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TRACY MOORE A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE

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TRACY

MOORE A Woman of Substance

She’s perhaps most well known as the host of Cityline, Canada’s longest running and most influential daytime program for women in Canada, but Tracy Moore’s identity stems far beyond the television screens as similar to her viewers and a vast majority of women across the world, she regularly juggles multiple roles and responsibilities as a wife, mother, and career woman.

Academically inclined and vocal from an early age, Tracy’s ability to successfully juggle multiple roles and responsibilities developed while in school, as she grew up to be “that girl” who not only achieved high marks, but was also a baton twirler and part of practically every single student group possible, including the Caribbean Student Organization and Student Council, where she served as Vice-President. Unsurprisingly, she took a liking to public speaking, journalism and writing – and her talents were initially recognized and encouraged by her grade 9 teacher Ms. Holding, whom she credits as one of her inspirations.

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After high school, Tracy went on to solidify her expertise in the craft by completing an Undergraduate Degree in Political Science/ Journalism at McGill University. However, it wasn’t until she began pursuing a Masters Degree in Journalism at Western University that she discovered her passion for another facet of journalism, also known as broadcast journalism.

Tracy made her rounds with Breakfast Television and the CBC, where she met her husband, and was even pursuing opportunities with NBC, ABC and CNN abroad, but the universe had other plans for her.

While pregnant with her first child, Tracy was encouraged by a producer at City TV to audition as a host for Cityline. Fast-forward to 2017, and this talk show queen is celebrating eight years as host and is just about ready to celebrate the show’s 2000th episode. Speaking about her most memorable moments from the show, Tracy remembers witnessing the love and overwhelming support for the show when it went on the road to Edmonton and Calgary in 2013.

She also vividly remembers interviewing Oprah on the red carpet for her Life Class event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. It was a testament to Tracy’s talent when the talk show mogul admired her interviewing skills and commented that she had asked a “great question.” Without a doubt, a compliment from this female media mogul is EVERYTHING to Tracy, who like Oprah, realizes the equal importance of gender and race issues –including celebrating occasions associated with them like Black History Month and International Women’s Day. According to Tracy, these occasions allow individuals and communities to celebrate some wins, acknowledge where they are in the struggle and figure out what more needs to be done.

She feels that while the occasions should continue to be celebrated, the history associated with issues like race and gender need to be woven into the daily curriculum at school and remembered and celebrated by communities throughout the year.

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Besides her husband, Tracy also credits herself with being realistic of the tasks she is able to accomplish and forgiving of what she is not able to do. She always tries her best and is happy with the outcome, regardless of what it might be.

In short, she doesn’t feel the need to “check off all the boxes.”

As a black woman, Tracy says that she cannot dissect her personality and therefore, gender and race issues are both equally important to her. While she strongly believes that race issues should be addressed more inclusively, Tracy, whose parents were no strangers to racism while she was growing up, also believes that feminism needs to understand what it means to be a woman of colour.

Born to Jamaican parents, Tracy was raised to always view the glass as being half full, and that positive mental outlook on life inspired her and her sister in many ways. For example, despite being subjected to racism at a time when there were not many Black families in Richmond Hill where she grew up, her parents remained unaffected and always emphasized the notion of having fun and succeeding in life.

Their positivity and influence undoubtedly played a huge role in shaping Tracy’s personality, career and life in general as she has not only succeeded on a grand scale in her professional but personal life as well.

In fact, along with her parents, Tracy lists her husband as an inspirational figure in her life.

She also credits him as one of the key reasons for her ability to simultaneously handle career and family responsibilities with ease, as he is an excellent co-parent to their two children.

Despite this sentiment, one relatively new box that she has quite happily and successfully checked off is that of entrepreneur. This role initially began in 2016, when she became a brand ambassador for Freda’s, a fashion house based in Toronto. In collaboration with them, Tracy began working on a fashion line, which launched on the Shopping Channel. The line, which launched in 2016, was tailored to busy women who juggle multiple roles and responsibilities, like her. According to Tracy, it made sense to take her relationship with Freda’s to the next level as they have been a wardrobe staple for her while hosting Cityline. Interestingly enough, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau wore one of Tracy’s dresses in the fall of 2016 to greet the Chinese Premier. Tracy’s collection, which can be found online, is also available exclusively through the Shopping Channel across the country. Her new collection, which is 100% Canadian made, will be launching in April.

Besides entrepreneurship, Tracy, along with her husband would one day like to start their own children’s foundation. The focus of the charity would most likely be related to child welfare or addressing self-esteem issues and boosting confidence, as that’s a value that her own parents instilled in her throughout her childhood. Without a doubt this value, coupled with her own hard work and support from her near and dear ones is one of the core reasons for Tracy’s own phenomenal success.

@THETRACYMOORE @FREDASTORONTO #TMXFREDAS

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LAWRENCE KERR PHOTOGRAPHY

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