Pass the hat

Time to pass the hat, PKP & son have dropped to 99th on the Top 100 list of Canada's wealthiest people with 0.61 billion.

Canadian Business magazine says Pierre, 50, and son Erik's wealth, pegged at 85th in the 2010 Top 100 stats, lost 9.1% in the past year. 

Down to a mere $610 million.

Guess that is why the multi-millionaires rejected a request for cash to  throw a 40th anniversary party for current and past Toronto Sun employees.

Word is they are flying some Toronto Sun advertising people south to mark the anniversary.

The folks in editorial? Let them eat crumbs.

Pathetic.

Donato appeal

Andy Donato's name isn't on Toronto's Italian Walk of Fame, but it should be.

There he was last night at the opening of his new art show standing between Bill Davis, former premier of Ontario, and Roy McMurtry, former attorney general.

At 75, Andy has been an influential and award-winning Canadian editorial cartoonist for more than four decades, first at the Toronto Telegram and at the Toronto Sun since 1971.

Over the years, he has mentored young artists and donated cartoons to the National Archives of Canada and to universities in Canada and the United States.

Andrew Antonio Donato is proud of his Italian heritage, often visiting Italy to paint its landscapes, towns and cities for future art shows at Columbus Centre in Toronto, a centre for all things Italian.

His new four-week show - From Toronto to Tuscany, From Tybee to Twillingate - is at the Lawrence Ave. W. centre through Nov. 1. 

Last night, Andy, looking as fit as any Harvey Brooker weight loss billboard model, welcomed Davis, McMurtry and a large crowd of Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery attendees.

Sun photo vet Michael Peake was there, as were Christina Blizzard, Mike Strobel, Ron Base, Hartley Steward, Bob MacMillan, Linda Leatherdale and Dr. G. from Sun circles.

And, as always, Dianne Jackson, Andy's artistic soul mate.  

We look forward to a gathering of Italian Walk of Fame nominees in Little Italy, with Andy's name on the list. He deserves recognition from the Italian community. 

Sun News drive

CEP Local 87M launched a public organizing drive at Sun News Network in Toronto on Wednesday, hoping to add to Sun-related SONG membership. 

Launched April 18, Sun News, also known as Sun TV and Fox News North, is owned and operated by Quebecor Media. 

CEP's press release says the media union already represents 13 Sun Media workplaces in Ontario, including the Toronto Sun newsroom and pre-press departments. 

It also notes Sun News is currently available on a handful of cable and satellite systems across Canada, with Quebecor currently seeking to expand distribution.

17 to 20 Where now?

Joining Bruce Borland in the Toronto Sun's Syndicate department on Day One were:

17 - Ron Cornell 

18 - Mary Buchanan

19 - Paul Gillespie

20 - Sandra D'Cruz 

Where are they now?

We'll save space for Day One profiles, Sun memories and photos for Ron, Mary, Paul and Sandra if emailed to TSF before Nov. 1.

40th section

There are signs of life at the Toronto Sun as it nears its 40th anniversary on Nov. 1.

It's not news of an open party, with Quebecor coughing up cash for a bash, mind you. 

Ian Robertson, a Sun vet, is appealing for comments from current and former Toronto Sun employees for a special 40th anniversary section in the paper.

And an email has been sent to most departments for Top 40 submissions, with an Oct. 21 possible deadline.

Ian tells TSF:

"The Sun is celebrating our 40th anniversary with another special edition - final format and size haven't been selected.

"I'm putting together stories, interviews, etc., including seeking 40-word (max) recollections by staffers, present and past.

"I must have them by Oct. 21 and, alas, based on whatever size they provide, there's no guarantee all will make it.

"Earlier the better, I'd like to feature everyone I can.

"I've noticed a few posted here (at TSF) and would like to be able to use a bit from each, but would need your permission."

Permission granted, Ian, with proper attribution to TSF for content used.

Ian can be reached at ian.robertson@sunmedia.ca

Meanwhile, Kevin Hann has sent this memo to department heads:

"Hi guys . . .

"Here's what we need from your departments so far for the 40th anniversary section. No idea how big it will be at this point.

"We will also compile a list of awards won by Sun staff. If you want to send them along to Ian Robertson, or staff want to send them, he's putting it together.

"I'm guessing deadline will be Friday, Oct. 21 but will keep you posted when I hear from Advertising.

"Any suggestions welcome.

SPORTS

1. 40 biggest sports stories of past 40 years. Could be something like this . . .

NOVEMBER 1981: Led by QB Joe Barnes coming off the bench in the third quarter, the Argonauts defeat the BC Lions for their first Grey Cup win in 31 years.

2. Lankhof piece on how the Toronto sports landscape has changed in the past 40 years. From Ballard to McNall to Stavros, etc. 1,000 words

3.40 athletes who starred for Toronto teams.

ENTERTAINMENT

1. 40 greatest concerts in Toronto since 1971 (Teenage Head at Ontario Place!)

2. 40 greatest shows (theatre or otherwise)

3. 40 greatest albums

Any other ideas welcome. Hawk told me about your Day Oners idea that would be cool.

Could all be point form.

PHOTO

1. 40 most memorable photos by Sun photogs since 1971 (include date and any relevant info). Julie Kirsh has pix from our photo book in system.

2. 40 memorable Sunshine Girls (including Diana)

End of memo.

Hann's memo covers sports, entertainment and photo. What about the Top 40 news stories, as selected by editors?

Or the Top 40 front pages?

Or the Top 40 editorial cartoons?

Back to Ian's request for comments from current and former employees. His invite opens the door for TSF readers who have been reluctant to comment on this blog.

We will submit our 40 tight and bright words to Ian.

We get links

A TSF reader writes:

A great new topic for debate with the company's lame ass push for videos using cheap equipment and poor bandwidth on their sites.

http://jrnteaching.wordpress.com/2011/09/23/newspapers-should-jettison-most-of-their-web-video-efforts/

16 Bruce Borland

A salute to The 62

Bruce Borland, one of five Day Oners in the Sun's Syndicate department, got his start in print media as a 16-year-old Toronto Telegram delivery truck hopper. A year later, he moved to the Tely's Syndicate news service. After the Sun bought the Syndicate off the doomed Tely for a reported $35,000, Don Hunt, Syndicate director, called Bruce into his office and said: "We are starting a newspaper called the Sun and we would like you to join us." At 21, it was the start of a three-decade-plus membership in the Toronto Sun Family. Syndicate staffers worked out of the Tely's old Syndicate office for three months before joining the others in the Eclipse building. After the Sun moved to 333 in 1975, Bruce transferred to the press room. There he stayed for almost 30 years until health issues curbed his full-time employment. Bruce says his press room colleagues, plus Doug, Peter, Don and others at the Sun were true "family" during tough times that included a divorce, a custody battle and health issues.     

If you are a Toronto Sun Day Oner and have a bio or memories to share, please email with a photo.

If you are one of the hundreds of men and women in all departments who followed The 62 and want to share your memories of the Toronto Sun in the next few weeks, email TSF.

We want to give everyone the opportunity to mark the 40th anniversary.

15 Norm Betts

A salute to The 62

Norm Betts posed with Day Oner photo amigos Dave Cooper and Jac Holland for Ron Poulton's 1976 Life In A Word Factory book. There they stood in their hastily-prepared darkroom in the Eclipse White Wear Building ready to take on the world. Norm,  a University of British Columbia grad, shone as a news and sports photographer at the Tely and Sun, but he is also remembered as the Sunshine Girl photographer who pushed the envelop. His girls became pinup classics and by the time full colour arrived in 1975 with the move to 333 King St. E., he was the hero of male readers. On the news and sports front, Norm's camera magic was frequently on the same plateau as Boris Spremo, another Toronto print media legend who was always focused on The Shot. One of those shots for Norm was of an amused Princess Diana, who fancied his cap with the bird on top. His Tely/Sun years came to an end in 2000. He is now an independent, snapping photos for Bloomberg News and wowing rodeo fans with stunning photos taken on the Canadian circuit. Forever young behind the lens. 

If you are a Toronto Sun Day Oner and have a bio or memories to share, please email with a photo.

If you are one of the hundreds of men and women in all departments who followed The 62 and want to share your memories of the Toronto Sun in the next few weeks, email TSF.

We want to give everyone the opportunity to mark the 40th anniversary.     

31 to 40th

The Toronto Sun's 40th anniversary is a month from today, do you know where your staff celebration organizers are?

Canoe -4

The same day Sun Media was beating its chest over NADbank's print and web stats, Quebecor was pink-slipping four Canoe.ca staffers.

A TSF tipster says the four Canoe staffers axed include a vet of the "Canadian Online Explorer" site.

It seems the only time TSF hears about Canoe it is for layoffs. Just how many people are  left to run the show there these days?

The tipster didn't have names, but we'll use them if the casualties want to have a say.

Speaking of NADbank, here are the readership results - based on the number of print and torontosun.com online readers, not the number of papers sold. 

The bottom line is print continues to carry the ball, especially at the Toronto Sun. Its online figures are a distant third behind the Star and Globe.

To be fair, for graphics and ease of use, torontosun.com has improved considerably in the past year, so we'd expect those Weekly Online stats from the fall of 2010 to the spring of 2011 to improve with the next survey.