Peter C Newman, a renowned journalist and author who wrote about every Canadian prime minister from Louis St. Laurent to Paul Martin, and exposed the inner workings of the country’s business and political establishment, died on September 07, 2023, at a hospital in Belleville, Ontario. He was 94.
His wife, Alvy Newman, said the cause was complications from a stroke he had suffered last year, which also led to Parkinson’s disease.
Biography
Peter C Newman was born on May 10, 1929, in Vienna, Austria, as Peta Karel Neumann. His parents were Wanda Maria and Oscar Karel Neumann, a wealthy Jewish factory owner. He fled Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia with his family in 1940, after a harrowing escape that involved being shot at by German planes and surviving a U-boat attack on their convoy.
They arrived in Halifax as refugees and settled in Toronto, where Newman attended Upper Canada College and the University of Toronto. He changed his name to Peter Charles Newman and became a Canadian citizen in 1945.
| Name | Peter Charles Newman |
|---|---|
| Birth date | May 10, 1929 |
| Birth place | Vienna, Austria |
| Death date | September 7, 2023 |
| Death place | Belleville, Ontario |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Journalist, author, editor |
| Spouse(s) | Christina McCall (1959-1977) Camilla Jane Turner (1978-1984) Sandra Martin (1986-1991) Alvy Bjorklund (1994-2023) |
| Children | David Newman Deborah Newman Alex Newman |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of Canada Canadian Forces Decoration Governor General’s Literary Award National Business Book Award Drainie-Taylor Biography Prize Writers’ Trust of Canada Lifetime Achievement Award |
Who was Peter C Newman?
Peter was one of Canada’s most influential and controversial writers, who combined rigorous reporting, narrative flair and a provocative style to produce best-selling books and columns that captivated millions of readers. He was also a formidable editor who transformed Maclean’s magazine from a struggling monthly to a lively weekly news magazine that featured some of the country’s most talented journalists.
Peter C Newman’s career spanned more than six decades and covered a wide range of topics, from politics and business to history and culture. He wrote more than two dozen books, including a three-volume series on The Canadian Establishment and the Hudson’s Bay Company, as well as biographies of prominent figures such as Conrad Black, Izzy Asper, John Diefenbaker, and Brian Mulroney.
Rise to Fame
He also interviewed and profiled many world leaders, such as Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Indira Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Margaret Thatcher.
Newman was known for his sharp insights, his access to sources and his willingness to challenge the powerful and the privileged. He often stirred controversy with his revelations and opinions, which sometimes angered his subjects and sparked lawsuits.
He once described himself as a “shit disturber” who wanted to be heard. “I’m neutral, I attack everybody,” he said in a 2011 interview with CBC’s The Hour. “I think they need to be attacked, they’re responsible to us.”
A refugee who became a chronicler of Canada
Peter C Newman began his journalism career at the Financial Post in 1951, where he quickly rose to become an assistant editor. He then moved to the Toronto Star in 1959, where he became the editor-in-chief in 1961 at the age of 32.
He left the Star in 1963 to pursue his passion for writing books. His first major success was Renegade in Power: The Diefenbaker Years (1963), a scathing account of the Conservative government of John Diefenbaker that helped bring down the prime minister. The book sold more than 100,000 copies and established Newman as a leading political commentator.
Peter followed up with The Distemper of Our Times (1968), a critical analysis of the Liberal era of Lester Pearson. He also wrote books on topics such as Quebec nationalism, Canadian foreign policy and the Royal Family.
In 1971, he returned to magazine journalism as the editor-in-chief of Maclean’s, which he transformed into a popular newsweekly that competed with Time and Newsweek. Peter C hired talented writers such as Robert Fulford, Barbara Amiel, Peter Gzowski and Allan Fotheringham, and gave them freedom to pursue stories that reflected their views and personalities.
He also wrote a regular column for Maclean’s that showcased his wit, wisdom and sarcasm. He often took aim at politicians, businessmen and celebrities whom he considered pompous, corrupt or incompetent. He once called Pierre Trudeau “a dilettante who dabbles in politics” and Conrad Black “a corporate pirate who plunders companies.”
Newman left Maclean’s in 1982 to focus on his book projects. He embarked on an ambitious trilogy on The Canadian Establishment (1975-1998), which exposed the secrets and scandals of the country’s elite in business, politics and culture. He also wrote a sweeping three-volume history of the Hudson’s Bay Company (1989-1991), which traced Canada’s origins as a fur-trading nation.
He continued to write books until his late 80s, covering subjects such as the rise of China, the decline of democracy and the legacy of Brian Mulroney. His last book was Hostages to Fortune: The United Empire Loyalists and the Making of Canada (2016), which told the story of the American colonists who remained loyal to Britain during the American Revolution and settled in Canada.
A controversial and influential figure
Newman was widely respected and admired for his contributions to Canadian journalism and literature. He won several awards, including the Governor General’s Literary Award, the National Business Book Award, the Drainie-Taylor Biography Prize and the Writers’ Trust of Canada Lifetime Achievement Award. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1978 and promoted to Companion in 1990.
Peter C Newman was also honoured with seven honorary doctorates and a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. He was a member of several prestigious organizations, such as the Royal Society of Canada, the Order of Ontario and the Canadian News Hall of Fame.
He was also a generous philanthropist who supported various causes, such as education, health, arts and culture. He donated his personal papers and books to several institutions, including the University of Toronto, Queen’s University and Library and Archives Canada.
However, Newman also faced criticism and controversy for some of his writings and actions. He was accused of being biased, sensationalist, inaccurate or unethical by some of his subjects and critics. He was sued several times for libel or breach of contract by people such as John Diefenbaker, Brian Mulroney, Conrad Black and Peter Munk.
Personal Life
He also had a turbulent personal life that involved four marriages and several affairs. He married his first wife, Christina McCall, a fellow journalist and author, in 1959. They had two children, David and Deborah, but divorced in 1977. He then married Camilla Jane Turner, a former model and actress, in 1978. They had a son, Alex, but divorced in 1984. He married his third wife, Sandra Martin, a journalist and editor, in 1986. They divorced in 1991. He married his fourth wife, Alvy Bjorklund, a former nurse and businesswoman, in 1994. They remained married until his death.
Newman died on September 7, 2023, at the age of 94. He is survived by his wife Alvy; his children David, Deborah and Alex; his stepchildren Jennifer and Michael; his grandchildren Hannah, Jacob, Max, and Sam; and his great-grandchildren Leo and Zoe.
He is also remembered by millions of Canadians who read his books and columns, and who were influenced by his insights and opinions on their country’s history, politics, and society.
