Angie Poirier – 50 years of Algonquin College Stories

Posted on Thursday, November 23rd, 2017

Angie Poirier’s mom has probably forgiven her daughter for murdering all her houseplants when she attended Algonquin College’s Broadcasting program a few years back. Heck, if the plants hadn’t died, maybe Poirier wouldn’t be the well-known radio and TV personality she is today.

Poirier, the petite blonde co-host of Majic 100’s morning show and weekend co-host for CTV Morning Live, remembers clearly the student project that led to the plants’ premature demise.

“I was putting together a safari show for kids where they would learn about exotic animals. On a student budget we had to come up with all of our own props and set decoration. I remember going to my mom’s house… and taking all of her plants and transporting them to the school in a pickup truck. They did not make the trip home again.”

Mom carried a grudge for years, says Poirier, but “the set looked great.”

While this one show might not have made Poirier’s career, she is convinced that her overall Algonquin experience was the springboard to her success.

“It has been incredible how my career took off since I was able to get the skills that I learned at Algonquin,” says Poirier who has been working steadily in Ottawa TV and radio, both on an off air, since graduating in 1999.

Poirier had previously studied journalism at Carleton, but, she says, “when I did the (broadcasting) program at Algonquin, I literally landed a job right away out of the program. So I credit Algonquin with giving me everything I need to work in the field I am in now.”

If Algonquin gave her a career, that career has given Poirier a certain standing in the community, a public profile she’s been happy to use for the public good. She routinely emcees charity events and hosts fundraisers for local organizations, and in 2012 was the campaign co-chair for United Way Ottawa’s community campaign.

“Those are the things that I take as achievements, “ she says, “when we’re able to give back in our own community.”

Poirier describes herself as a naturally shy person who had to be persuaded to get out in front of a camera. “Just keep an open mind, “ she advises current students in Algonquin’s broadcasting program, “because you never know, some opportunities might open that will push you out of your comfort zone, and take you in a direction you… never thought you could go.”

While her career has gone in a surprising direction, the biggest changes have been in the broadcasting industry itself, she says. “It used to be … everybody would sit around the television and watch that trusted news anchor that you watched every night. It’s just not that way any more. People can get their news anytime, anywhere.”

In these days of precipitous tweets and retweets, Poirier says, “journalists are the ones who can filter through the noise.”

She speaks with pride of being invited by Algonquin to give the convocation address to the School of Media and Design recently. “I thought that was quite an honour for your own school to ask you to come back and speak to grads.”

“At the end of the day I just want to be someone that people trust, ” Poirier says.

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