Jeanne Beker: Canada's fashion guru turns 66

An icon for Canadian women - The 'Canada 150 Women' Twitter account—for the book that features 150 groundbreaking Canadian women—wrote, "@Jeanne_Beker is a multi-media fashion #entrepreneur. Her advice to women seeking a similar career is to think outside the box + be original: 'You must blaze your own trails. What I stress is that you need to have a point of view. That's what is going to differentiate you.'"

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She's solidified her place in history - With a net worth of $2 million, and a career that spans over many fields and decades, Beker paved the way for fashion journalists and entrepreneurs, simultaneously exemplifying just what women and the arts can do.

(Photo: Flickr)

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People have noticed - Beker received the 'Crystal' lifetime achievement award by Women in Film and Television in 2006, the Canadian Award of Distinction from the Banff World Media Festival in 2012, and the Academy Achievement Award from the Canadian Screen Awards—for her exceptional contributions to the Canadian television industry—in 2013.

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She's kind of a big deal - Beker was also inducted into the Order of Canada in 2014 for her support of the Canadian fashion industry, and she received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 2016.

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From covering the red carpet to walking on it - Beker spoke to ET Canada about her star, "This one in particular hits a special kind of note. It really strikes a chord because it's about glam, it's about really resonating with people out there because you've been out there on some kind of major platform and you've managed to touch people."

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Woman of distinction - She was joined by Nobuko Kan, former Olympic rower Silken Laumann, Canadian Olympic medallist figure skater Joannie Rochette, U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, Canadian Senator Pamela Wallin, and Laureen Harper at the "Women of Distinction" luncheon as part of the G20 Summit in 2010.

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How everyone knows her name - For three decades, Beker hosted 'Fashion Television,' a Canadian-produced show that explored the world of design, artistic innovation, fashion personalities, and creative processes that reached viewers in more than 130 countries.

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'Fashion Television' praise - Beker was host and segment producer for the entire program's run—27 years—and her influence was felt strongly by many, including Zoomer Magazine editor Suzanne Boyd who told The Star, "Jeanne was the perfect ambassador for the show and had such gusto that you really felt like you were there with her. She broke the barriers and brought you behind the velvet rope to that rarefied world. And she showed fashion was more than just clothes. It was also about art and architecture."

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'Fashion Television' praise - Celebrity stylist Brad Goreski told The Star, "She reported from the shows in Milan and New York with such intensity—as if she was a war correspondent reporting from the front lines."

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Her legacy - The show was such a hit that the producers went on to launch Canada's first 24-hour fashion channel.

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Launched the internet's first fashion website - In 1995, Beker helped launch @Fashion for the American communication giant MCI (now known as Verizon).

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Her beginnings - Beker was born in Toronto to two Holocaust survivors who immigrated to Canada from Austria.

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Started as an actress - Although she appeared on the Canadian sitcom 'Toby' in 1968 and the low-budget show 'Police Surgeon' in 1971, Beker's first big break was as Daphne Blake in 'The Twilight Zone.'

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Silence wasn't for her - After studying at York University, Beker went to Paris to study mime under French actor Étienne Decroux. She soon realized she wanted to use her voice and moved back to Canada to work for CBC Radio as an arts and entertainment reporter.

(Photo: Flickr)

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Hostess with the mostest - She started her television hosting journey on the ground-breaking series, 'The NewMusic' and then as the entertainment anchor on 'CityPulse News.'

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A weighty voice - From 2006 to 2009, Beker was a judge on 'Canada's Next Top Model,' where she directly exerted her influence on the next generation.

(Photo: Flickr)

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Jeanne Beker sells - Her career made it clear that Beker was immensely more successful on screen when being herself, as opposed to portraying a character.

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She's a great example of aging well - While watching the Oscars this year, the 65-year-old Beker tweeted, "Totally creepy that #SandraBullock should be self-deprecating about her age, especially at an event where women like #RitaMoreno , #EvaMarieSaint and #JaneFonda are killing it. Come on Sandy! You're only 53. Love it! Own it!!!"

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As a columnist - Beker has been prolific as a columnist for Metro, the National Post, the Globe and Mail, Flare magazine, and Post City magazine, as well as a contributing editor at the Toronto Star and The Kit.

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Author of five books - The first was 'Jeanne Unbottled: Adventures in High Style' (2000), then 'The Big Night Out' (2005), 'Passion for Fashion: Careers in Style' (2008), her 2010 autobiography 'Finding Myself in Fashion,' and finally 'Strutting It! The Grit Behind the Glamour' (2011).

(Photo: Flickr)

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This writer loves to read - Beker is on the Canada Reads panel, and later this month she'll be defending the novel 'Forgiveness' by Mark Sakamoto.

(Photo: Flickr)

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Beker's book recommendations: 'A Moveable Feast' by Ernest Hemingway - She told CBC, "Around the time that I moved to Paris, someone gave me a copy of 'A Moveable Feast.' I fell in love with Hemingway and his style of writing. It was to the point, with short sentences. I just loved the pictures he painted. I became so intrigued with Paris."

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Beker recommends: 'Gods and Kings' by Dana Thomas - She told CBC, "By the time I started covering fashion in the mid 1980s, felt compelled to read up on a lot of the great fashion designers. Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano was a brilliant book that talks about—as author Dana Thomas calls it—the golden era of fashion that I was lucky enough to cover and witness. It was brilliantly researched. Dana Thomas is a great writer."

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And for poetry: 'The Energy of Slaves' by Leonard Cohen - "This was the first of his books that I read. I fell in love with his way of writing about the world and his take on romance, lust and life," Beker said.

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Advocate for equality in the workplace - For Bell Let's Talk, Beker chose to speak up about inequalities in the office and tweeted, "#BellLetsTalk about psychological abuse in the workplace. There's lots of talk about sexual impropriety—but what about the pain, suffering and scarring caused by the bullying and insensitivity of those in control? Time for kindness and compassion to kick in everywhere!"

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Editor-in-chief - From 2003 to 2009, Beker was the editor-in-chief of the FQ magazine, which was aimed at new and single fathers. In 2006, a CityTV documentary series called 'Cover Stories' followed Beker and the Kontent Group team as they published each issue of FQ—and you can still catch the series' re-runs on the FashionTelevisionChannel!

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As a designer - 'Edit' is the name of the upscale collection of 25 pieces, sold at The Bay, which Beker created with a Montreal manufacturer for women in their 30s to 50s. She also created 'Inside Out by Jeanne Beker' for Sears and, in 2013, she released a line of footwear with retailer The Shoe Company and a line of eyewear through FYSH UK.

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The 'Jeanne Beker' label - Beker also has an eponymous line of clothing that is available for purchase on The Shopping Channel, for which she is also currently the Style Editor.

(Photo: Flickr)

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She tried her legs at strutting - At the Dare To Wear Love fashion show in 2012, designed to celebrate the fashion community's dedication to social justice, Beker wore a one-of-a-kind outfit and strutted down the runway.

(Photo: Flickr)

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