest men by Montreal's alternative newspaper, the Montreal Mirror. Todd has also done guest appearances as a panelist for Montreal's CJAD radio station.

Todd won an RTNDA (Radio and Television News Directors Association) award in 2002 for his series on "Aspergillus Outbreak", a CAB (Canadian Association of Broadcasters) award in 2003 for "Sick Buildings Syndrome" and a MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) award in 2005 for his report on "Driving On Drugs". He is a volunteer for a number of charities, community groups and schools - including fundraisers for Cancer, HIV/AIDS, Youth Employment, College Bursaries and the Quebec Red Cross. He was born on October 16th in Montreal and was raised partly in the city, but spent 8 years in Oakville, Ontario and also in Ottawa, Ontario. He went to high schhol and college in Montreal. He did his bachelor's degree in Ottawa. He was married to Tatiana Londono in 1996 - after a 3-year courtship and was divorced two years later.

He lists his hobbies and interests as: being an avid Elvis Presley fan, a lover of science fiction and comic books. His other musical tastes are varied - from French singer Dalida to Pop-punk band Green Day. Todd told the Montreal Gazette he is a "sci-fi" geek who loves Battlestar Galactica and his Ipod. He also told the newspaper his nickname is "Todzilla".

One little known fact: in 1996 and 1997, before his career in television took off, Todd wrote several scripts for two of Paramount's "Star Trek" television shows. One, his "Star Trek: Voyager" script "The Road Not Taken" was considered by producers who later met in person with Todd at Paramount Pictures studio in Hollywood in the summer of 1998. Producers encouraged him to continue his script-writing, but upon his return to Montreal, he began focusing primarily on television. Within a few months, he was "on air". Todd told Gazette reporter Maxine Mendlesohn that being called by Paramount Pictures was the achievement he is the most proud of to date.

Related Links:

Official CTV Montreal Website [1] "On Your Side" site [2] Montreal Mirror [3] Youtube.com [4] Concordia University [5] Montreal Mirror [6] CFCF Wiki Page[7] M.A.D.D. Award Page [8] Concordia University [9] Family Page [10] Montreal Gazette [[11]]