Kevin Earl Frankish is a Canadian

television presenter A television presenter (or television host, some become a "television personality") is a person who introduces or hosts television show, television programs, often serving as a mediator for the program and the audience. It is common for people ...

and media personality. He co-hosted '' Breakfast Television Toronto'' on Citytv Toronto from 1991 to 2018 and now teaches journalism at

Seneca College Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology, branded as Seneca Polytechnic since 2023, is a multi-campus public college in the Greater Toronto Area and Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. It offers full-time and part-time programs at the baccala ...

Biography

Frankish was born to Allan and Vivianne Frankish at The

Royal Columbian Hospital Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH) is among the oldest hospitals in British Columbia and one of the busiest in the Fraser Health, Fraser Health Authority. It is located in New Westminster overlooking the Fraser River and is the only hospital in the L ...

New Westminster New Westminster (colloquially known as New West) is a city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Metro Vancouver Regional District. It was founded by Major-General Richard Moody as the cap ...

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

. He grew up in North Bay, Ontario and attended St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Catholic Secondary School. In 1981 he got a part-time job with CKNY-CHNB TV in North Bay as a weekend camera and reporter. He attended

Canadore College Canadore College is a college of applied arts and technology located in North Bay, Ontario, Canada, attended primarily by international students. It was founded in 1967 as a campus of Sudbury's Cambrian College, and became an independent institu ...

and received a diploma in radio and television broadcasting. In 1983, he joined the staff at CKVR-TV in

Barrie, Ontario Barrie is a city in Central Ontario, Canada, about north of Toronto. The city is within Simcoe County and located along the shores of Kempenfelt Bay. Although it is physically in the county, Barrie is politically independent. The city is par ...

. At CKVR, he began a practice of ending every broadcast with a

wink A wink is a facial expression made by briefly closing one eye. A wink is an informal mode of non-verbal communication usually signaling shared hidden knowledge or intent. However, it is ambiguous by itself and highly dependent upon additional c ...

, his way of saying "hi" to his wife Beth (married in 1988). He continued signing-off with a wink for the entirety of his career. In 1991, Frankish joined

Citytv Citytv (sometimes shortened to City, which was the network's official branding from 2012 to 2018) is a Television in Canada, Canadian television network owned by the Rogers Sports & Media subsidiary of Rogers Communications. The network consis ...

(then CKVR's sister-station) as the traffic reporter and eventually became one of the main hosts of '' Breakfast Television Toronto'' (alongside

Dina Pugliese Dina Pugliese (; born May 22, 1974) is a Canadian television personality. She has served as a co-host of Citytv's morning show ''Breakfast Television'', initially from 2006 to 2023, and returning in 2025. Career Born in Toronto, Pugliese grew ...

). For many years, he also handled the overnight ''

CityPulse City''News'' is the title of news and current affairs programming on Rogers Sports & Media's Citytv network in Canada. The newscast division was founded on September 28, 1975 as City''Pulse'' as a standalone local newscast on the network's Toron ...

'' updates, anchoring them directly from the assignment desk, even controlling the camera himself. After suffering a

panic attack Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear and Comfort, discomfort that may include palpitations, otherwise defined as a Tachycardia, rapid, Arrhythmia, irregular Heart rate, heartbeat, Hyperhidrosis, sweating, chest pain or discomfort, s ...

on the air in 2006, Frankish publicly discussed his panic attacks and struggle with depression with viewers and has since become a very active advocate for mental health issues. In 2012 Frankish was awarded the Queen's Jubilee Medal for his community service, particularly with Easter Seals, an organization he has worked with for 40 years. In 2018 parent company Rogers Communications suddenly terminated his employment with Citytv. Frankish announced he was leaving ''Breakfast Television Toronto'', effective June 1, 2018. In his announcement he mentioned, "Many of you who started watching me as kids, come up to me now with kids of your own. Some of you may remember when I proposed to my wife on air. I have shared with you the birth of all four of my children. When I had that panic attack on air, I shared that with you and we have since gone on a journey of my battle with depression together. Many of you in turn have shared so many of your stories. We are truly family." He continues to work in media as a public speaker, content creator and is a journalism professor at

York University York University (), also known as YorkU or simply YU), is a public university, public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, and it has approximately 53,500 students, 7,000 faculty and staff, ...

. He runs Kevin Frankish Media, a media content and creation company and has a YouTube channel. He is also on the board of directors of

St. John Ambulance St John Ambulance is an affiliated movement of charitable organisations in mostly Commonwealth countries which provide first aid education and consumables and emergency medical services. St John organisations are primarily staffed by volunte ...

Ontario Division, still hosts the annual Easter Seals Telethon on CBC TV and works with several organizations helping those with mental health issues and homelessness. Frankish hosted an afternoon show on 105.9-The Region with another former CityTV personality,

Ann Rohmer Ann Margaret Rohmer (born March 2, 1958) is a Canadian television personality known for her work on Citytv and CP24 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Early life and career Rohmer's father is Richard Rohmer, an officer with the Royal Canadian Air For ...

. He has left broadcast radio and now works to advocate mental health. In 2025 he joined

CFIQ CFIQ (640 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Richmond Hill, Ontario, and serving Greater Toronto, Southern Ontario and Western New York with a talk format known as "640 Toronto". Owned by Corus Entertainment, CFIQ's studios are loca ...

as interim host of ''Toronto Today'' during a leave of absence by regular host Greg Brady.Connie Thiessen
"Kevin Frankish to step in for Greg Brady on Toronto’s AM 640"
''Broadcast Dialogue'', March 18, 2025.

Personal life

In March 2018 Frankish and his wife Beth decided on an amicable separation. He now lives in

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

. During their 30 years of marriage they had four children. Frankish's father passed away in 2015. His 90-year-old mother still lives in his adopted hometown of North Bay.

References

External links

Kevin Frankish
{{DEFAULTSORT:Frankish, Kevin 1964 births Canadian television journalists Canadore College alumni Journalists from Toronto Living people Canadian television hosts Citytv people Academic staff of Seneca College