Isabel Bassett has been a controversial figure at times, but is a highly regarded pioneer in Canadian broadcasting.
12 Facts About Isabel Bassett
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Isabel Bassett received a Bachelor of Arts from Queen's University and a Master of Arts from York University in 1973.
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Isabel Bassett later joined CTV, where she became a prominent reporter and documentary producer, including a stint with W5, after marrying Baton Broadcasting owner John W H Bassett on July 17,1967.
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John Bassett died in 1998, and Isabel subsequently began a relationship with cabinet colleague Ernie Eves.
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Isabel Bassett has written a number of books on the political, social and historical achievements of Canadian women.
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Isabel Bassett lost to Liberal Barry Campbell by over 15,000 votes.
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Isabel Bassett was elected in the provincial election of 1995, defeating Liberal candidate Carolyn Bennett by about 3,500 votes.
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Isabel Bassett was one of several Toronto Progressive Conservatives defeated in the city due to the unpopularity of Harris' government.
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Isabel Bassett's mandate was to refocus the network on educational programming; however, Bassett successfully found ways to ensure that the network's most popular non-educational programs, such as Saturday Night at the Movies and Studio 2, could continue to air.
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However, Isabel Bassett was popular within TVOntario, and the controversy soon subsided.
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Isabel Bassett remained chair and CEO of TVOntario until September 29,2005, when the Liberal government of Dalton McGuinty separated the two positions.
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Isabel Bassett's successors were film producer Peter O'Brian as chair, and former Astral Media executive Lisa de Wilde as CEO.