Kid pleaser

>> TV host Joyce Quansah imparts wisdom to pubescent Canucks from coast to coast

TUNING IN TEENS: Quansah

by MICHAEL-OLIVER HARDING

She might be the most famous local anglo TV personality you’ve never heard of. Unless you share living quarters with a preschooler, that is, in which case she’s already a household name. Joyce Quansah has been delighting Canadian tots from coast to coast with her infectious laughter, ebullient quizzes and goofy shenanigans as the Quebec host of Kids’ CBC—the network’s morning preschool block—for the past four years.

And where some would have been dismayed at the Ceeb’s decision to scrap the show’s multiple-host format last spring, this Montrealer of Ghanaian descent felt nothing less than elated at the chance of fine-tuning her skills behind the lens as a content producer for CBC Television.

While she retains fond memories of the experience, she was nevertheless taken aback by the position’s many unforeseen limitations.

“When it comes to adults, your range is defined for you,” says Quansah. “There’s this very solemn atmosphere in the newsroom, and I was constantly being told that my segments were too fun. Adult viewers in general want to know that the world is in crisis, and I’m not interested in that.”

So the versatile thespian—who honed her acting chops at Montreal theatre staple Dynamic Theatre Factory and has landed gigs alongside the likes of Angela Bassett and Eugene Levy—did what any kid at heart would do: she applied for a recently vacated co-host slot on Canada’s most totally awesome after-school programming block, YTV’s The Zone. She eventually landed the gig for the New Year, resulting in the inevitable relocation of all board games, costumes and imaginative child paraphernalia to Toronto. 

“This is a step up in terms of challenge and responsibility,” says Quansah, “because preteens are harder to win over than preschoolers. Their focus is on what’s cool, so I’m fighting against this monster consumer culture to begin with.” Granted full creative control on the program block drawing in the most preteen viewers across Canada—and many Americans to boot—Quansah’s forecast is decidedly upbeat when asked about her expectations. “I don’ t think about my career and make decisions in terms of stepping stones,” she declares. “I hate that. I see this more as an opportunity to be a great role model for Canadian youth, because the host is the show.”

Hosting duties aside, expect Quansah to sporadically moonlight her way back into Montreal as one of three jury members for Radio Canada International’s “Digital Diversity: Generation DX2” contest, where she’ll be selecting the finest short films, podcasts and short stories on the topic of intercultural relations sent in by high school students. “I think kids are a lot more compelling than adults,” Quansah finally concedes. “Their imagination is a lot more active, and I’m a big quantum physics geek, so I relate to kids who believe the world around them is what they create.”