tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40053858464797811132024-03-12T23:28:33.917-04:00Toronto Sun Family: 1971 - 2021A blog for former and current employees of the Toronto Sun and siblings to reflect on 49-plus years of life in a word factory, for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer.Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.comBlogger2463125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-29421125740667011312021-12-29T03:11:00.001-05:002021-12-29T03:20:37.044-05:00On October 14, 2021, a dozen men and women who were in the trenches for the rising of the Toronto Sun on Nov. 1. 1971, gathered for a Day Oners reunion on Zoom. Moderated by Mike Strobel, edited by Peter Welsh and produced by John Cosway, these are their memories of a most memorable Halloween weekend 50 years ago. Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-61318210709197375532021-09-12T04:08:00.002-04:002021-09-12T04:29:33.323-04:00Toronto Sun In Memoriams 1971-2021In this 50th year of the Toronto Sun, we remember many of the deceased
men and women from all departments who helped grow the little paper that
grew. Most were employed under the management of founders Doug
Creighton, Peter Worthington and Don Hunt. Researched by John Cosway, a 19-year employee, with the
assistance of numerous Toronto Sun Family group members. IntoToronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-31681076322503872632018-03-21T00:51:00.000-04:002018-03-21T00:51:29.374-04:00Open Forum: Spring/Summer 2018The beat goes on, but with fewer TSF blog insiders, the pulse is much weaker. Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-12053543122945114492018-03-18T03:32:00.000-04:002018-03-18T03:47:19.511-04:00At 30 - Jean Houghton<!--[if gte mso 9]>
Normal
0
<![endif]-->
Jean Houghton
Jean Houghton, a
no-nonsense Toronto Sun newsroom secretary from 1976 to 2002, died recently
from a heart attack. She was 80.
Jean being Jean,
she was “adamant” in her instructions to her children not to have a funeral or
publish an obit on her passing (Jan. 31). She was quietly cremated.
For six weeks,
there was silence Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-84467766502181734952017-10-02T00:23:00.002-04:002017-10-02T00:23:54.906-04:00Fall/winter 2017/18 open forumAnother season, another reason for Toronto Sun Family members to stay in touch.
Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-69787991686634966662017-10-01T00:34:00.000-04:002017-10-02T00:22:39.349-04:00At 30 - Crime Flashback's Max Haines
On a sad note, we say farewell to Max Haines, the Toronto Sun's crime writer who turned murder and mayhem into an industry. Mike Strobel came out of retirement to pay homage to gentle Max, who died Sept. 30. Feel free to add your comments.
By Mike Strobel,
Death was Max Haines’ stock in trade. No one could write murder and mayhem like Max.
In his deft hands, death came alive — for 34 years, Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-9895155238988520632017-03-26T01:52:00.003-04:002017-03-26T01:54:44.399-04:00Spring/summer 2017 open forum Another season, another reason to stay in touch...
All of TSF's reliable tipsters have retired, been fired, been bought out or have sold out so feel free to enlighten us with TSF news that counts. Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com57tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-60513426256113297662016-09-18T15:29:00.000-04:002016-12-27T17:10:42.392-05:00Open Forum - Fall/winter 2016 forumThe 45th anniversary of the Toronto Sun will be marked on Nov. 1, 2016. Have your say on the anniversary or any other Sun-related topic.Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com114tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-30457468809924371092016-03-12T03:57:00.000-05:002016-03-27T01:38:06.689-04:00Memories of 333Toronto Sun employees are packing their belongings for the move to Postmedia on March 25, ending 40-plus years of newspapering at 333 King St. E.
Sun employees moved from the Eclipse building into their new digs in May of 1975. At its peak, 333 had six floors of Sun employees, its own presses, a cafeteria and photo studio.
Current and former Toronto Sun employees who worked at 333 are invited Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-43364008648865083602016-03-09T01:33:00.001-05:002016-03-27T00:32:37.596-04:00At 30 in 2015
Toronto Sun
At 30 - 2015
Jennifer Gough, 63 – January 1
Randy Thompson, 62 - April 27
David Ellis, 70 – August 22
William “Bill” Duff, 68 - August 28
Pauline Mason, 68 – September 5
Audrey Levtov, 82 - November 19
Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-89082775560565263042016-01-20T03:30:00.001-05:002016-01-20T03:56:10.149-05:00Sun casualties: 2016 Early in January, PM axed former Sun Media weekly What's Up Muskoka and Muskoka Magazine, published 10 times per year.
On Black Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016, PM announced more cuts at Suns in Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton. At least one other paper saw cuts.
TSF forum posts:
None gone from Ottawa Citizen today, but 12 gone from the Ottawa Sun newsroom: Chris Hofley, Mike Sutherland-Shaw, Matt Day, Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com203tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-81440548152034445432015-04-14T15:42:00.000-04:002015-04-14T15:46:04.414-04:00The deal is donehttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/…/postmedia…/article23895298/
With fond memories of Doug, Peter, Don and others in the 62 or so Day
Oners Club, we say farewell to one of North America's print media
success stories gone awry thanks to corporate power plays, greed and
mismanagement by new owners.
As others have said, those who were
around to share in the glory years have memories - and storiesToronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com194tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-3928960069427297652015-04-09T03:10:00.000-04:002015-04-09T03:15:55.426-04:00Free Sun book for TSFers
Julie Kirsh, our tireless master of the Toronto Sun library, has a
deal for 200-plus TSFers - a free copy of Jean Sonmor's 1993
book The Little Paper That Grew.
"I have 200, maybe more," Julie says. They are free for the asking but have to be picked up at 333.
The best years of the Toronto Sun were 1971 through 1993 and this
408-page book includes mention of many of the Sun legends and Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-48070032512606757532015-04-02T16:08:00.000-04:002015-04-02T16:08:21.203-04:00TSF: One million visitsThe Toronto Sun Family blog, launched in 2006, has topped the one million visits mark, with almost two million page views.
That speaks volumes for the interest in the roots and early growth of the Toronto Sun and its siblings and the relentless Quebecor downsizing since 1999.
Most of the reliable tipsters who kept TSF informed of happenings at their Sun Media newspapers have been laid off or Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-63526075591120376822015-03-20T23:26:00.000-04:002015-03-20T23:26:59.527-04:00Spring 2015 open forumWhat will become of the remnants of Sun Media in 2015? There is apprehension in the air as spring begins and we await a decision on the purchase bid by PM. Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-65277120747451490702015-03-09T15:36:00.000-04:002015-03-09T15:41:20.065-04:00Virtual news awards site ready to go A virtual Canadian News Hall of Fame profiling more than 100 inductees is ready to go, says Ian Connerty, former chair.
"For about $5,000, we could have a virtual Hall of Fame on the Internet to
honour and respect the six newest inductees and the other 113 members
of the Hall of Fame," says Connerty.
All that is needed, says Connerty, is $5,000 from the Toronto Press and Media Club, which Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-24077537723202032852015-02-13T00:10:00.002-05:002015-02-13T03:39:54.940-05:00At 30 - Sun News Network
April 18, 2011-February 13, 2015.
Bye bye.Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-38325881357388623542014-12-22T01:17:00.000-05:002014-12-22T01:17:05.769-05:00Winter 2014/15 open forumNo Christmas layoffs for the TSF forums this year, but keep in touch as we close 2014 and begin a new year with new owners on the horizon.
Merry Christmas to all and to all the best in 2015.Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com73tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-52014019176522877612014-11-19T01:25:00.000-05:002014-11-20T00:33:09.644-05:00At 30 - Don Hunt, last of three Toronto Sun co-foundersUpdated Nov. 20 re Celebration of Life
Don Hunt, the last of the Toronto Sun's three co-founders, died yesterday in Toronto from leukaemia. He was 85.
A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, Nov. 24 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. George’s Golf and Country Club, 1668 Islington Avenue in Etobicoke.
The last time we remember Don and fellow co-founders Doug Creighton and Peter WorthingtonToronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-61630573612154821922014-10-25T16:40:00.000-04:002014-11-06T17:10:49.261-05:00New start-up independents survey
The Toronto Sun turned 43 on Nov. 1, 2014, prompting this invite to former Sun Media staffers who have launched independent newspapers across Canada to share their experiences.
Independents spawned by Sun Media's downsizing have been popping up in the past decade and we often wonder how they are being received by readers and advertisers.
Former Sun Media staffers publishing Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-52425104650312483622014-10-06T15:05:00.000-04:002014-10-06T15:06:05.722-04:00Postmedia $316M purchase forumToday, a Toronto Star headline reads: Postmedia buys 175-paper Sun Media for $316m
http://www.thestar.com/business/2014/10/06/postmedia_buys_175paper_sun_media_for_316m.html
If the sale is approved, what will it mean for survivors of the 15-year downsizing by Quebecor?
Postmedia is Paul Godfrey and Paul Godfrey et al pocketed millions in selling Sun Media to Quebecor in 1999.
We would prefer Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com62tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-63160878403601084752014-09-23T01:08:00.000-04:002014-09-23T01:15:31.203-04:00Fall 2014 open forumThe countdown to the end of 2014 has begun and you know what that means at Sun Media.
Keep in touch via the Toronto Sun Family blog forum.
Summer 2014 open forum
Spring 2014 open forum Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-50470452882089117522014-08-28T01:51:00.001-04:002014-08-28T04:06:11.496-04:00At 30 - Diane Creamer
The Toronto Sun Family has lost another former longtime staffer with the June 3, 2014, death of Diane Creamer.
Diane, a coordinator in the Toronto Sun's classified automotive section, died from breast cancer. She was 71.
Randy Miller, friend and former colleague, says Diane's true calling at the Sun was "cheerleader and events coordinator.
"She saw to the golf weekends, ski
weekendsToronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-76293735663996514392014-08-23T16:21:00.000-04:002014-08-25T15:35:45.467-04:00Memories of Jean
Updated Aug. 25, 2014
Jean Osborne was a very special in the hearts of former Toronto Sun colleagues. They remember her smile, her calming personality and her contribution to the smooth operations at the switchboard.
More memories of Jean, a Day Oner who died Aug. 19, 2014, from Alzheimer's:
Sharon Stott, former Toronto Sun reporter: "Jean was one of the kindest people at the SunToronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4005385846479781113.post-61838122052650054022014-08-23T00:14:00.000-04:002014-08-23T00:16:43.536-04:00At 30 - Jean Osborne
The Toronto Sun Family has lost another member of The 62.
Jean Osborne, a much-loved Day One switchboard operator, died in her 80s on Aug. 19, 2014, from the ravages of Alzheimer's.
Jean, remembered for her smile and kindly disposition, was one of the
62 former Toronto Telegram staffers to take a gamble on the upstart Sun
in the old Eclipse Building at King St. W. and John Street
Toronto Sun Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05371905107394425335noreply@blogger.com0