RITA CELLI
A selection of Rita Celli’s awards…
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Commendation from City of Ottawa
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, City of Ottawa,
recognized Rita’s decades of achievements
in journalism that served the public good.
December 2023
Award of Excellence
CBC Radio Open-Line Series “Daring to Ask about Abortion: Women and Men Talk”
Issued by Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
January 2018
Associated with CBC/Radio-Canada
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The CBC Radio open-line series “Daring to Ask about Abortion: Women and Men Talk” won the 2018 Award of Excellence from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.
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“Some people thought I was crazy to open the phone lines on abortions. Others thought I was brave. All I was sure of was that it was long overdue to ask women about their personal experiences: what would you say about your abortion if someone dared to ask,” Rita said.
Jennifer Blake, CEO of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, praised the program, saying, “Your journalism is courageous and truthful.”
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Building on the success of the radio show, Rita expanded it into a multiplatform series called My Abortion My Story, where women shared their own stories about abortion in their own words.
Recipient of the Michener Deacon Fellowship for Investigative Journalism
Issued by Michener Awards Foundation
January 2014
For the groundbreaking "Mining for More" Multiplatform Project at CBC Radio News, Current Affairs.
Outstanding Talk Show
Issued by The Gracies, Alliance of Women in Media Foundation United States and Canada ~ January 2013
Associated with CBC/Radio-Canada
"Is Sex Work Just Another Job?"
Host, open line debate
CBC Radio One
Outstanding Talk Show
Issued by The Gracies, Alliance of Women in Media Foundation United States and Canada ~ January 2011
Associated with CBC/Radio-Canada
"The Mean Girl: Were you the bully?"
CBC Radio One
Excellence in Broadcasting
Issued by The Gabriel Awards, Catholic Media Association United States and Canada ~ January 2010
Associated with CBC/Radio-Canada
"Father Claude's Secret"
CBC Radio One
The Gabriel Awards honour the best broadcasting that uplifts and affirms the dignity of human beings.
In this one hour interview, a priest talks for the first time about his secret. In his teens, he was sexually assaulted by a high ranking clergyman, a trusted confidante of the Bishop. In spite of the abuse, he entered the priesthood. But it haunted him. Days after his ordination, Father Claude told the Bishop everything. This triggered a long journey for this priest, including a crisis of faith. Rita first read the story of an anonymous priest in transcripted testimony from a public inquiry. She figured out who he was, and after meeting a few times, Father Claude decided to trust Rita with his story.
Outstanding Talk Show
Issued by the Gracies ~ January 2010
Associated with CBC/Radio-Canada
"Let's Talk About Black Hair"
National Editorial Writing and Commentary
Issued by Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Canada ~ January 2009
Associated with CBC/Radio-Canada
"The Blind Man"
Radio Essay
CBC Radio One
International Winner: Silver Medal, Breaking News Category
Issued by New York Festivals ~ January 2008
Associated with CBC/Radio-Canada
Silver Medal, New York Festivals
Breaking news coverage on the collapse of Zoom Airlines.
CBC Radio One Silver Medal, New York Festivals Breaking news coverage on the collapse of Zoom Airlines.
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The Gabriel Awards, Catholic Media Association
United States and Canada ~ 2006
Television concert special “Evergreen Wishes presents Dancing Day”
National Investigative Award
Issued by Canadian Association of Journalists ~ January 2000
Associated with CBC/Radio-Canada
"Breach of Trust"
CBC Radio News Investigation
Rita was part of a select team that pieced together how senior leaders in a small town abused teenage boys
and conspired to cover it up. The investigation implicated powerful institutions such as the Catholic Church, school boards, the police, and government ministries such as Correctional Services. The CBC investigation was quoted in the provincial government inquiry that eventually examined the abuse of power in Cornwall, Ontario.
Canadian Association of Journalists
Bursary for International Reporting ~1994
For a newspaper and radio series investigating the practices of Canadian mining companies in Peru.
Rotary Club International
Professional Work Exchange to Argentina ~1993
A six-week trip with four other Canadian professionals. Rita, along with the other recipients, stayed with different families and visited several worksites, including radio and television stations in Buenos Aires. With a background in spoken and written French and Italian as a guide, Rita had the opportunity to learn functional Spanish.