Advertisement
Proudly Canadian, obsessively Toronto. Subscribe to Toronto Life!
City

Jim Travers (1949–2011)

By John Michael McGrath
Copy link

The Informer is saddened to learn that Jim Travers, the 62-year old national affairs columnist for the Toronto Star, passed away this morning in Ottawa after a long illness. Star staff got an email today from Tim Harper, the paper’s national editor, informing them of Travers’s passing. The scribe was also editor of the Ottawa Citzen from 1991 to 1996, when he resigned over difference with the paper’s owner—the Conrad Black–controlled Hollinger.

This blogger actually had the good fortune to interview Travers once as a student a few years back, and Jim (“stop calling me Mr. Travers!”) was kind and generous with his time in a way that many aren’t when they hear “student reporter.” His willingness to make jokes about himself continue to be a reminder not to take ourselves too seriously.

Which is not to say that he thought the politics of the nation, or the job of covering them, wasn’t serious work. Some of his columns in recent years were positively scathing of the Harper government, and he was alarmed by what he saw as the slide in Canadian politics to somewhere dangerous. Jim’s friends and family will remember him for his good humour, no doubt, but the rest of us can remember him for his work.  He will be missed.

• Star columnist Jim Travers dies [Toronto Star]

NEVER MISS A TORONTO LIFE STORY

Sign up for This City, our free newsletter about everything that matters right now in Toronto politics, sports, business, culture, society and more.

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
You may unsubscribe at any time.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Big Stories

Dark Horse: Inside the fall of Eric Lamaze, Canada’s most famous equestrian
Deep Dives

Dark Horse: Inside the fall of Eric Lamaze, Canada’s most famous equestrian

Inside the Latest Issue

The February issue of Toronto Life features Scottie Barnes, the new face of the Raptors—and the team’s best chance of salvation. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.