Ziya Tong is a television personality and producer based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She is co-host of Discovery Channel's long-running primetime science magazine, Daily Planet (1996), Canada's daily science show, where she brings to the stage a wealth of knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm for science and the environment, and addresses issues ...
I'm endlessly curious. I'm just constantly fascinated by people's discoveries, and I love talking to smart people. I mean there's really nothing better.
2
I love sharing and exploring the amazing and extraordinary wonders that are on the planet every day. It's almost like a teaching gig.
3
[on being a co-host of Daily Planet (1996)] I have my dream job / I get to speak with great minds and have all of these adventures. With this job, you get to see stuff that other people never get to see.
#
Fact
1
Serves on the Board of Directors of WWF (World Wildlife Fund).
2
Is fluent in English and Cantonese, and dabbles in Mandarin, French, and Arabic, which she finds particularly beautiful.
3
Was discovered by a casting agent who thought she'd be perfect for an Apple ad. She initially declined - she didn't want to be a model but was still interested in pursuing a media career. She reconsidered it when she realized that doing the ad would provide an opportunity to test herself in front of the camera. She was cast by none other than Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, in the first iPod ads in the US.
4
Has a tattoo of a question mark on the back of her neck as a manifestation of her inquisitiveness and her passion for knowledge.
5
Graduated from University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in psychology and sociology.
6
Nominated for a Gemini Viewer's Choice Award - Lifestyle Host - for ZeD (2002) in 2005.
7
Got her first job in broadcasting after emailing every TV executive that she could find. In her estimation, she must have sent at least 2000 emails to various people in the media industry. Her persistence paid off.
8
Is of Chinese and Macedonian descent.
9
Graduated on the Dean's Honour List from McGill University with a Masters Degree in communications. Her degree focused on digital capabilities in developing countries.
10
Has travelled extensively to over 50 countries.
11
Worked selling encyclopaedias door-to-door in Northern BC, Canada.
12
Her first job after graduating in communications focused on providing news programming in underdeveloped countries in a series of languages, including Urdu, Bangla and Swahili.
13
Was born in London, grew up in Hong Kong, and moved to Canada when she was 11.
14
Co-Host of Daily Planet (1996) since 2008. Daily Planet is Canada's favorite science show and airs weekdays on Discovery Channel Canada.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Traveler
2007
TV Series
Michelle Mendoza
ZeD
2002
TV Series
Host
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
One Giant Leap: A Neil Armstrong Tribute
2012
TV Movie documentary
Herself - Host
Mars Landing 2012: The New Search for Life
2012
Video documentary
Daily Planet
2011-2012
TV Series documentary
Herself - Host
The Marilyn Denis Show
2011
TV Series
Herself
Nova ScienceNow
2008-2011
TV Series documentary
Herself - Correspondent
Wired Science
2007
TV Series documentary
Herself - Host
Island Escapes
2006
TV Series documentary
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Canada's Greatest Know It All
2012
TV Series
Herself - Cohost, Daily Planet
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2005
Viewer's Choice Award
Gemini Awards
ZeD (2002)
Known for movies
One Giant Leap: A Neil Armstrong Tribute (2012) as Herself - Host
ZeD (2002) as Host
Mars Landing 2012: The New Search for Life (2012) as Actress
$18 Million
