From a media release:

With mixed emotions, Global News is announcing that Tom Clark, Chief Political Correspondent and Host of The West Block will end his career in journalism on January 1, 2017.

An iconic Canadian journalist, Clark has had an extensive and storied career, witnessing and writing history in Canada and around the world. During his 45-year tenure, he has interviewed every prime minister since Lester B. Pearson and covered every federal election campaign since 1974. He has reported from 33 countries, including eight active war zones. In his last five years with Global News, he has covered significant ground. Clark visited Ukraine during the civil war, had one of the first one-on-ones with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the park outside Buckingham Palace and most recently had a front row seat for the most contentious election in U.S. memory, sharing his signature contextual analysis with Canadians.

Together, Clark and Global News built The West Block into Canada’s most-watched political affairs program. Clark is well-known for pushing beyond the headlines and pressing politicians for answers. In his unique “Plane Talk” segment, he found a way to bring his love of flying to work, profiling influential newsmakers while in the air in his Cessna 172 Skyhawk.

Prior to Global News, Clark held several roles at CTV and was present for innumerable significant world events. He was one of only a handful of journalists who made it into Belgrade to witness the bombing of Yugoslavia, he was in Berlin the night the wall came down, in Tiananmen Square when the government attacked students and in Kabul the day the last Canadian soldier left Afghan soil.

Clark, who hails from Toronto, is a fourth generation journalist and recipient of countless awards and accolades. Earlier this year he was recognized by the RTDNA with a Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also named one of the most influential journalists in Ottawa, known for his results-oriented reporting.

Clark’s last The West Block program will air on January 1, 2017. A new host for The West Block  will be named in the coming weeks.

The West Block airs on Sundays at 11 a.m. in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, 12 p.m. in the Atlantic provinces, 10 a.m. in Alberta and B.C., in repeats at 10:30 p.m. in Winnipeg, Regina and Saskatoon and 11:30 p.m. everywhere else.