Helena DeVries Professional Bio

Helena DeVries is a Canadian Broadcast Journalist.  Helena obtained her degree from the University of Toronto in International Relations, History and a minor in Russian.  Helena also attended the Cinema, Television, Stage and Radio program at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in "Broadcast News".

Helena began her broadcast career as a newsriter for Breakfast Television at A-Channel Calgary, now City TV.  After 6 months, Helena stepped in front of the camera to create, produce, report and write a Business / Consumer segment for Shaw TV Calgary.  She also hosted community events and emceed the prestigious International Business and Export Awards Dinner.

While at Shaw, Helena was called on by The Weather Network to work on the national network based out of Toronto as a presenter.  It's here that Helena really honed her on-air ad-libbing skills and obtained her CMOS certification as a Weathercaster.

Soon Report on Business, now BNN, called to bring Helena back to Calgary as one of the key hires to start a new bureau at CTV Calgary.  Helena was responsible for researching and presenting 3 daily live to air reports on up-to-the minute business and financial news.

While working at Report on Business, Helena realized the gap in her professional resume was daily news reporting.  She proceeded to return to A-Channel as a General Assignment Reporter / Anchor.  She also filled in as the station's weathercaster for the 6pm and 11pm newscasts. After a few years of honing her skills and rounding out her resume, Helena moved back to Toronto for personal reasons, and quickly returned to The Weather Network as a weathercaster. 

After 2 years there, Helena missed the mountains and returned to Calgary to Anchor / Host Shaw TV Magazine, a daily news magazine show.  In her role, Helena was responsible for the content and look of the show; she was honoured for her work there by being nominated as a finalist for "Best Female TV Host" in Alberta for 2007 by the Alberta Motion Picture Industries Association.  She also co-produced a 90 minute special on Crystal Meth called ÒBlack IceÓ, which was hugely successful and garnered interest from across the country.

During her time at Shaw TV, Helena was approached to Produce / Host an Independent show called Energy TV, a half hour magazine show focused primarily on the oil and gas industry.  Helena hosted and produced 2 magazine shows weekly.  She also produced and hosted the Energy TV Awards.

At the same time, Helena was signed as the new Host of "Crimes of Passion" for the WE Network, and Helena would fly to Toronto one weekend a month to tape the show.  The production aired in Canada, The United States, Singapore, Australia and the United Kingdom.

It was at this point that Helena DeVries formed Helena DeVries Productions Inc.  She has since produced a home renovation show based out of Calgary called Remodel IT! She has also worked on several independent projects and continues to be signed as the Producer / host of Energy TV.

Helena was also recently honoured as a finalist for the 2009 Alberta Motion Picture Industries Association Awards for her role as a Producer of Energy TV for "Best News and Information Series"

Although Helena maintains a busy work schedule, she regularly makes time for her family, interests and community.  Helena sits on the Board of Directors for the "Better Business Bureau" of Southern Alberta, and has emceed and hosted numerous public speaking engagements.