Beland Honderich
Encyclopedia
Beland Hugh Honderich, OC
(November 25, 1918 – November 8, 2005) was a Canadian
newspaper executive who was the Chairman and Publisher of the Toronto Star
and Chairman and President of the Torstar Corporation
.
Born in Kitchener, Ontario
, the son of John Honderich Sr. and Rae Honderich, he was a high school drop-out who worked as a cub reporter for the Kitchener-Waterloo Record before heading to Toronto
. He was hired at the Star to replace reporters who went to serve in World War II
, as Honderich was rejected by the RCAF due to poor eyesight.
In 1955, he was appointed editor-in-chief of the Toronto Star and a director in 1956. In 1966, he was elected president and publisher of Toronto Star Limited. In 1976, he was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Torstar Corporation. In 1988, he retired as publisher and moved to Vancouver
after his third marriage in 2000.
He died at St. Paul's Hospital
in Vancouver
after having a stroke. His final request was for cremation.
as well as six grandchildren. His brother, the British-Canadian philosopher Ted Honderich
, worked for the newspaper in the 1950s.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(November 25, 1918 – November 8, 2005) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
newspaper executive who was the Chairman and Publisher of the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
and Chairman and President of the Torstar Corporation
Torstar
Torstar Corporation is an independently-owned Canadian broadly based media company that is named after its principal holding, the Toronto Star daily newspaper....
.
Born in Kitchener, Ontario
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
, the son of John Honderich Sr. and Rae Honderich, he was a high school drop-out who worked as a cub reporter for the Kitchener-Waterloo Record before heading to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He was hired at the Star to replace reporters who went to serve in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, as Honderich was rejected by the RCAF due to poor eyesight.
In 1955, he was appointed editor-in-chief of the Toronto Star and a director in 1956. In 1966, he was elected president and publisher of Toronto Star Limited. In 1976, he was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Torstar Corporation. In 1988, he retired as publisher and moved to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
after his third marriage in 2000.
He died at St. Paul's Hospital
St. Paul's Hospital (Vancouver)
St. Paul's Hospital is an acute care, teaching and research hospital located in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is the largest of the seven health care facilities operated by Providence Health Care, a Roman Catholic faith-based care provider. St...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
after having a stroke. His final request was for cremation.
Personal
Honderich was married three times, with two sons and a daughter:- John HonderichJohn HonderichJohn Allen Honderich, is a Canadian businessman who was the publisher of the Toronto Star from 1994 to 2004.Born in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Beland Honderich, Honderich graduated from Neuchâtel Junior College in Switzerland, the University of Toronto and London School of Economics.His...
, was also publisher of the Toronto Star from 1994 to 2004 - David Honderich, an entrepreneur
- Mary Honderich, philosophy and English teacher
as well as six grandchildren. His brother, the British-Canadian philosopher Ted Honderich
Ted Honderich
Ted Honderich is a Canadian-born British philosopher, Grote Professor Emeritus of the Philosophy of Mind and Logic, University College London and Visiting Professor, University of Bath...
, worked for the newspaper in the 1950s.
Honours
- In 1976, he was awarded an honorary LL.D. from York UniversityYork UniversityYork University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
. - In 1977, he was awarded an honorary LL.D. from Wilfrid Laurier UniversityWilfrid Laurier UniversityWilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
. - In 1986, he was made an Officer of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. - In 1989, he was awarded an honorary D.Litt. from Carleton UniversityCarleton UniversityCarleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
.