Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
National

'There's no one to fill his shoes': Journalist and author Peter C. Newman dies at 94

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Sep, 2023 09:52 AM
  • 'There's no one to fill his shoes': Journalist and author Peter C. Newman dies at 94

Veteran journalist and author Peter C. Newman, who held a mirror up to Canada, has died at the age of 94.

He died in hospital in Belleville, Ont., Thursday morning from complications related to a stroke he had last year, which caused him to develop Parkinson's disease, his wife Alvy Newman said by phone.

"It's a big loss for Canada," she said. "He has no peers. There's no one to fill his shoes. Who is there that's an author and a journalist that can show Canada to themselves?"

In his decades-long career, Newman served as editor-in-chief of the Toronto Star and Maclean's, covering Canadian politics and business.

Often recognized by his trademark sailor's cap, Newman also wrote two dozen books and earned the informal title of Canada's "most cussed and discussed commentator," said HarperCollins, one of his publishers, in an author note.

Newman was born in Vienna in 1929 and came to Canada in 1940 as a Jewish refugee.

In his 2004 autobiography, "Here Be Dragons: Telling Tales of People, Passion and Power," Newman describes being shot at by Nazis as he waited on the beach at Biarritz, France for the ship that would take him to freedom.

"Nothing compares with being a refugee; you are robbed of context and you flail about, searching for self-definition," he wrote. "When I ultimately arrived in Canada, what I wanted was to gain a voice. To be heard. That longing has never left me."

That, he said, is why he became a writer.

The Writers' Trust of Canada said Newman's 1963 book "Renegade in Power: The Diefenbaker Years" had "revolutionized Canadian political reporting with its controversial 'insiders-tell-all' approach."

Newman was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1978 and promoted to the rank of companion in 1990, recognized as a "chronicler of our past and interpreter of our present."

His popular histories and biographies brought to life people, places and events that shaped Canada, his profile on the Governor General's website says.

He was also dedicated to passing on the craft of creative non-fiction to a new generation as a professor at the University of Victoria, it says.

Newman won some of Canada's most illustrious literary awards, along with seven honorary doctorates, his HarperCollins profile says.

"It's such a loss. It's like a library burned down if you lose someone with that knowledge," Alvy Newman said. "He revolutionized journalism, in business, politics, history."

On a personal level, Alvy Newman said, her husband had a sharp wit and generous spirit.

"He had a love of the absurd which was so wonderful," she said. "I think that's what brought us together. We both had the love of the absurd. We could just find the humour in anything."

MORE National ARTICLES

Feds say 6.6 million 'unsafe vehicles' on the road

Feds say 6.6 million 'unsafe vehicles' on the road
Transport Canada estimated in an analysis from June that one in five of the 33.3 million vehicles registered as of 2019 have outstanding recalls but continue to ply the streets and highways, potentially endangering occupants and other road users.

Feds say 6.6 million 'unsafe vehicles' on the road

Properties destroyed as latest B.C. wildfire flares, forcing urgent evacuations

Properties destroyed as latest B.C. wildfire flares, forcing urgent evacuations
An evacuation order covering the more than 200 properties around the lake was issued Tuesday and quickly upgraded to critical, urging the many seasonal and handful of permanent residents to leave for Lillooet or Whistler.

Properties destroyed as latest B.C. wildfire flares, forcing urgent evacuations

Vancouver home prices rose slightly from June to July

Vancouver home prices rose slightly from June to July
Home prices in the Greater Vancouver Area rose slightly between June and July to just over 1.2-million-dollars. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says that was due to strong sales figures and few listed homes.

Vancouver home prices rose slightly from June to July

Trudeaus announce separation after 18 years of marriage

Trudeaus announce separation after 18 years of marriage
The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement the couple have signed a separation agreement "to ensure that all legal and ethical steps with regards to their decision to separate have been taken, and will continue to do so moving forward."

Trudeaus announce separation after 18 years of marriage

External review found military's COVID-19 vaccine policy violated Charter of Rights

External review found military's COVID-19 vaccine policy violated Charter of Rights
The Military Grievances External Review Committee reviews grievances that are referred to it by the chief of defence staff, and provides the chief with non-binding findings and recommendations. The vaccine policy required Canadian Armed Forces members to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face release.

External review found military's COVID-19 vaccine policy violated Charter of Rights

Suspect vehicle identified in Richmond shooting of Ravinder Samra

Suspect vehicle identified in Richmond shooting of Ravinder Samra
Through extensive video canvassing, IHIT has identified a suspect vehicle, described as a black 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, which was parked in the hours leading up to the homicide on the west-side of the 8100-block of Minler Road, with the suspects inside.  

Suspect vehicle identified in Richmond shooting of Ravinder Samra