Lotta Dempsey

Lotta Dempsey
Dempsey in 1941
Born	Lotta Caldwell Dempsey (1905-01-12)12 January 1905 Edmonton, North-Western Territory, Canada
Died	19 December 1988(1988-12-19) (aged 83) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Pen name	John Alexander, Carolyn Damon, Annabel Lee
Occupation	Journalist, editor, TV presenter, activist
Years active	1923–1981
Spouse	Arthur Ham ​ (m. 1981)​

Lotta Dempsey (12 January 1905 – 19 December 1988) was an award-winning Canadian journalist, editor and television personality. She grew up in Alberta, Canada, and began her journalism career in 1923 at the Edmonton Journal. She wrote for the women's page, as only male journalists were allowed to cover wide-interest topics or hard news. Four years later, she moved to the Edmonton Bulletin and stayed there through the worst of the Great Depression. In 1935, Dempsey moved to Toronto, briefly working at the Star Weekly, before being hired by Chatelaine Magazine as assistant editor.

After her marriage and the birth of her son, she took two years away from the office, but continued writing for Chatelaine from home. She also submitted freelance articles to Maclean's. Returning to the work force in 1940, she worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a news editor, radio quiz show host, and interviewer. During the war, she did public relations work for the Wartime Prices and Trade Board, before returning to journalism at The Globe and Mail. She briefly returned as editor-in-chief of Chatelaine in 1952, but after eight months resumed her work at The Globe and Mail. From 1958 she worked as a columnist and features writer for the Toronto Star and hosted a television program for seniors on CBC Television.

In 1948, she won an award from the Canadian Women's Press Club for best article and was recognized by them again in 1959, 1960, and 1967 with awards for her columns. Dempsey was inducted into the Canadian News Hall of Fame in 1975.