"I can't think of much that would compare with covering the royal wedding for CTV. That was a fantasy come true, especially because I got to go to London a few weeks in advance and had an exclusive interview with Philip Treacy, who designed some of those fabulous hats that the royal wedding party wore, including Princess Bea's outrageous hat. Then to be there, reporting live from a rooftop overlooking Westminster Abbey on that incredible day in history – I will never forget it."
– Jeanne Beker, host of CTV's "Fashion Television"
A baby's breath
"My family was blessed by the birth of my third daughter. The combination of responsibility, fear, appreciation and blessing all blend into one miraculous moment when your baby takes its first breath."
– Roger Mooking, chef and host of Food Network's "Everyday Exotic" and "Heat Seekers"
A bit of a better place
"Mid-January, I opened my email to find a letter from Cpl. J. Young, a Canadian Forces soldier serving in Afghanistan. She'd just read my novel The Birth House. Here's part of what she wrote: 'The past few days, we've had an increase of rocket attacks so I've been stuck in my bunker for 48 hours. I wanted you to know how much I enjoyed your book. Thank you for making this soldier's tent a little bit of a better place.' I never imagined my words would travel to a military base half a world away."
– Ami McKay, author, whose latest novel is The Virgin Cure
A tearful exchange
"When I placed the bag of food in the old woman's hands, she looked at me, tears in her eyes. 'My grandchildren are starving,' she whispered. 'Thank you.' The famine in Somalia had already taken two of her grandchildren and forced her family to walk for 28 days in search of food. What I had brought to the Kenyan/Somali border was simple: rice, flour, oil, sugar and porridge, but it was enough to feed 14,000 people."
– Amanda Lindhout, founder and executive director of The Global Enrichment Foundation (Lindhout spent 15 months as a captive in Somalia from 2008 to 2009.)
Page 2 of 3 -- Read about Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser and financial guru Gail Vaz-Oxlade's favourite moments from 2011.
