“Valerie Pringle Has Left The Building.”

It may be the name of her 31-episode travel show that ran for four years, but in truth, it also marks a new phase in her life. Canada’s beloved broadcasting powerhouse is moving on.

This past spring, Valerie Pringle retired from broadcasting for good. Interviewing the interviewer—especially one of Canada’s most iconic faces—might seem daunting. Yet chatting with Valerie, who for over 50 years brought warmth, poise, enthusiasm, and curiosity to the airwaves, was anything but intimidating.

Valerie’s ability to connect with people has spanned multiple media, including radio (CFRB Toronto, where she began), television (both CTV and CBC), and specialty productions—her travel show and, most recently, an interview series on PBS. While known for her discussions with newsmakers, politicians, celebrities, musicians, and people from all walks of life, she also covered space launches, the Olympics, and royal events, to name just a few.

Today, Valerie inspires women entering the profession, but she credits other Canadian icons such as Barbara Frum, June Callwood, and Betty Kennedy as her mentors.

“Barbara was, I think, probably the best interviewer. She was extraordinary. She taught me the importance of discovering authenticity, listening for those moments of truth, and sharing them with the public. That has always been so rewarding.”

Betty Kennedy taught her about managing life—career, interviews, and kids—all with grace.

And then there is June Callwood. “She was a great writer, of course, but she was also a committed activist. I remember her saying she would not tolerate anything unjust. Interfering keeps us together as a society. And I liked her using that word ‘interfere,’ because you don’t normally think of interfering as a good thing, but when June talked about it, it was.”

While she wouldn’t put it this way, Valerie created her own style of “interfering” through decades of not-for-profit work, including mental health advocacy and fighting stigma at a time when it wasn’t widely discussed. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto has been a major beneficiary of her passion.

“I’ve just finished there after 18 years, helping to raise now over a billion dollars.” She also speaks publicly on mental health issues.

Her work and travels instilled a deep passion for the outdoors. Walking with her two “big, smelly old labs” at home is one of her great joys. She golfs, plays tennis, and skis—“I still feel like a kid when I ski.”

She is passionate about Canada’s natural beauty and the positive effects of nature on mental health. Unsurprisingly, she devoted herself to making the Trans Canada Trail a reality.

“I was involved with the Trail for 20 years. I chaired the board and helped secure $83 million for its connection. Those two things—the Trail and mental health—are very important to me, and actually are not unconnected. Apart from my kids and family, I’m most proud of that legacy.”

While she doesn’t brag about it, the desire to make a difference guides her wherever she goes. Even when travelling, she finds ways to give back.

“I did some trips that were real highlights—one to Everest Base Camp, and a trip to the top of Kilimanjaro. I took my sister to Everest, and then both my sisters and my youngest son came to Kilimanjaro. Of course, I saw an opportunity to fundraise at Kilimanjaro. We helped build a resource centre for women who started an HIV/AIDS outreach group. It became a great project. It underlined to me that everywhere you go, you can make an impact.”

Any other life lessons? “Keep calm and carry on. That’s all you can ever do. Put your head down, even when it’s awful. There was a moment when I was sure the Trans Canada Trail wasn’t going to work out when I was board chair, but things come in waves, and it’ll get better. Just hang in there, keep working, and things will work out. That’s not to diminish the fact that times are tough, and sometimes you lose your way a bit, but just keep calm and carry on—things get better. That was an important lesson.”

For Valerie, there is also the journey of self-discovery—finding strengths and tapping into new talents, such as realising she is a gifted leader, chairing boards, and taking on leadership roles.

“Who knew? I was totally surprised. I kept saying, ‘You want me to share what? I’m just a broadcaster.’ Most of us know more than we think. To plug in, take leadership roles, learn to fundraise, learn about governance, and apply broadcasting skills to projects I could be passionate about—it was wonderful.”

Her 51-year marriage to her husband Andy, their three children, and seven grandchildren top her list of support. Whenever things got a little shaky, she relied on her rock.

“I would just say to myself, ‘Andy won’t let me fail.’ Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly what to do, or what the right path is. But if you follow your gut and instinct, projects come up. I’m pretty strong. You can work through things. It’s not always easy, but Andy was always there, encouraging me.”

She also has two sisters and a brother. “I had an extraordinary base—my parents, two wonderful grandmothers who were just foundational, one small English one and one very strong Canadian one. My parents were lovely—salt of the earth, warm, generous, welcoming. They were as good as it gets.”

“I look at a picture of my family. I love seeing us all together and thinking, wow, that’s something. Look what we’ve done.”

And what gives her meaning now? “There’s my family, obviously. But I’m at a bit of an inflection point, because I’ve just finished a television series called Canada Files, three years of interviewing great Canadians for PBS. It was a bit of a surprise when that show came along. I hadn’t done much broadcasting for a while and was a bit nervous since I’d focused on not-for-profit work, but I just said yes and loved every minute. I was my own boss, which was great, and I’m at peace with putting that one to bed.”

She began working at 19, and now, at 71, she has retired from broadcasting for good. Valerie Pringle has left the building.

As she embarks on her new journey, she is guided by words from Oscar Peterson, whom she interviewed many times. “Not long before his death, I asked him a legacy question: ‘What’s the best piece of music you’ve ever written?’ He said, ‘I haven’t written it yet.’ I thought, how great is that? You’ve got to keep curious, keep looking forward. I saw that in the Canada Files interviews I did too—Rosie Abella, Roberta Bondar, Louise Arbour, Jean Chrétien—they’re all looking forward. Even incredibly accomplished people are thinking, ‘What’s next?’ That’s spectacular advice.”

For now, she sits on the board of a retirement home and long-term care facility where her own mother had been chair, and her 102-year-old mother-in-law now lives. She’ll continue to look for meaningful projects.

Sit still? Absolutely not.

Since COVID, she avoids gyms but feeds her need to move through online classes—Pilates, yoga, weights, Peloton—and, of course, walking her dogs (on the Trans Canada Trail when possible!). She also enjoys simple pleasures, such as a coffee with cream. “It has to have cream.”

And she laughs. A lot. “Honestly, what would you do without your girlfriends? All my life I’ve had groups of girlfriends. I would just dance out the front door for a friends’ night. It was so important and therapeutic, even when I had to get up ridiculously early for work. Socializing is essential.” She once learned that the name Valerie means vigorous and strong. “It wasn’t appealing to me as a young girl, but at this stage of life, being vigorous and strong is pretty sweet. I’m grateful for it, and it’s my goal to continue being so.”

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