No two days the same at the Weather Network
Saphia Khambalia worked at Cable 14. Don’t take, give, she says
Name: Saphia Khambalia Age: 31
Position: Anchor and reporter at The Weather Network
Job description: I broadcast in the studio at the green screen (in the TWN Oakville Headquarters) and report live in the field or shoot fun weather related stories. I get the great privilege of giving Canadians (including many viewers in Hamilton) the latest information they need to know on the weather conditions that they experience daily. Of course, being from Hamilton I love any excuse to come back to Steeltown with a camera in tow. Most recently, I came to Hamilton for a TV story that involved a few local businesses as well as ArcelorMittal Dofasco and the Hamilton Bulldogs.
How did you come to be in this job?
I’ve always wanted to be in media and was bitten by the TV bug at a young age. Actually, it was doing behind the scenes work at Cable 14 and volunteer writing for the Stoney Creek News while still in high school when I really fell in love with this industry. When I went to journalism school at Ryerson University, TV broadcasting was certainly my pipe dream. I worked a lot of long hours putting in my dues at TV stations all over the province (reporting in Toronto, Windsor and Sudbury).
Then, wanting to work closer to our area after our first child was born, I’m lucky an opportunity was available to join The Weather Network in 2015. Timing is everything.
What gets you up in the morning?
No two days in Canadian weather are ever the same and the same goes for working in broadcast. It keeps things fresh and fun when you can always learn something new about your craft. However, the No. 1 thing that gets me up in the morning is the viewers. It’s an honour to be let into people’s homes and become a part of their day.
Lessons learned?
• Humility. Love yourself and laugh at your mistakes, often!
• Strive for excellence. Never for perfection: it doesn’t exist.
• Don’t look for handouts. Every opportunity is what you make of it. I learned how to shoot and edit my own footage and took-on international journalism opportunities while following my roots in East Africa.
Roots:
Boomeranger. My family is from Hamilton. I was born out of town but we moved back when I was a baby. So I’ve been in the area since infancy and all of our family still is.
Groups and associations:
I’m proud to act as a spokesperson supporting Parkinson Canada, within the province of Ontario. I bring awareness for the organization that is there to help so many people living with the disease and caregivers.
It’s all in the memory of my beloved grandfather who battled it himself. This April is Parkinson Awareness Month and my message is to have empathy. Always. Which is especially important to heed for our generation that takes so much. I say give as much as you can instead.
Recent social media post(s):
A photo of me cuddling with my 4-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter. I don’t post many pictures of my kids. However, this one was special. It’s the little moments like this that you hold on to forever that rarely get captured. My heart melts every time I look at it!
Favourite place in the downtown:
Ottawa Street for fabric shopping and checking out all the cool stores and restaurants that have opened up. I’ve gotten really into crafting with my kids lately, so I stock-up on goodies at the fabric stores!
What would make Hamilton a better city?
Ensuring the protection of some of our amazing green space and farming land in the Greater Hamilton area.
I remember driving down Highway 8 and Ridge Road toward Winona, almost every day as a child and loved stopping at all the farms for fresh fruit and veggies. Now there’s a ton of new development in some of that same space.
While a housing boom is great for the market, I think it’s always important to keep the integrity of the some of the most prized Canadian farming land in the greenbelt at a priority as well.
What’s next for you?
Outside of work I love living an active lifestyle with my husband and kids. And you can bet I’m always asked around town “What’s the weather going to be like?”
As a family we have lots of plans of hanging out in cottage country and hiking closer to home.