Piya Chattopadhyay (BA’95)
Outstanding Impact Award
This award recognizes an extraordinary alumnus/alumna who is currently making significant personal and professional contributions in society, demonstrating exceptional leadership in their field(s) of endeavour, maintaining a standard of excellence that inspires their colleagues and peers, with promise of future achievement and resulting in a demonstrable betterment of their community.
Award-winning Canadian broadcast journalist Piya Chattopadhyay (BA’95) is known as one of the country’s most trusted voices in public broadcasting. With a career spanning more than two decades in radio and television, she has built a distinguished reputation for thoughtful, probing journalism that brings diverse voices and complex issues to the forefront of public conversation.
Born and raised in Saskatoon, Sask., to parents who immigrated to Saskatchewan from India in 1968, Chattopadhyay earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political studies at the College of Arts and Science at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) in 1995 before studying journalism in Toronto. Her education at USask laid the foundation for a career in broadcast media that has been defined by intellectual rigour, curiosity, and a strong commitment to public-service storytelling.
Chattopadhyay began her career with CBC as a reporter in multiple Canadian cities before reporting internationally. In 2007, she became the Middle East correspondent for Fox News Radio, based in Jerusalem. After returning to Canada, she transitioned to hosting and anchoring, becoming a trusted voice across CBC Radio, CBC Television, and TVOntario. From 2016 to 2020, Chattopadhyay hosted CBC Radio One’s Out in the Open, a program known for its human-centred exploration of social issues. Since 2020, she has hosted The Sunday Magazine, CBC Radio One’s pre-eminent weekend current affairs program, leading in-depth conversations that help Canadians better understand the world around them. Chattopadhyay is truly among the upper tier of media voices on the national stage, with a weekly audience reach that extends beyond two million listeners.
Beyond her on-air work, Chattopadhyay is widely regarded as a leader within her profession. She mentors emerging journalists, contributes to editorial standards that emphasize public service, and helps shape programming that is thoughtful, inclusive, and socially responsible. Chattopadhyay is known for volunteering her time to universities and public institutions by participating in guest lectures and moderated conversations, including returning to USask’s College of Arts and Science as an Alumni of Influence award recipient to engage with students and faculty in the college. In 2015, Chattopadhyay was a guest speaker at a talk with students in USask’s Edwards School of Business. She was also interviewed by a writer working with USask’s student newspaper, The Sheaf, where Chattopadhyay once served as a reporter herself.
Chattopadhyay has been recognized with numerous awards and honours throughout her career. For example, she is a two-time Gabriel Award recipient, including in 2010 for the documentary Do No Harm. Chattopadhyay has also received New York Festivals Radio Awards, RTDNA Canada Awards, and an award from the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA), reflecting international peer recognition for excellence in broadcast journalism and storytelling. In 2025, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the Royal Military College of Canada, recognizing her exceptional contributions to journalism, public discourse, and ethical leadership in media. Her biggest achievement, along with her husband and fellow journalist Peter Armstrong, is being a mom to her three teenage children, Jasmine, Niko, and Julian.