Guy's exit column

Guy Huntingford, the Calgary Sun's publisher for seven years and a 26-year Sun Media vet, was allowed to say farewell to readers and staff in a parting column today.

Guy, who got his start at the Toronto Sun as a systems analyst in 1981, is a gentleman about it all despite the circumstances of his departure, but he was allowed to bid adieu in the paper he loved.

The opportunity to say goodbye to colleagues and readers has been lacking at the Toronto Sun since the carnage began.

The absence of personal farewells, or at least stories about the departures, have left countless Sun readers wondering why favourite writers have suddenly vanished.

The absence of words in the Sun about the departures this week of high-profile reporter Al Cairns, popular columnist Valerie Gibson and former Raptors columnist Mike Koreen is sad and shameful.

Maybe some parting words will be in the Sunday Sun, but we sense the editors have been told to ignore the exodus of veteran staffers no matter how worthy they are of recognition.

The height of insensitivity followed the quiet departure last year of award-winning columnist Hartley Steward. His final Sun column on Father's Day, 2006, did not mention his departure. It took a column by Mark Bonokoski weeks later to give him a sendoff deserving of a key player in the success of the Toronto, Calgary and Ottawa Suns.

So bravo to the Calgary Sun for publishing Guy's farewell.

(Toronto Sun Family is here for all departing colleagues who want to vent or say goodbye. Comments about staffers who have left can be found here.)