NIRMALA NAIDOO

Nirmala Naidoo co-anchors the News Hour weeknights at 6:00pm.

Born in South Africa, Nirmala grew up in Calgary in a family guided by parents with a background in education. After graduating from the University of Alberta she earned her journalism degree at Carleton University in Ottawa.

She began her career in Toronto as an investigative journalist and then moved to England in 1991 to cover the Gulf War with the NBC London Bureau. In 1995, Nirmala returned to Calgary and joined 2 & 7 (now Global Calgary) to anchor and pursue investigative reporting.

Career highlights have included covering the Royal Family, the IRA bombing campaign in Britain, making a documentary in Guatemala and an award winning story on a Calgary teenage runaway dying of Aids.

Nirmala feels her career has given her the opportunity to be the voice for those who often don’t have one. Nirmala feels strong about community involvement and has been apart of The Wings of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation, The Juvenile Diabetes Association and the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association. She’s also the Honorary Chair, of AVENTA – an addiction treatment foundation for women, and an avid supporter of programs for literacy, cultural diversity and children mentorship.

Favorite TV shows: Classics like ‘Mary Tyler Moore’ and ‘All In the Family,’ as well as ‘Will and Grace’ and ‘Survivor’

Favorite books: Mostly non-fiction. "Real life is often more astonishing than fiction," she says.

Favorite people: Her Family and friends, Nirmala also lists as her inspirations "anyone with style, grace and integrity who uses their position or celebrity to help others — Nelson Mandela, Ghandi, Princess Diana and Audrey Hepburn to name a few."

Favorite Hobbies: Naidoo admits to being a dedicated "foodie" who loves to cook and experiment.

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