Dowson John

Anne Lagacé Dowson, born in Toronto in 1959, is a Canadian journalist who spent a significant part of her career in radio, particularly with CBC Radio. She hosted programs like "Radio Noon" in Quebec and "Home Run" in Montreal, and also served as a producer for "C'est la Vie." Her broadcasting experience includes roles as a news reporter, arts reporter, and press reviewer, along with guest hosting and producing for shows such as "Cross Country Checkup" and "As It Happens." Dowson has also been a notable presence in Quebec's francophone media, participating in "Le Combat des livres" and "Sans Préliminaires."

Beyond her extensive radio work, Dowson ventured into politics. She was the New Democratic Party's candidate in the 2008 federal election for Westmount—Ville-Marie and later ran in the 2015 federal election in the Papineau riding against Justin Trudeau. Her educational background includes a B.A. in sociology and women's studies from the University of Ottawa and an M.A. in Canadian studies from Carleton University. She has also moderated discussions at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and hosted events at Rideau Hall. Dowson is fluently bilingual and comes from a family with a history in trade unionism and politics.

Anne Lagacé Dowson established a notable career in Canadian radio journalism. For many years, she was the host of CBC Radio's "Radio Noon," a daily current affairs and phone-in program based in Quebec. Her tenure with CBC also included producing "C'est la Vie" and hosting "Home Run" in Montreal. Dowson's versatility was evident in her work as a news reporter, arts reporter, and press reviewer. She also demonstrated her ability to step into prominent roles by guest hosting and producing for "Cross Country Checkup" and "As It Happens." Her engagement extended to the francophone media landscape, where she was a juror for Radio Canada's "Le Combat des livres" and a regular on the program "Sans Préliminaires." Furthermore, she served as the inaugural Anglophone spokesperson for the Festival International du Film sur l'Art in Montreal.

Transitioning from journalism, Anne Lagacé Dowson entered the political arena. She represented the New Democratic Party as a candidate in the 2008 Canadian federal election for the Westmount—Ville-Marie riding, ultimately securing second place. She had initially been slated as the party's candidate for a by-election in the same riding, which was then superseded by the general election. Her political aspirations continued as she ran in the 2015 federal election for the Papineau riding, facing Liberal leader Justin Trudeau. During her 2008 campaign, Dowson received endorsements from a diverse group of individuals, including author Cory Doctorow, academics Charles Taylor and Desmond Morton, human rights lawyer Julius Grey, and former Westmount mayor May Cutler.

Anne Lagacé Dowson's academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and women's studies from the University of Ottawa, where she was active in the student senate. She furthered her studies at Carleton University, earning a Master of Arts in Canadian studies in 1989. During her time at Carleton, she held the position of vice president for the teaching assistant's union. Her family background is also noteworthy; she is the daughter of trade unionist Hugh Dowson and Claire Lagacé. Anne derives her first name from Québec author Anne Hébert, with whom her mother studied. Her extended family includes Pierre Édouard Blondin, a Conservative Minister and later Speaker of the Senate, and her uncle Ross Dowson, who ran for Mayor of Toronto on a Trotskyist platform. Her aunts, Lois and Joyce Dowson, were instrumental in co-founding the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Hemophilia Society and were prominent pro-choice activists.