Wendy’s entertainment background prepared her well for the new medium, television. Despite her English accent, she soon had a Homemaker’s Show on CKBB radio and the Women’s Show on CKVR-TV.

 

 

 

 

She interviewed hundreds of people, including a wide range of Canadian authors and TV stars but also local workers and homemakers. She booked all the guests herself, and did live commercials, singing and comedy. The show won the Liberty Award for Best Women’s Show in Canada 1959, 1960 and 1961.

 

 

 

 
Show experiences included climbing the very tall TV tower, hosting a trip to Nassau, gliding, going 150 mph in a race car, and under-ice diving. And in those days TV studios weren’t air conditioned; everyone had to look good while working in searing heat.

And interviews: racing driver Stirling Moss, authors Pierre Berton, W.O. Mitchell and Farley Mowat, and many more.

There were public appearances, too – opening shopping malls, announcing fashion shows, and even riding in a Donkey Derby fundraiser (right).

 

Wendy went national, too. She was a guest panelist on CBC-TV’s  “Case for the Court” and “Front Page Challenge” and guest monologist on “Open House.”

 

 

 

After leaving CKVR, Wendy won a Procter & Gamble/Robert Lawrence talent search for new commercial announcer, 1962.

She did national TV commercials for Crisco, J-Cloths, Canadian Pacific, Secret, Dream Whip, and more.

 

 

 

 

Wendy wrote weekly columns in the Barrie Banner 1963-68 and the Barrie Examiner 1968-76. Yes, that is a lot of writing. Her columns mixed personal observations on life with occasional comedy pieces with regular characters.

She was Copy Director for Central Ontario Advertising, 1970-72 and in that role wrote “The All of Scotch Whisky” for The Distillers Co.(Canada.