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Canadian TV personality still a shining star

By Jim Gordon and Leeta Liepins

Published 2:26 PST, Fri November 25, 2022

Last Updated: 4:22 PST, Fri December 9, 2022

Erin Cebula is a television personality and former West Coast correspondent for Entertainment Tonight Canada. She continues to be a familiar face on television and in print throughout B.C. The Our City Tonight team recently spoke with Cebula about her career highlights.

Our City Tonight: One of the things you have done extremely well is to include diversity in your career. You have (had) a lot of different jobs over the last 20 years—what (do) you have going on right now?

Erin Cebula: I’ve always believed in the “side hustle,” that you can’t put all your eggs in one basket. We all know in broadcasting that there often isn’t that “unicorn job” that will keep you employed for years and years. I’m also a variety junkie, and I like to do lots of different things professionally with a variety of different people. I actually started my career behind the scenes filming and editing. I’m at a new place in my life and I have a new motto which I didn’t have before. I was such a grinder, thinking you had to work seven days a week to be happy and successful—now I choose only good projects with good people. I also want more free time than I did when I was younger. I have found that I’m better at my job if I have time to get off the “hamster wheel” and allow myself to be calm, be grounded, spend time with family and friends, and take care of myself.  

OCT: You have had several long runs on various TV shows including Entertainment Tonight Canada, which took you all over the world. When you do that for a long time, you maybe do need something challenging that would allow you to be in one place for a little while. 

EC: At first it was the best—it was glamorous. I’ve been all over the world and I’m very grateful for my years with them, but you can get to the point where you realize you are away so much that you just can’t pack another suitcase, can’t miss another loved one’s birthday, or niece’s first day at school. That has always been important to me. It was my husband who one day said to me, “You have to leave something for us,” and I really took that to heart. Those experiences I’ll never forget, but now when I get on a plane it’s for me.

OCT: We should talk about another long-running job, which I understand is close to your heart: the BC Children’s Hospital Lottery.

EC: That came along at the perfect time in my life. I was busy with three jobs at the time and it was wonderful, but I felt there was a void. I was always taught to give back, and at that point in my life, it felt like it was time to start doing that. I had been given a lot of great opportunities and had good luck, but it was time. It just so happened that, I believe it was Jennifer Mather who was moving on to other things, and there was an opening. I immediately raised my hand and said, “Me, me, please.” My thinking was if I could do something in TV where I could use my skills and also give back to my community, that would be wonderful. I believe I’ve been with them for 15 years and we have raised nearly $50 million for the hospital—that’s incredible. How many TV jobs give you that opportunity? The team is the same people that produce it; they have become family and are the greatest people to work with.

For the full video interview, visit richmondsentinel.ca/videos.

Jim Gordon and Leeta Liepins are contributing writers to the Richmond Sentinel.

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