Sijia Liu: From Sports Reporter to CP24 Anchor – Career, Background, Age, Ethnicity, and Personal Life
Sijia Liu is a rising name in Canadian broadcast journalism known for her professionalism, on-screen presence, and dedication to storytelling. Currently working as an anchor and reporter at CP24, she covers breaking news, community issues, and major headlines impacting Toronto and beyond. Over the years, she has built a reputation as a versatile journalist capable of handling both hard news and uplifting human-interest stories.
Her career path reflects determination, talent, and adaptability. Before becoming part of CP24’s newsroom, she gained valuable experience at several prominent Canadian networks including CTV News and Global News. She also spent time in sports journalism, covering major teams and leagues. With a background in athletics, media production, and investigative reporting, she represents a new generation of journalists who combine technical skills with compelling storytelling.
Early Life and Background of Sijia Liu
Sijia Liu was born in China and moved to Canada with her family when she was four years old. Her family settled in Toronto, where she spent most of her childhood and formative years. Growing up in a multicultural environment helped shape her worldview and communication style.
Moving to Canada at a young age allowed her to integrate into Canadian society while maintaining connections to her cultural heritage. This background later contributed to her ability to connect with diverse communities during her journalism career.
She is fluent in English and also conversant in Mandarin, which reflects her Chinese heritage and bilingual abilities. Being able to communicate in more than one language has helped her interact with a wide range of people during interviews and reporting assignments.
Education and University Experience
Education played an important role in shaping her professional journey. After completing her early schooling in Toronto, she attended York University. At York University she studied psychology and business, disciplines that helped her understand human behavior, communication, and organizational dynamics.
While studying there, she was also a member of the York University women’s varsity basketball team. Athletics required discipline, teamwork, and commitment, traits that later translated well into her career in journalism.
After York University, she pursued specialized training in broadcast journalism at Seneca Polytechnic. The program provided hands-on experience in media production, storytelling, video editing, and live reporting. This training helped prepare her for the fast-paced environment of television news.
Early Steps Into Journalism
Like many journalists, she began her career through internships and small media roles that allowed her to develop practical skills. One of her early opportunities was an internship at CTV’s entertainment program eTalk. During this time she assisted producers and floor directors, prepared research materials, and helped with production tasks. These responsibilities gave her valuable exposure to the inner workings of television broadcasting.
At the same time, she began building experience in sports media. She worked with various platforms covering basketball and other sports events. Her responsibilities included interviewing players, writing game reports, and creating digital media content. These early experiences allowed her to build confidence in front of the camera and develop the storytelling skills required for television reporting.
Sports Journalism Career
Before transitioning fully into news reporting, she spent several years working in sports journalism. This period of her career helped her develop strong on-camera presentation skills. She worked as a sports reporter covering basketball teams and events. She interviewed athletes, coaches, and sports officials while also producing multimedia content for online platforms.
Another notable role was with the Ontario Hockey League, where she served as a rinkside reporter during live broadcasts. In this role she conducted pre-game and post-game interviews, hosted analysis segments, and reported live from the arena.
Her work in sports journalism also included reporting assignments for the New England Sports Network. During these assignments she covered major teams such as the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics when they played games in Toronto.
Sports journalism helped her develop the ability to report quickly, ask insightful questions, and communicate clearly during live broadcasts.
Transition to News Reporting
After gaining experience in sports reporting, she transitioned into general news journalism. Her first major newsroom role was with Global News in Regina, Saskatchewan, where she worked as a morning live reporter. This position required her to report live from the field, conduct interviews with community members, and produce stories on tight deadlines. She also occasionally filled in as a weather presenter, demonstrating her versatility.
Her work at Global News allowed her to gain valuable experience covering a wide range of stories including local politics, community issues, and breaking news events.
Career Growth at CTV News
Following her time at Global News, she joined CTV News. This role marked a significant step forward in her journalism career. She initially worked in Windsor, Ontario, where she anchored late-night newscasts and weekend programs. In addition to anchoring, she also produced and edited her own news packages. Later, she moved to CTV News Kitchener, where she continued working as an anchor and reporter. Her responsibilities included anchoring newscasts, reporting on local events, and producing investigative stories.
One of her most notable investigations focused on the high number of sexual assault cases that were dismissed due to courtroom closures and staffing shortages. This important report earned a nomination for enterprise reporting from the Radio Television Digital News Association in 2023.
Her work covering the Ambassador Bridge blockade during the COVID-19 protests also gained recognition. The coverage was nominated for a breaking news award, highlighting the importance of her reporting during a major national event.
Sijia Liu CP24 Career
In May 2024, she joined CP24 as an anchor and reporter. CP24 is one of Toronto’s most prominent news channels and is known for delivering breaking news coverage throughout the city. At CP24, she reports on major local and international stories while guiding viewers through developing events. Her role involves anchoring live broadcasts, reporting from the field, and interviewing experts or community members.
Working at CP24 has allowed her to reach a larger audience and continue building her reputation as a respected journalist in Canada.
Sijia Liu Age
Her exact birth year has not been publicly disclosed. However, based on her education timeline and the beginning of her professional career, it is estimated that she is in her early thirties.
Sijia Liu birthday appears to fall in early May, based on social media posts celebrating the occasion. Although the precise number is not officially confirmed, she is widely believed to be around 30 to 33 years old.
Sijia Liu Ethnicity
Sijia Liu is of Chinese heritage and was born in China before immigrating to Canada as a child. Growing up in Toronto exposed her to a multicultural society, which influenced her ability to connect with diverse communities.
Her background has helped shape her perspective as a journalist and allows her to represent immigrant experiences in Canadian media.
Sijia Liu Husband
Sijia Liu is engaged to Ryan Nelson, a journalist and on-air personality. The couple announced their engagement during a trip to Paris, where the proposal took place near the Eiffel Tower. Their engagement was celebrated by friends and family, and she later shared photos from a surprise bridal shower organized by close friends.
While they are engaged, there has been no widely confirmed public announcement that they are officially married yet.
Personal Interests and Lifestyle
Outside of journalism, she has a variety of interests that reflect her active personality. Fitness is one of her passions, and she regularly spends time working out. Her background in varsity basketball also shows her strong connection to sports.
She also enjoys traveling and exploring new places. Social media posts often show her visiting different cities and attending sporting events. Watching football and basketball is another favorite activity. Her early career in sports journalism continues to influence her interests today.
She also values friendships and community connections, often expressing gratitude for the people who support her.
Conclusion
Sijia Liu’s career demonstrates the impact of dedication, adaptability, and strong communication skills. From her beginnings as a sports reporter to her current role at CP24, she has steadily built a reputation as a capable and respected journalist.
Her background as an immigrant, athlete, and storyteller gives her a unique perspective when covering news. Through investigative reporting, breaking news coverage, and human-interest stories, she continues to inform and connect with audiences across Canada.
As her career continues to grow, she is expected to remain an influential voice in Canadian journalism.
Also Read: Melissa Duggan
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Sijia Liu?
Sijia Liu is a Canadian television journalist and news anchor. She currently works as an Anchor and Reporter at CP24 in Toronto, where she covers breaking news and major stories affecting the city and surrounding areas. Before joining CP24 in 2024, she worked with CTV News in Windsor and Kitchener and previously served as a reporter at Global News in Regina. Earlier in her career, she also worked in sports journalism, covering basketball and hockey events.
2. Is Sijia Liu married?
Sijia Liu is engaged to Ryan Nelson, a journalist and on-air personality. The couple announced their engagement after a proposal in Paris near the Eiffel Tower. Friends later organized a bridal shower for her, which she shared on social media. As of now, there has been no widely confirmed public announcement that the couple is officially married yet.
3. Who are Sijia Liu’s parents?
Sijia Liu’s parents are not publicly known because she keeps most details about her family private. What is known is that she was born in China and moved to Canada with her family when she was four years old. Her parents immigrated with her and raised her in Toronto, where she grew up and later built her career in journalism.
