Toronto Mike

Patricia Jaggernauth Quits CP24 / Bell Media

Patricia Jaggernauth had been at CP24 since 2011, but she quit earlier this week. Here's her bio from CP24's website, preserved for posterity before it's scrubbed.

Patricia Jaggernauth is a Weather Specialist and Remote Reporter for Toronto’s Breaking News, CP24. Since joining the CP24 team in June 2011, the bright and cheerful television personality has quickly gained popularity among the station’s broad viewership base, taking Torontonians through local forecasts and extreme weather events such as the 2013 ice storm. She also takes viewers through various events across the Greater Toronto Area, such as the Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival.

Prior to joining CP24, Jaggernauth appeared on CTV, Global, MuchMusic, SLICE, and MTV, over the past decade. She was a host, writer and producer at Emmy® Award-winning digital television channel BITE TV.

A true fashionista, Jaggernauth founded the online clothing and jewellery boutique, PJ GLAMGIRL. Her pieces have been seen on glam girls across North America, at fashion shows, on films and television and online.

An active member in her community, Jaggernauth often lends her time to notable charitable events, awards and galas across Canada. Jaggernauth has collaborated with the Arrive Alive Drive Sober Charity on a mission of awareness, which aims to eliminate impaired driving in Ontario and across Canada. She is currently featured in  a national television and radio public service campaign, singing her original song "Arrive Alive”. In 2016, Jaggernauth was honoured with the prestigious Harry Jerome Award from the Black Business & Professional Association (BBPA). In 2014, she was awarded the Media Tribute Award for her many contributions to the charity.

This is a developing story, but it seems there is more here than meets the eye. I suspect we'll hear much more about it in the days to come. It was not a pleasant and happy departure.

Patricia, if you're reading this, contact me. I'd love to have you on Toronto Mike'd to talk about this.

Update on October 7 @ 5:40pm

CBC reports Patricia Jaggernauth has filed a human rights complaint against Bell Media, alleging "a systemic pattern" of racism, sexism and discrimination, adding that during her 11 years with the company, she was "treated as a token and a commodity."

In a complaint filed with the Canadian Human Rights Commission on Wednesday, Patricia Jaggernauth, a weather specialist, remote reporter and co-host for the Bell-owned news channel CP24, describes being repeatedly passed over for promotions and earning less than a living wage.

Jaggernauth says she watched as white colleagues, often newer ones, made it higher up the corporate ladder, while she wasn't even offered a contract — something she attributes to the fact that she is a racialized woman.

Part Guyanese and part Jamaican, Jaggernauth claims she was denied full-time stable employment and was instead forced to work weeks straight without a day off — an experience she says landed her in hospital with pneumonia because she felt she had no choice but to put work ahead of her health.

"I almost died doing what I loved because a freelancer can't say no. Every hour is bread, every hour is rent, every hour is that tank of gas," said Jaggernauth, who resigned from Bell Media last Tuesday.

In an email to CBC News, a Bell Media spokesperson said, "We do not comment on matters involving current or former staff members, but can confirm that Bell Media takes allegations of any potential discrimination very seriously, and are committed to a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment where employees can thrive.

"If a matter is brought to our attention where an employee did not feel adequately supported, a process is triggered to review and address when required."
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