Wanted Words

Jane created and delivered this wildly popular radio segment, which spun off into two best-selling publications.

What do you call a weekly radio segment that enlists the help of Canadians to fill critical gaps in the English language? Wanted Words, of course.

Jane devised and delivered this popular segment heard on CBC Radio One’s current affairs flagship, This Morning, from 1999 to 2001 and subsequently edited the two best-selling collections of the creative coinages.

The ‘wordies’ contributions sparkled and amused, and some have even stood the test of time like beditate – to lie in bed awake and think, bagmata – the red lines left on your hands from carrying shopping bags, interangst – that anxiety you feel between pinning your debit number and payment accepted and ponis – the thinning ponytail favoured by balding boomers.