Speaker Tom Power
You are not currently viewing the most recent Banff World Media Festival. Go to Banff World Media Festival 2025.
Tom Power is an award-winning musician and broadcaster who hosts the national arts & entertainment program q on CBC Radio One. Hailing from St. John's, Newfoundland, Tom started his career programming folk music on college radio while pursuing a B.A in Folklore from Memorial University. At the age of 21, he joined CBC as the host of the national folk music program Deep Roots. He was recognized as the youngest host of a national radio program on the CBC since Peter Jennings.
Tom became the host of q in October 2016. Since then, Canadians have come to know Tom for his heartfelt, in-depth interviewing style (speaking to Atlanta rapper Killer Mike about the Ferguson grand jury verdict), his mischievous sense of humour (jokingly chiding actor Catherine O'Hara for her parenting skills in Home Alone), and his genuine enthusiasm and fearlessness (singing a duet with Mavis Staples). As host of Q, Tom has been praised for his thoughtful conversations with artists such as Adele, Mick Jagger, Shakira, Dua Lipa, Denzel Washington, Michael J Fox, Jerry Seinfeld, Harry Styles, Ringo Starr, Guillermo del Toro and Tyler Perry.
When not on the air, Tom leads his own band, The Dardanelles - playing festivals and theatres around the world. He has been a member of the Polaris Music Prize jury, the CARAS Music advisory committees, and has hosted and performed at major music festivals across Canada.
Speaking on: In Conversation with Tom Green - a special taping of CBC Radio's Q with Tom Power