George Stroumboulopoulos

George Mark Paul Stroumboulopoulos is a Canadian media personality, broadcaster, television host, radio host, and podcaster. Born in August 1972, he is widely recognized for his early work as a VJ on the music television channel MuchMusic and for serving as the host and co-executive producer of the CBC talk show George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, originally titled The Hour. Over his career, he has anchored major national television broadcasts, hosted long-running radio programs, and interviewed prominent figures in politics, sports, and entertainment.

Stroumboulopoulos was born in Malton, Ontario, a neighbourhood in Mississauga, to a Greek father from Egypt and a Ukrainian mother. He was raised in Toronto primarily by his mother and extended family. After completing secondary school at Ascension of Our Lord, he enrolled in the Radio Broadcasting program at Toronto's Humber College, graduating in 1993.

His broadcasting career began in the spring of 1993 at the rock radio station CKLZ 104.7FM The Lizard in Kelowna, British Columbia. He soon moved back to Toronto to work in talk radio at CJCL before joining CFNY-FM, where he hosted shows such as Live in Toronto. From 2000 to 2004, he worked at MuchMusic as a producer and host for broadcasts including The Punk Show, The NewMusic, MuchLOUD, and MuchNews. He also created and hosted The Strombo Show, a talk and music radio show that aired across the Corus Entertainment network and later broadcast on CBC Music from 2009 to 2023.

In 2004, Stroumboulopoulos advocated for Tommy Douglas on CBC Television's The Greatest Canadian series, leading to Douglas being named the winner. On January 17, 2005, CBC premiered his talk show The Hour, which was shortened and renamed George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight in 2010 before concluding in 2014. Outside of CBC, he hosted the ABC reality talent show The One: Making a Music Star in 2006, the CNN talk show Stroumboulopoulos in 2013, and CBC's documentary series Love, Hate & Propaganda.

In March 2014, Rogers Media selected Stroumboulopoulos as the main anchor for Hockey Night in Canada and the NHL on Rogers, a position he held from October 2014 until June 2016. In August 2020, he joined Apple Music Radio to host the live program STROMBO on Apple Music Hits, and later collaborated with Apple Books to establish the "Strombo's Lit" book club. He also earned a Canadian Screen Award nomination for his supporting role in the comedy web series The Communist's Daughter.

Throughout his career, Stroumboulopoulos has supported numerous humanitarian causes. He co-hosted and executive produced the Canada for Haiti telethon, which raised over $27 million, and was named the World Food Programme's first Canadian National Ambassador Against Hunger in 2011. His achievements have earned him multiple Gemini Awards, a Canadian Screen Award, an appointment to the Order of Canada in 2023, and a 2024 Premier's Award. Stroumboulopoulos resides in Los Angeles, follows a vegan and straight edge lifestyle, and is a fan of the Montreal Canadiens.