Brian Stewart is a Canadian journalist best known for his work as a senior correspondent for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s (CBC) flagship news program, The National, where he served for over two decades.
Stewart, a recipient of the Gemini Award for Best Overall Broadcast Journalist in Canada, also hosted current affairs programs such as CBC News: Our World. Following his retirement from full-time reporting in 2009, he has continued to appear on the CBC as a commentator and documentary essayist. Stewart has been active in both print and television journalism since 1964.
He currently holds the role of Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto.
Brian Stewart was born in Montreal in 1942. He spent parts of his youth in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and in England. He attended junior college in Toronto in 1958 and later earned a degree in journalism from Ryerson’s School of Journalism in 1964.
In 1989, Stewart became partnered with fellow CBC journalist and television broadcaster Tina Srebotnjak. The couple has one daughter, Kathleen Stewart, born in 1993. They reside in Toronto.
Stewart began his career in journalism with the Oshawa Times, where he worked from 1964 to 1971. He joined CBC in 1971 and, by 1973, was appointed a national reporter based in Ottawa, covering both foreign and military affairs. In 1982, he became a foreign correspondent for CBC before joining NBC News in 1985 as a foreign correspondent. Stewart returned to CBC in 1987, working as a senior reporter for the award-winning program The Journal.
During his career, Stewart covered global politics and North American issues, earning a reputation as one of Canada’s leading foreign correspondents. He reported from over ten conflict zones, including El Salvador and Afghanistan, providing groundbreaking coverage of global conflicts. In a notable moment during the Gulf War, Stewart was one of the few Canadian reporters to enter and report from Kuwait City following its liberation in 1991.
Stewart drew critical acclaim for his reporting on child slavery, including his investigative documentary Sudan: Children of Darkness. The program highlighted the brutal conditions faced by child slaves, earning several national and international honors. It was awarded the prestigious UNDA Prize at the Monte Carlo Television Festival, praising its contribution to global awareness.
Though retired from active journalism, Stewart’s legacy continues through his documentary contributions, including collaborations on features such as The War Reporters produced by Brian McKenna. His insights are frequently sought by professionals across sectors, including diplomats, media analysts, and financial experts.
Over his career, Stewart has been the recipient of numerous awards for journalistic excellence. He won the Gemini Award for Best Overall Broadcast Journalist and the Gordon Sinclair Award in 1996. In 1994, he received several Gemini nominations for Best Information Segment, recognizing his impactful journalism and dedication to informing the public.
| Birth Date: | 27 Apr, 1922 |
| Age: | 97 yrs |
| Occupations: | Diplomat |
| Citizenship: | United Kingdom United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Birth Place: | Edinburgh |
| Education: | Glenalmond College |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | Scottish diplomat |
