Jeanne Beker is one of the most influential women in the fashion industry—in Canada and around the world. A long-time celebrity, Jeanne speaks on how she rose to the top of arts and culture media as the iconic host of TV’s Fashion Television, along with what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.
Jeanne started her professional “show biz” career when she was just 16, when she moved to New York to study acting, and to Paris to study mime. In 1975, she found herself in St. John’s, Newfoundland, covering arts for CBC radio.

Three years later, Jeanne landed a job at Toronto’s CHUM radio. In 1979, she helped launch the ground-breaking series The New Music, on CITY TV, which she co-hosted for six years.  A founding member of MuchMusic, Jeanne continued to trail-blaze, and in 1985, launched the legendary Fashion Television, which she presented on in over 130 countries for 27 years.

A seasoned newspaper columnist and features writer, Jeanne was editor-in-chief of FQ and SIR magazines from 2003 to 2008; she has authored five books; and she is a frequent guest on myriad lifestyle shows.

Jeanne has been at the creative helm of numerous fashion lines under her own eponymous label, and since 2015, has been Style Editor for The Shopping Channel, where she currently hosts the series “Style Matters”.

Active with several charitable organizations, Jeanne received an honourary doctorate from St. Mary’s University, and is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Special Achievement Award from the Canadian Academy of Cinema and Television, and a Crystal Award from Toronto Women in Film and Television.
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In 2014, Jeanne was named to the Order of Canada, and she was inducted into the American Marketing Association’s Hall of Legends in 2015. She also received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2016, and an honorary doctorate from OCAD University in 2018.

~ Martin and Farah Perelmuter, Speakers' Spotlight

'The Grandmothers' have been photographed, varnished and wired and are now being packaged to deliver to the Leighton Centre for the exhibit that will run from February 5 until April 2. I have yet to print up all the stories and photographs to include in the exhibition. I'll also bring the two booklets that were created for this exhibit for anyone interested in taking a peek. I'm nervously excited!

Now that the 'Extraordinary Women' project is complete, I need to varnish and wire all the pieces...and, hopefully find a place to exhibit them this year. There are still so many women I would love to paint. It's been so interesting to complete all of these projects as I've found out things about each woman that is absolutely inspiring. With my first portrait project, 'Heroes', I learned so many things and was encouraged by all of the women who have overcome the most incredible obstacles to thrive.
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And I am still looking for stories and photographs of women for my next portrait project...I was originally asking for women who have disproportianately been affected by the pandemic for the upcoming 'Woman's Work' project. I realized that not everyone wants to share difficult stories, so I have decided to open it to include any women who would like to be included in this one. If you'd like, I'd love to hear a bit about you...it can be a sentence or two or even longer...whatever you'd like to share. I would love to paint portraits of any woman who would like to share a bit about the work they do...from parenting, to volunteering, to working at any job or career or anything else. Or share the work that you'd love to do or have done. The work contributed by women is so important.
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I would be thrilled to include women from anywhere in the world. The photographs and stories I've received so far have been absolutely wonderful...thank you so much for sharing. I need at least one photograph and a bit about you and the work you do. I'd also be happy to select a photograph from social media if you'd prefer. And, please feel free to share with other amazing women you know. You can message me on instagram or email me here. 

After many, many years of selecting a Word-of-the-Year to set my intention for the upcoming year rather than making New Year's Resolutions, I am happy to select a new one this year. I've decided to choose 'Abundance' because I tend to feel as though whenever something good happens in my life it will be followed by something bad rather than basking in the goodness. I don't know where that comes from or why I feel this way but I have decided to allow the good stuff and be so grateful for it. So, here's to more good things!

If you'd like to read about my previous Word-of-the-Year selections, please visit here and here.
​And if you choose a WOTY, I'd love to hear more about it.