Lori Paris, much-loved Canadian Press news anchor and supervisor, has died at 46

Lori Paris, who became both a mainstay of the airwaves during her decade as a Canadian Press broadcaster and a beloved newsroom leader, died suddenly over the weekend at the age of 46.

Paris developed necrotizing fasciitis after falling while walking her beloved dog last week and died Saturday morning at Toronto Western Hospital, her sister said.

News of her death sent shockwaves through her workplace, where Paris was universally liked and won the respect of fellow journalists drawn to her cheerful presence, sarcastic humor and rigorous work ethic.

The former Canadian Press news director, who worked with Paris for a decade, said he will remember the broadcaster for her talent, adventurous spirit and warmth.

“She was an excellent broadcaster. She loved radio. She knew what made good radio and she loved being a part of creating that, that was her skill and her passion,” Rose Kingdon said Sunday in a phone interview.

“Lori was always up for an adventure…nothing deterred or intimidated her.”

Kingdon described Paris as having a “magnetic personality”, which helped her make friends easily.

“Wherever she was, she attracted people because she was so warm. People always wanted to be around her.”

Kingdon said Paris was meticulous in her work and her high standards meant she was often responsible for training new staff.

“If Lori was going to teach you anything, she’d teach you how to do good,” she said.

A Facebook post by Beth Paris, which outlined her sister’s cause of death, said family and friends were struggling to come to terms with the sudden and devastating loss.

“He was a force,” she wrote.

Lori Paris was an intrepid traveler who visited Belize, Guatemala and Malta in the past two years alone.

“I was constantly amazed at how fearlessly and energetically he traveled the world. He would spend hours planning, plotting, fixing his layovers to soak up as much as he could,” wrote Beth Paris.

Paul Tragni, Paris’ boyfriend of about 15 years, said her frequent travels fit in with another passion: cooking. Wherever her travels took her, Tragni said Paris would always be sure to find a cooking class and bring home new culinary skills.

Making delicious food and sharing it with others was Paris’ way of showing her love, Tragni said, adding that she always had several incredible dishes ready to eat when friends came over.

“Food was our conversation, food was our love. Food was our passion. Food was her love language,” Tragni said in an interview Sunday, recalling the croquettes, empanadas, paella and other dishes elaborates that he made.

“Lori was one of a kind. Lori was one of those irreplaceable people,” he said, adding that she was a trusted confidant to many and always made her friends feel loved.

Paris loved animals and leaves behind her beloved pets, two cats and a dog. She was especially fond of Samoyeds—the big, fluffy, white dogs she had most of her life. Last fall, she brought home a mischievous Samoyed puppy named Sully.

Tragni said her love for animals extends beyond her pets, and she would go out of her way to help injured birds or squirrels she encountered on walks.

“He would find a baby squirrel and take it to a sanctuary,” he said, adding that he once made an hour-long taxi ride from Toronto to bring an animal he found to a rescue organization he knew will give him the proper care. “She was a lifelong animal lover.”

Paris first joined The Canadian Press in 2013 after years working in radio newsrooms in Ottawa and Toronto. She quickly stood out with her smooth delivery in the air and was immediately embraced by her teammates.

In 2021, she became editor and after-hours news anchor, guiding the company’s overnight news coverage.

“During the (COVID-19) pandemic, she raised her hand for one of the most challenging and important shifts we have: overnight,” said Canadian Press Editor-in-Chief Andrea Baillie.

“It’s a tough job, essentially working alone, monitoring the entire country for breaking news. But Lori was solid, a strong editor with impressive decision-making skills.”

Paris was part of the team that was nominated for a National Newspaper Award in breaking news for coverage of the British Columbia wildfires last summer.

She was promoted to assistant audio editor at The Canadian Press just six months before her death.

Beth Paris advised those who wish to mourn their sister to pay tribute by focusing on what brought Lori joy in life.

“May I be so bold as to suggest you eat a nice meal, crack open a bottle of wine, keep your pets close and book that trip you’ve always wanted to take,” she wrote she. “Lori will be there with you.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 30, 2024.

Lyndsay Armstrong, Canadian Press