Beland Honderich championed hope

For Beland Honderich, the man who built the Star into Canada’s largest newspaper, journalism wasn’t fundamentally about entertaining readers. It was about making Canada a better place, especially for those who were left behind by the march of prosperity. Under his exacting guidance, this newspaper — and above all this space, the editorial page — pressed all levels of governments and society to act against the curse of poverty, the shame of substandard housing, the pain of inadequate health care, and the unfair obstacles facing minorities struggling for acceptance. Honderich died yesterday after devoting 52 years to the Star, including 22 as publisher. But his concern for the welfare of all Canadians, and for social justice, lives on in this place that was so much a part of his life. Honderich was familiar with hard times, not in some far- removed academic way but through growing up in a hardscrabble world where he left school at an early age and worked as a farm hand, among other jobs. That experience added fire to his convictions. After turning to journalism and making his way to the Star, Honderich found a welcome place for his views at a newspaper already dedicated to social justice by its legendary publisher Joseph E. Atkinson. As Honderich rose through the ranks at the Star, eventually to occupy the very highest positions, he continued and built upon Atkinson’s legacy of public service journalism. Honderich led the Star in vigorous campaigns. Many, like his fights for medicare, credit unions, welfare benefits, pensions and minority rights, successfully swayed society. A few, especially the battle to prevent free trade with the United States, failed to achieve their objective. In every case, however — win or lose — Honderich expressed a reasoned and wellargued stand. Early on, Honderich wrote many editorials himself. Later, as he assumed greater corporate responsibilities, they would be crafted mostly by others. But, always, Honderich took a keen personal interest in what was on the page and in how it was written. On rare and important occasions, editorials would carry his initials, BHH. He thrived on argument. The Star’s senior editorial writers fondly remember him suddenly appearing in their offices, cigar in hand, to sift, weigh, challenge their views. With tough, seasoned staff, he could be impatient, gruff and demanding. With juniors, he would offer helpful guidance. Before he spoke, he listened. He had a laser- like ability to focus on the core of an issue. That insight served readers well, as did Honderich’s insistence on translating tangled and complex policy matters into clear, precise language that everyone could easily understand. He changed journalism by holding reporters and editors to new standards of accuracy. Honderich took a 1950s “ razzle- dazzle” Star, heavy on sensationalism, and turned it into a serious source of information and advice. In the process, he built a business powerhouse — the biggest newspaper in the country and the foundation of Torstar Corp. and its sprawling regional and community publishing family, along with Harlequin, one of the largest book publishers in the world.

It is a vast and multi- faceted legacy, one that stands unparalleled in the last half- century of Canadian journalism. At the core of that legacy is Honderich’s abiding faith in Canadians. At a time when newspapers were more devoted to screaming headlines than the facts, Honderich had trust in the readers’ desire for serious news, and in their judgment. He had a deep- seated confidence in people’s willingness to do the right thing. Canadians, at heart, want their country to be a better place — a land of fairness and opportunity. Beland Honderich shared that conviction, and lived it. He dedicated himself, and the Star, to prodding political leaders, parties and working people to keep faith with their good angels. The country, today, is a better place for his life.