Morning Live’s Annette Hamm to retire after nearly 40 years with CHCH

After 21 years co-hosting Morning Live and 40 years at CHCH, Annette Hamm is preparing to sign off for the last time.

She announced her retirement Tuesday, saying her final day will be June 19, 2026.

“I can’t stop smiling – at the experiences I’ve had, the people I’ve met, the things I’ve learned, and the places I’ve been,” Annette says.

Annette started at CHCH News in May 1986 as a Part-Time Writer while she was still studying in the Broadcast Journalism program at Mohawk College.

For several years she reported on crime, immersing herself in the stories that deeply impacted her community.

In the late 1990s, Annette started hosting a morning business show, The Morning Market.

Then, in 2005, Annette’s journey with Morning Live began when she joined Bob Cowan on the desk. The duo started the day for residents across Hamilton, Halton, Niagara, Brant and the surrounding areas until Bob’s retirement in 2022.

In 2016, Mohawk College honoured Annette with an Alumni of Distinction award. She also received a YWCA Hamilton Women of Distinction award in 2015 in the Public Affairs category and was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Ancaster Rotary Club.

Annette has sat on the board of directors for Charlton Hall Child and Family Services and Hamilton-Burlington SPCA, and she is the past chair of the boards of gritLIT and Theatre Aquarius.

Today, she stands as a leader in the CHCH newsroom, a symbol of the greatness that many new journalists dream of.

“Annette has helped shape the tone and culture of our newsroom,” says CHCH News Director Greg O’Brien. “Authoritative, knowledgeable, generous, and deeply connected to the community we serve, her presence has elevated our work and set a bar that will continue to guide us long after she signs off.”

When asked what’s next for her, Annette says “there are trips planned, books to read (so many books!) and friends to catch up with.”

“Honestly, just going out at night and staying up past 10 p.m. will be a treat!”