Off the Record by Peter Mansbridge

Description Off the Record by Peter Mansbridge

Peter Mansbridge invites us to walk the beat with him in this entertaining and revealing look into his life and career, from his early broadcasting days in the remote northern Manitoba community of Churchill to the fast-paced news desk of CBC’s flagship show, The National, where he reported on stories from around the world.

Today, Peter Mansbridge is often recognized for his distinctive deep voice, which calmly delivered the news for over fifty years. But ironically, he never considered becoming a broadcaster. In some ways, though, Peter was prepared for a life as a newscaster from an early age. Every night around the dinner table, his family would debate the news of the day, from Cold War scandals and Vietnam to Elvis Presley and the Beatles.

So in 1968, when by chance a CBC radio manager in Churchill, Manitoba, offered him a spot hosting the local late night music program, Peter embraced the opportunity. Without a teacher, he tuned into broadcasts from across Canada, the US, and the UK to learn the basic skills of a journalist and he eventually parlayed his position into his first news job. Less than twenty years later, he became the chief correspondent and anchor of The National.

With humour and heart, Peter shares never-before-told stories from his distinguished career, including reporting on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the horror of 9/11, walking the beaches of Normandy with Tom Brokaw, and talking with Canadian prime ministers from John Diefenbaker to Justin Trudeau. But it’s far from all serious. Peter also writes about finding the “cure” for baldness in China and landing the role of Peter Moosebridge in Disney’s Zootopia. From the first (and only) time he was late to broadcast to his poignant interview with the late Gord Downie, these are the moments that have stuck with him.

After years of interviewing others, Peter turns the lens on himself and takes us behind the scenes of his life on the frontlines of journalism as he reflects on the toll of being in the spotlight, the importance of diversity in the newsroom, the role of the media then and now, and the responsibilities we all bear as citizens in an increasingly global world. 

My Thoughts Description Off the Record by Peter Mansbridge

I moved to Canada from the U.S.A. in January 1993.  First on a work visa, then as a landed Immigrant, and eventually became a citizen. I first learned about Canadian politics from Peter Mansbridge, CBC News Chief Correspondent and anchor of The National on CBC.  His news style/personality, felt like a personal welcome to Canada, even though I have never had the opportunity to meet him in person.

I was so sad when he retired. So, when I was invited to read his new book, ‘Off The Record’, I jumped at the chance.  In it, he recounts his start in Churchill, Manitoba to his leap to The National.  Through his stories, he introduced me to Knowlton Nash, who was the anchor of The National before Mansbridge.

He wrote about our past prime ministers.  Being interested in politics, I had read about them but he shared antidotes that I did not know which made them even more human to me.  He wrote about some of our national treasures like Jann Arden.

He recounted his coverage of the Berlin Wall coming down and 9/11.  In turns he had me laughing and crying with his serious stories and the fun he had, such as the time he was asked to play the role of Peter Moosebridge in the Disney movie, ‘Zootopia’. LOL! There was his poignant interview with Gord Downie before he passed away.  I saw that interview and he made me cry again, as he recounted it.

To me, Peter Mansbridge is a national treasure! To me, he is the Canadian equivalent to Walter Cronkite. He also wrote about Cronkite and other U.S. anchors. This is a book that I am sure I will revisit.  I am sure Mr. Mansbridge has many more stories to tell and I hope he writes another book.  I will definitely read it! Perhaps covid will not be an issue and he will tour with the next book and stop in Vancouver so, I can see him in person and get his books signed.  Even that very brief interaction would mean so much to me!

Thank you, Peter Mansbridge, for welcoming me to Canada and teaching me about the many facets of the Canadian Way! I give ‘Off The Record’ 5 out of 5 stars!

About Peter Mansbridge

Peter Mansbridge is one of Canada’s most respected journalists. He is the former chief correspondent for CBC News; anchor of The National, CBC’s flagship nightly newscast where he worked for thirty years reporting on national and international news stories; and host of Mansbridge One on One. He has received over a dozen national awards for broadcast excellence, including a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

He is a distinguished fellow of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto and the former two-term Chancellor of Mount Allison University. In 2008, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada—the country’s highest civilian honour—and in 2012 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

He is the author of the instant #1 national bestseller Extraordinary Canadians and also the national bestseller Peter Mansbridge One on One: Favourite Conversations and the Stories Behind Them. He lives in Stratford, Ontario. Follow him on Twitter @PeterMansbridge, visit him at ThePeterMansbridge.com, or listen to his daily podcast, The Bridge, with Sirius XM Canada.