About Erin Davis
Erin is revelling in the segue from a 30-year career helping helm the morning show at Toronto’s most listened-to private radio broadcaster (CHFI) to hosting two successful podcasts, all while being a “mic for hire” for others.
Erin’s retirement from morning radio came approximately 18 months after her and longtime husband Rob’s only child, beloved 24-year-old daughter Lauren, died in her sleep of unknown causes in May 2015, one day after celebrating her first Mother’s Day. Erin returned to work one month later, and continued to host the CHFI morning show until December of 2016.
After being approached by HarperCollins to write a book telling of her experience with grief and its aftermath, Erin spent much of the next two years at her laptop.
Her memoir, Mourning Has Broken: Love, Loss & Reclaiming Joy, was released in February of 2019 to critical acclaim and became a #1 bestseller, finishing the year in the Top 10 for non-fiction.
But back to broadcasting: in 2020, Erin was named to the Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame.
Now using her skills to host the sleep stories podcast Drift with Erin Davis and co-host Gracefully and Frankly with fellow radio survivor Lisa Brandt, Erin and Rob’s routine also includes spending time at a cabin in BC’s Gulf Islands, plus regular trips back to Ontario so they can continue to spend time with their son-in-law Phil, wife Brooke, their beautiful boy Colin and daughter Jane.
Here comes the history!
Erin called CHFI home nearly continuously for over 28 years, beginning in 1988.
In the summer of 2003, Erin saw a lifelong dream come true when the W Network called and offered her the opportunity to host her own TV show. W Live with Erin Davis, a daily live hour-long national talk show, which featured guests and viewers discussing women’s lifestyle, health and wellness issues, hit the air that fall and lasted one year.
Also in the summer of ’03, Erin was contacted by theatrical producer Ross Petty, who invited her to audition for a part in his annual Christmas family pantomime. She accepted his invitation and made her live theatre debut as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at Toronto’s historic Elgin Theatre in December for a month-long run, concurrent with her daily television show.
In the fall of 2004, the magic continued. Erin had the opportunity to meet and work with Mike Cooper, one of Canada’s best-known radio personalities, while she was temporarily filling in on another Toronto radio station. Erin and Mike hit it off immediately and enjoyed great success together so, when CHFI asked Erin to come back in the fall of ’05, her new friend Mike was not far behind, and the two continued to make radio magic for more than a decade, until Mike’s retirement in January 2016.
Prior to coming to CHFI in 1988, Erin co-hosted mornings on CKO Toronto, the flagship station of Canada’s all-news radio network. She had come from CKLW Windsor (aka The Big Eight) where she had been the first female co-host in the powerful Detroit market. Previously, she worked as a newscaster at CFRA Ottawa.
Erin was born in Edmonton, Alberta and, as a result of her father’s Air Force career, was raised everywhere, including Ottawa, Trenton and England. The Davis household was always filled with music and Erin’s introduction to show business came at an early age when she sang regularly with her grandfather’s orchestra. Her love of performing – and yes, talking – led her to study Radio Broadcasting at Loyalist College in Belleville.
In 2008, the first Erin Davis – Women in Media bursary was awarded to a student at Loyalist. This annual award was established by Erin and her family in gratitude for an Honourary Degree bestowed upon her, and to help out other women with a message and a microphone.
Erin writes an internet journal weekly, available at erindavis.com. Her journal receives some 5,000 visits each week and, as in every aspect of her life, Erin is very, very grateful. You can write to her by clicking here.