The Express
Johanna Ward
Host
Johanna Ward admittedly has the best gig around!
“The Express is all about what makes Metro Vancouver amazing! The people, the places, and the purpose. It’s a show that makes you feel good!”
Johanna has been hosting Shaw TV’s lifestyle magazine program The Express, since 2005. On top of all her unique day to day experiences with the show, she also anchored during the 2010 Olympics, fundraised for the Together Is Amazing National Food Drive & is currently a Shaw rep for the Team Diabetes marathon in Iceland!
Favorite Movie: Flashdance
Favorite Book: Lamb, by Christopher Moore
Can’t Live Without: Lipgloss… no wait… make that family & friends!
What Makes Vancouver Great: The people, the scenery, & the food scene!
When she's not at music festivals, food tastings, fashion shows or any other oh-my-word-you-just-have-to-try-this-amazing-place-to-be (working, remember!) - where is she? Teaching Dance-fitness, watching cheesy tv shows & spending time with friends & family.
Nicole Fitzgerald
Producer/ Host
Top of the Pass author Stephen Vogler summed up Nicole Fitzgerald in two words: creative hurricane. The award-winning journalist has made her mark in print, film and television for more than a decade.
The Vancouver Island native first began her career in the musical theatre industry performing on stages from Charlottetown, PEI to Dawson City, Yukon. She later completed an English degree at the University of Victoria and since then, her byline has graced the pages of local and national newspapers and magazines. On moving to Whistler, she also penned a feature-length documentary and a cook book entitled, Savour Whistler (Cultivate Books Publishing, 2010).
In 2007, Shaw made its way up the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler where Nicole was thrilled to ski, hike and mountain bike as part of her daily job. A host and producer for The Express Sea to Sky, Nicole is thrilled to share her hikers-and-high-heels way of life.
Favourite Movie: Gone with the Wind
Favourite Book: Anne of Green Gables
Can’t Live Without: My Mountain Bike & Vij’s Cookbooks
What Makes Whistler Great: The People
When not at work, Nicole participates in all of the great outdoor activities she reports on while spending her mornings at her writing desk working on a young adult novel and her next cookbook.
Bianca Solterbeck
Reporter
Bianca Solterbeck has a BA from Carleton University and is a graduate of BCIT’s Broadcast Journalism Program. As a reporter for The Express, Bianca has crisscrossed the Lower Mainland to cover great local stories! She’s interviewed singing politicians in Langley, BC's hottest actors at the LEO Awards in Vancouver, and kid philanthropists in Burnaby. She’s sampled locally made 'Beerbrats' and Diwali sweets, tried rock climbing in Squamish, and took the plunge at the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim!
Bianca recently had the opportunity to work as the Olympic reporter for Shaw TV leading up to the 2010 Games. She covered all the sports (from a safe distance!) and considers speed skating and sledge hockey among the best. Bianca feels lucky to have a job that makes everyday an adventure.
Favorite Movie: Shawshank Redemption
Favorite Book: Jane Eyre
Can’t Live Without: friends and family, an afternoon latte and my rainboots!
What Makes Vancouver Great: Arts festivals, amazing sushi and all those beautiful beaches.
When not at work, Bianca likes to spend her time contemplating a visit to the gym, traveling, shopping and hitting the seawall with good coffee and good friends!
Kendall Harris
Reporter
Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Kendall spent her childhood “playing” at being a journalist: keeping diaries and photo albums, conducting interviews for fun on videocassettes, and shooting projects on video.
Kendall received her BA in Psychology from Vassar College, and studied Broadcasting at BCIT. She detoured into Art Auctioneering & Real Estate sales, before landing her dream job at ShawTV as a member of “The Express” team.
Favorite Movie: “The Sound of Music” – I can recite (and sing) entire sections by heart!
Favorite Book: “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” – that book changed my life!
Can’t live without: My little shih-tzu Chloe, sweetest dog in the world!
What makes Vancouver great: The exciting, ever-changing food & wine scene in this city, full of talent & innovative ideas!
When not at work, Kendall loves to spend time with family and friends, and is studying for her WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) diploma in Wine!
Mana Mansour
Reporter, The Express
Host, Shaw Multicultural Channel
Born in the Middle East and living in Canada from the tender age of two, Mana feels she is a true Vancouverite at heart.
With a performing background and a BA in Theatre from UBC, Mana completed the Broadcast Journalism Program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in the Spring of 2010. During her time at BCIT, Mana reported the latest in news and entertainment, both in print and on-air, and worked in the newsrooms of Evolution 107.9 FM and CTV News Vancouver. She also held broadcasting positions during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and at Entertainment Tonight Canada during the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival where she interviewed such stars as Chantal Kreviazuk, the cast of Degrassi, and K-OS.
In the Fall of 2010, Mana became the host of Shaw Multicultural Channel and a reporter for The Express on Shaw Television Vancouver. The best part of her job isn’t just hosting, producing stories, reporting and writing: it’s also meeting the fascinating people who make Metro Vancouver so unique!
Favourite Movie: Dirty Dancing
Favourite Book: Catcher in the Rye
Can’t Live Without: Oh this is a hard one… my loved ones, chapstick and music!
What Makes Vancouver Great: Its diverse people, landscape and fresh air.
When not at work, Mana likes to spend her time with family and friends, catch live theatre, take dance classes and write for her online magazine, vansavvygirls.com.
Melanie Pineda
Reporter
At the age of 11, Melanie picked up her dad’s video camera and started directing the kids in the neighbourhood. It was then that her parents realized she was going to find a way to make a living by telling other people’s stories.
Melanie graduated from BCIT’s Broadcast Journalism program and took a position as a news break host for City TV Vancouver before becoming a reporter on The Express. Born and raised in Vancouver, she finds herself extremely lucky to meet the talented, energetic and passionate people who live in this city.
An adrenaline junkie, fashionista, sports fan and foodie all wrapped in one, she still finds it hard to believe she gets paid to do this job!
Favorite Movie: Anything of the romantic comedy or dramatic action packed variety
Favorite Book: My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Can’t Live Without: Wine nights with my girlfriends and chocolate!
What Makes Vancouver Great: The views and great restaurants
When she’s not at work, Melanie is often shopping, trying a new recipe from one of her many cookbooks, working out or enjoying the company of the people she loves the most.
Tim Chung
Reporter
Hailing from Port Moody, Tim’s always been interested in exploring Vancouver’s dynamic, ever-growing suburbs. After graduating with degree in Linguistics from UBC, Tim lived in Tokyo for 2 years to teach and travel throughout Asia.
Addicted to exploring the unknown, upon his return, Tim enrolled in the Broadcast Journalism program at BCIT and has since worked as a reporter for CHEK News and CBC News Vancouver. As a shooter and video-editor, Tim is involved in every facet of his storytelling.
His passion is technology and how it shapes our lives. Look for Tim’s weekly tech segment on Wednesdays, showcasing BC’s best and brightest techies.
Favorite Movie: Lost in Translation
Favourite Book: Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
Can’t Live Without: Asian Noodle Soup
What Makes Vancouver Great: Cultural Diversity
Tim loves the art of jamming. Picking up the guitar and drum sticks to create original music whenever and with whoever he can.
Studio 4
Fanny Kiefer
Host, Studio 4
Originally from Montana, Fanny is one of British Columbia’s most respected interviewers. Named one of the 25 most influential women in Canada by Chatelaine magazine, Fanny distinguished career in broadcasting started in radio in Vancouver.
From her early days working with some of BC’s legendary media personalities, she went on to become the first woman in Vancouver to host her own radio talk show on CJOR. She spent 10 years hosting at CKNW, and also had her own shows on CBC TV and CBC Radio One.
Since October 2001, Fanny has enjoyed being the host of Studio 4, where every weekday she connects with amazing story tellers, personalities, artists and newsmakers.
When she is not preparing for the show, Fanny sits on the boards of the BC Achievement Foundation and Journeys with Heart and is an Ambassador for the Vancouver Biennale. She has a star along the Starwalk of the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame and was a recipient of The Spirit of Vancouver Award.
Favourite Movie: Bull Durham
Favourite Book: Nothing but the Marvelous: Wisdoms of Henry Miller
Can’t Live Without: Passion
What Makes Vancouver Great: World-class Art and Architecture encompassing a Working Harbour, situated in a Spectacular Setting.
When Not at work, Fanny can usually be found walking the seawall or enjoying an Espresso at a café with a friend.
Urban Rush
Fiona Forbes
Host, Urban Rush
Fiona Forbes was born and raised in Vancouver and is currently hosting the entertainment talk show Urban Rush in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Forbes received a degree in History from the University of British Columbia and had planned to go to Law School. Instead, on a whim she enrolled in the Journalism Program at The British Columbia Institute of Technology. Before graduating from the program, Fiona got her first job as a TV Host by accident when she auditioned as a dare and landed her first on camera gig.
A self-described extroverted introvert, Fiona has been working in front of the camera for almost 15 years. Forbes has won numerous awards for her TV hosting duties including a number of Leo Awards and Reader's Choice Awards from both The Georgia Straight and The Westender. She has hosted a variety of programs including Daytime on the Rogers Network, Automotive Morning on Life Network, Breakfast Television on City-TV Vancouver and is currently host and producer of the entertainment talk show Urban Rush in Vancouver, British Columbia. In the course of her career as a TV host, Forbes has conducted over 15,000 interviews. Fiona also does extensive work as a Master of Ceremonies for both charitable and corporate events.
Favorite Movie: Star Wars
Favorite Book: The Outsiders
Can’t Live Without: Coffee
What Makes Vancouver Great: Everything
When not at work, Fiona loves going to movies, bike riding and paddle boarding.
Michael Eckford
Host, Urban Rush
Michael has been hosting television shows for fourteen years, twelve of them with Shaw TV. The only thing more shocking than his steady employment is the fact that he has hosted all fourteen years with the beautiful Fiona Forbes. Who knew that someone would be patient enough to tolerate him for over a decade… certainly not his parents, siblings or wife.
Favorite Movie: A tie between "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Blade Runner"
Favorite Book: Impossible to answer. Almost every book has something that makes it interesting. I read constantly and with great joy. The last time my wife and I were on a two week vacation we brought twelve books!
Can't Live Without: Reading with my kids before bedtime...and coffee.
What Makes Vancouver Great: The smell. This city smells better than any city in the world.
Michael and his wife have three kids and when he’s not spending time with his beautiful family, working or exercising, he can be found sleeping. Please don’t wake him; he needs the rest.