French
DeutschDina Pugliese
Dina Pugliese | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Pugliese in 2007 | |
| Born | May 22, 1974 |
| Alma mater | Humber College York University (BA) |
| Occupation(s) | Morning host; CITY-DT, Breakfast Television |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Spouse | Alek Mirkovich |
Dina Pugliese (Italian: [ˈdiːna puʎˈʎeːze, -eːse]; born May 22, 1974) is a Canadian television personality, currently co-host of City Toronto's Breakfast Television. She joined the show in 2006, replacing Liza Fromer.[1]
Career
[edit]Born in Toronto, Pugliese grew up in Woodbridge, Ontario and is of Italian descent.[2] She is a graduate of York University (Sociology and Mass Communications) and Humber College (Journalism). Prior to joining Breakfast Television, she began her career as a producer of Global's The Bynon Show and Toronto 1's Toronto Today, later becoming an entertainment reporter and host of The A-List and Star!'s Star! Daily.[1] She has also hosted MuchMusic's VJ Search and Citytv's New Year's Eve special from Nathan Phillips Square. She is a past member of the Girl Guides of Canada.[3]
Pugliese is married to Alek Mirkovich, founder of campayn.com.[4]
On October 17, 2011, Pugliese was announced as the host of Canada's Got Talent.[5] The first season of the show ran in 2012.[6]
On February 15, 2023, Pugliese announced that she would be leaving Breakfast Television after 16 years, with her final day on February 24.[7] In a 2025 interview with the Toronto Star, she cited burnout from the role as one of the factors in her decision to leave, as well as a desire to care for her family; her husband had received surgery to remove a brain tumour, while her sister had recently been diagnosed with cancer.[7][8] She explained that "I could not get enough rest in the beginning after I left and was wondering, am I ever going to have energy again? So it was a lot of resting and walking and cooking and cleaning and sleeping and then repeat. I had amazing job opportunities come my way, and I was so grateful for that, but I couldn't even imagine stepping onto a stage."[8]
On March 17, 2025, in a surprise on-air announcement, Pugliese returned to Breakfast Television as its co-host alongside new arrival Tim Bolen. The return was kept secret from her colleagues, being concealed in a moose costume before she took off its head to reveal herself. Pugliese had been offered an opportunity to return to the program during a meeting with its executive producer Claire Adams, finding that Breakfast Television was "the one thing that was missing over the last two years. I finally felt ready and prepared, and rested and recovered enough to get back to it."[8]
Awards
[edit]2006 – Gemini Award nomination for Best Host in a Lifestyle/Practical Information or Performing Arts Program or Series for MuchMusic VJ Search – The Series.[1]
2023 – On February 24, 2023, she was presented a Key to the City of Vaughan by Mayor Steven Del Duca for her “outstanding contribution” to the entertainment industry.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Salem, Rob (October 29, 2006). "Dina fits like a slipper on Breakfast Television: The new egg is winning raves as a bright-eyed presence on Toronto's show of shows in the morning", Toronto Star, p. C6.
- ^ Canada, HELLO!. "10 things you might not know about TV personality Dina Pugliese". ca.hellomagazine.com.
- ^ "GGC Fun Facts" (PDF).
- ^ "Rise and shine: Dina Pugliese on celeb gossip, Justin Bieber and being a morning person". www.postcity.com.
- ^ "BT's Dina Pugliese to host Canada's Got Talent". toronto.citynews.ca. October 17, 2011.
- ^ "'Canada's Got Talent' Canceled After First Season". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ a b Ana Pereira, "Breakfast Television co-host Dina Pugliese says she’s leaving the show after 16 years". Toronto Star, February 15, 2023.
- ^ a b c Mudhar, Raju (March 17, 2025). "Dina Pugliese returns to Breakfast Television with new host Tim Bolen: 'I couldn't even imagine performing … like I used to'". Toronto Star. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ "Beloved host Dina Pugliese given key to her hometown after 16 years in TV". ctvnews.ca. February 24, 2023.
External links
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