Toronto city councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam said her own elderly parents inspired the writing of a Toronto Sun op-ed published under the headline “Let’s choose discourse over divisiveness.” But claiming the vaccinated spread COVID-19 “just as easily” was an odd position from a city health board vice-chair, even if she cited a source.
The open letters keep coming
Complaints about journalism before finished production went public was a unique experience for The Fifth Estate in the process of producing a story about We Charity misleading donors about building schools in Kenya. The push back has now familiar rhythms, followed by an open letter from other donors, in paid newspaper space.
“Rogers looks to cash in on Blue Jays to pay down company debt ahead of Shaw deal.” Edward Rogers is a potential buyer for a portion, according to a Globe and Mail report on the day CRTC hearings about the acquisition get underway. It’s more fodder for the Rogers vs. Rogers book now set to be written by reporter Alexandra Posadzki.
When oldies become the ’90s
Toronto rhythmic radio station Z103.5 has supplied a new job for Rick Campanelli as morning co-host. The former Rick the Temp of MuchMusic only lasted a few months in a similar role on 102.1 the Edge. Meanwhile in Montreal, the 30-year run of MC Mario Tremblay partying on Saturday night radio came an end only announced off the air:
Norman Webster dead at 80. The editor-in-chief of the Globe and Mail from 1983 to 1989 started there as the reporter nephew of the owner and grew into a memorable stint as China correspondent. Webster ran the Montreal Gazette newsroom from 1989 to 1993. His half-century of newspapering was compiled in a book published last year.
Finally, java junkie remembered
Peter Aykroyd had his death at age 65 announced on Saturday Night Live. He was one of three cast siblings who joined the show (Jim Belushi and Brian Doyle-Murray were the others). Dan worked with his brother on the movie Nothing But Trouble and the Canadian TV series Psi Factor, but Peter had the starring role in one 1979 short:
