Inside 680News: Natasha Ramsahai

1. What the most memorable news story you’ve covered?
Groundhog Day in Wiarton, Ont. — it really is a classic southern Ontario event and I froze my tush off! I happened to have been off (vacation/maternity leave) during the “big” Toronto events like the Vaughan tornadoes, the Goderich tornado, the “Snowmaggedon” that wasn’t, etc. My son’s birth on Aug 20, 2009, was memorable; however, as the nurse told me, the City of Toronto was under a tornado warning after giving birth (the same day as the Vaughan tornadoes). I screamed for someone to turn on the TV and get me my BlackBerry immediately so I could pull up a radar in the hospital room!

2. What are your hobbies?
Biking with the family, watching movies, working out (kinda), good wine with good friends!

3. What’s your favourite place (country, city) visited and why?
This is a tie between Barbados because of the amazing sand beaches and turquoise water, and New York City because of the nightlife.

4. What would your last meal on earth be?
A large filet Mignon with sautéed mushrooms and onions, garlic mashed sweet potatoes, a big glass of Rioja red wine.

5. Favourite book you’ve read in last 12 months?
Ummmm … with two kids under five years old, I would have to say Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham?!

6. If you were stuck on island, what are the three things you want with you?
A mobile device that can actually connect so I can see the radar, a bag of chips and mascara.

7. If you’d have another career, what would it be?
Interior designer. I love watching CityLine (been watching for over 20 years!). I would probably want to buy, gut, design and flip houses as a career.

8. What else do you want to accomplish at CityNews/680News?
To make sure that we are doing our best during severe weather events to disseminate watches/warnings in a timely fashion. It is Environment Canada’s job to issue weather watches and warnings; it is my job to make sure people know about them in time.

9. Do you like/drink coffee or tea?
Bold coffee.

10. What you like about 680News?
I love that I now work for the station that I used to listen to as a kid when it was playing “Top 40” as CFTR back in the day. I even had the blue and yellow bumper sticker on our family car.

11. Are you married?
Yes, this year we passed the “seven-year itch”!

12. Do you have any children?
Yes. A four-and-a-half-year-old girl (going on 30) … a girlie girl, and a three-year-old-boy … a total boy who loves construction and trucks.

13. Do you have any pets?
Nope, but would like to get a puppy.

14. How long have you been with Rogers?
I have been here just 1.5 years, but I feel like it’s been longer.

15. What are your greatest accomplishments?

• Getting my Masters degree in earth and space science: I did it while working two jobs, so I thought it would never get here!
• Building the CBC’s national weather centre, which now employs all meteorologists — a 1.5-year affair after which I worked on-air there for six years
• Having my kids and building the most amazing family!

16. In what city were you born in?
Scarborough, Ont.

17. Which living person do you most admire?
I didn’t appreciate her at the time, but I’d have to say my mom. Now that I have kids, I get it. And I can’t believe how she, being a single mom, managed daily with no car and two young children. Getting us up at 6 a.m., taking the bus through the winter to take us to the babysitter’s by 7 a.m. so she could get to work for 8 a.m. But she never complained, we always ate dinner at the table together, never did without, and she made it to every single recital, play, graduation, parent-teacher interview etc.

18. What’s your motto?
From Judy Garland: “Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else.”

• Read more about Natasha on the CityNews bio page.