Dina Pugliese signs off from Breakfast Television for final time

Dina Pugliese said goodbye to Breakfast Television (BT) after over 16 years serving as co-host, making her final appearance on the morning show on Friday.

Pugliese announced her plans to depart from the show last week, saying she plans to spend more time with family and is looking forward to the next chapter of her life.

“I want to run jokes, I want to be surrounded by fam-fam, my work fam, and you at home, and I want to have fun,” said Pugliese as the Friday morning farewell episode kicked off. “Please tell me we’re just going to have fun today.”

The number one Twitter trend in Canada through the morning was #WeLoveYouDina, with legions of fans paying tribute to the longtime host with online messages.

Have the tissues ready ???? @dinapugliese's husband, Aleks, sent her this message ❤️ #WeLoveYouDina pic.twitter.com/Q19oSw7J7s

— Breakfast Television (@breakfasttv) February 24, 2023

“A very important day,” said BT news anchor Tammie Sutherland. “There is still that sadness that we won’t see her face every morning. But we know that she is going to be living a life that she wants to.”

“You care for everybody,” added Devo Brown. “It’s that care and energy that you bring to people to help start their day, and make them better people.”

Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca made an appearance on the farewell edition of the show, presenting Pugliese with the key to the city of her hometown.

WOW ???? Mayor @StevenDelDuca just gave @DinaPugliese the Key to Vaughan! ????️???? #WeLoveYouDina pic.twitter.com/YlRTxZobmR

— Breakfast Television (@breakfasttv) February 24, 2023

“Raised in Woodbridge, Dina is a beloved daughter of the City of Vaughan,” reads a statement from Del Duca. “She has given back to the community through many worthy causes, including Mackenzie Health and the Princess Margaret Foundation.”

“In recognition of her outstanding contribution to the Canadian television industry as co-host of the award-winning morning show Breakfast Television, it is my absolute pleasure to give the Key to the City of Vaughan to Dina Pugliese.”

16 years as Breakfast Television co-host

Pugliese grew up in Woodbridge, Ont., and attended York University and Humber College for Journalism before beginning her career as associate producer of Global Television’s The Bynon Show and entertainment reporter, writer, and producer of Toronto 1’s Morning Show, Toronto Today.

She then moved to entertainment, hosting The A-List and Star!’s Star! Daily before joining Citytv’s BT, replacing Liza Fromer.

Pugliese has been with BT since October 2006, which begins with a local broadcast before expanding coast-to-coast, and was known for her infectious personality and poignant insight on a variety of topics.

Throughout her time on the show, Pugliese was nominated for at least three Canadian Screen Awards including for Best Host, Talk Show or Entertainment News, including one alongside co-host Sid Seixeiro.

On her recent 16th anniversary last October, Pugliese called her time on the show so far, “the biggest blessing.”

Viewers will remember Pugliese for being passionate about speaking up for women’s issues, mental health issues and celebrating body image while sharing her life with the BT audience.

“It has been a true privilege and blessing and I will pinch myself every single day. I never take a day for granted and I’m very, very honored to do this for 16 years because our industry is crazy cutthroat and fickle, but I am so grateful for every single day,” she shared in the BT segment last year.

Along with her time on BT, Pugliese hosted Canada’s Got Talent in 2012 and the spin-off version, Canadian Families’ Got Talent during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

She also played host during the MuchMusic VJ Search – The Series, for which she earned a Gemini nomination, was a guest judge on Canada’s Next Top Model and host of the prestigious Women In Film and Television’s Crystal Awards Gala.

Pugliese launched a clean beauty line called “The Care Principle” in 2019 as well.

BT recently confirmed the hiring of Tammie Sutherland to replace Melanie Ng as News Anchor for the morning show after Ng left in October 2022 to spend more time with family.

Rogers Sports & Media is the parent company of Breakfast Television and CityNews.