Dina Pugliese

Dina Pugliese (Italian: [ˈdiːna puʎˈʎeːze, -eːse]; born May 22, 1974) is a Canadian television personality. She has served as a co-host of Citytv's morning show Breakfast Television, initially from 2006 to 2023, and returning in 2025.

Dina Pugliese
Pugliese in 2007
Born	(1974-05-22) May 22, 1974 (age 51) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Alma mater	Humber College York University (BA)
Occupation(s)	Morning host; CITY-DT, Breakfast Television
Years active	2004–present
Spouse	Alek Mirkovich

Career

Born in Toronto, Pugliese grew up in Woodbridge, Ontario and is of Italian descent.^[1] She is a graduate of York University (Sociology and Mass Communications) and Humber College (Journalism). She began her career as a producer of Global's The Bynon Show and Toronto 1's Toronto Today, later becoming an entertainment reporter and host of The A-List and Star!'s Star! Daily.^[2] She has also hosted MuchMusic's VJ Search and Citytv's New Year's Eve special from Nathan Phillips Square. She is a past member of the Girl Guides of Canada.^[3] In 2006, she joined Citytv's morning show Breakfast Television, replacing Liza Fromer.^[2]

On October 17, 2011, Pugliese was announced as the host of Canada's Got Talent.^[4] The first season of the show ran in 2012.^[5]

On February 15, 2023, Pugliese announced that she would be leaving Breakfast Television after 16 years, with her final day on February 24.^[6] In a 2025 interview with the Toronto Star, she cited burnout from the role as one of the factors in her decision to leave, as well as a desire to care for her family; her husband had received surgery to remove a brain tumour, while her sister had recently been diagnosed with cancer.^[6][7] She explained that "I could not get enough rest in the beginning after I left and was wondering, am I ever going to have energy again? So it was a lot of resting and walking and cooking and cleaning and sleeping and then repeat. I had amazing job opportunities come my way, and I was so grateful for that, but I couldn't even imagine stepping onto a stage."^[7]

On March 17, 2025, in a surprise on-air announcement, Pugliese returned to Breakfast Television as its co-host alongside new arrival Tim Bolen. Her return was kept a secret from her colleagues, whom she surprised on-air by emerging from a moose costume. Pugliese had been offered an opportunity to return to the program during a meeting with its executive producer Claire Adams, finding that Breakfast Television was "the one thing that was missing over the last two years. I finally felt ready and prepared, and rested and recovered enough to get back to it."^[7]

In June 2025, Pugliese was announced as host of Bake Master Battle for Food Network.^[8]

Awards

2006 – Gemini Award nomination for Best Host in a Lifestyle/Practical Information or Performing Arts Program or Series for MuchMusic VJ Search – The Series.^[2]

2023 – On February 24, 2023, she was presented a Key to the City of Vaughan by Mayor Steven Del Duca for her “outstanding contribution” to the entertainment industry.^[9]

Personal life

Pugliese is married to Alek Mirkovich, founder of campayn.com.^[10]