Interview with Pooja Handa from CP24 Breakfast!

When the pandemic hit, many of us were forced into quarantine.  Although it was difficult for all of us, many were able to isolate together with their families in the comfort of their own homes, while front line and essential workers had to report to work immediately in order to service their communities.  From taking care of those affected by the COVID-19 virus in our hospitals to making sure we had the necessities of life in our grocery stores and pharmacies, the courage these heroes needed to go into work, especially in those early days, is admirable.

To honour them and show our appreciation for their vital work, we as a collective group of vendors have curated a special wedding experience for the winning front line or essential worker who can share the most touching pandemic experience and love story in a giveaway called the “Love Is Essential” Contest.  This contest gives a deserving couple on the front lines a luxurious wedding ceremony valued at $25,000 on February 14, 2021, the day of love.  To learn more about this contest, please visit @loveisessentialcontest on Instagram.

We are so thrilled to announce the very talented Pooja Handa from CP24 Breakfast will be a celebrity judge for our Love Is Essential contest!  I had a chance to ask Pooja a few questions about her involvement in the contest and more:

Pooja, you agreed without hesitation to be involved as a celebrity judge in the Love Is Essential contest.  Why was it important for you to be part of this particular initiative? 

If you know me, you know how much I love, love! And to honour the love of our frontline workers who have risked their own safety and safety of their families for us, makes this contest that much more special. This pandemic has unfortunately resulted in many cancelled or postponed weddings. Your wedding day is something that every bride and groom looks forward to and if there is a way that I can help through your contest, to make that dream a reality, I absolutely want to be a part of it. 

The Love Is Essential contest honours the front line heroes who are supporting this country throughout the pandemic.  COVID-19 has impacted all our lives in ways we couldn’t imagine.  How has the pandemic shaped your year? 

For me the pandemic has provided a lot of challenges and many lessons. I try to always focus on the positive. So in many ways I’m taking away from it the importance of health, human connection, nature & balance. It’s really been a reset for me in focusing on what really matters and finding the balance I was lacking before. 

As a judge on this contest, what kinds of qualities are you looking for in the winning couple? 

While love is many things, marriage is ultimately a partnership. I hope to see in our couples a genuine friendship where they’re rooting for one another and wanting to bring out the best in one another as well. Their journey will take them through ups and downs so it’s important they have a strong foundation. I also hope they know how to have fun & laugh together. 

We see you every morning on CP24 Breakfast and we all feel like we know you personally.  Perhaps you can tell us something about yourself that we wouldn’t know?

I think people would be surprised to learn I’m an ambivert. Look it up! Basically while I appear to be an extrovert who loves attention, the truth is I like it in small doses. I really enjoy alone, “me time” just as much as being social. I think I oscillate between being an introvert and extrovert depending on who I’m with and the circumstance. 

A huge THANK YOU to Pooja Handa for choosing to be part of this very worthy cause honouring our front line heroes. We are forever grateful for your support and your love of love!