Meet Donna Saker: Radio DJ The Beat of Montreal

We had the good fortune of connecting with Donna Saker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Donna, what do you attribute your success to?
TO be authentic. Not only when I am on the air, but also through all of my social media platforms. Its important to make people feel important and that they count. I have earned the listeners trust and that is a rare gift in the media.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started in broadcasting in 1987, in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. In fact I had not even finished broadcasting college at Algonquin College. I called the radio station and asked for an audition with no experience and the legendary producer Len Naemark agreed to let me. I auditioned with the late great Pat Cochrane, and this bossy young blonde got the job. The fun part was trying to explain to my parents that I should drop out of school for this job. they reluctantly agreed. Well that was 33 years ago and my career has brought me to Toronto, Calgary and now Montreal working on #1 radio shows and television. ( thank heavens for botox lol ) The lessons I have learned is that everyone is replaceable. Especially women in broadcasting. Men have longer careers in this biz, but I want to be a trailblazer for young women getting into TV and Radio that age has no boundaries. One thing that sets me apart is my vulnerability on my show and on social media….. I have talked very candidly and openly about divorce, heartbreak, mental health, menopause lots of things that people are too shy or even ashamed to talk about. I want people to feel through my show that they are not alone in their struggles and I am right there with them.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well post covid : ) This is Montreal! We are like a mecca of food, arts, and the incredible Old Montreal! which is like being in Europe. summer time is the best time here You feel like going to the World Famous Montreal Jazz Festival? Or how about The Just For Laughs Comedy festival Mark Twain once said Montreal was “a city where you couldn’t throw a brick without breaking a church window.” Well in a Montreal summer, something similar can be said of Montreal’s plentiful terraces. (outdoor patios) We have all kinds of food and delicacies for your tastes!!!! Some of the best in the world. Want some green space??? Mount Royal—or as locals call it, “The Mountain”—i, located right in the middle of downtown Montreal. It offers a refreshing natural forest setting with a man-made pond (Beaver Lake) at its summit. Amazing Panoramic views of the city……. The beauty about Montreal is its very walk able, walk, eat and drink lol its perfect!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Always good to give props where props are due! Not to be corny but my Mother. she was also a broadcaster and it was int he decade of the 60’s where woman working was not always supported. She has taught me grace and dignity in a business that can be cruel to women, especially women who are older and deemed “replaceable” she taught me to know my worth and to fight for my successes I have two books that have really shaken my foundation Jordan B. Peterson The 12 Rules of Life Gabby Bernstein the Universe has your back.

Website: www.thebeat925.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donnasaker/
Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/donna-saker-40652224
Twitter: @donnasakerradio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donna.saker/
Youtube: Donna Saker
Other: Donna Saker on Tik Tok

Image Credits
Jimmy Hamelin Photography