Gord McIntosh

Just a few weeks after his 75th birthday, Andrew Gordon McIntosh passed in his sleep the morning of April 26, 2025. He’d been in Queensway-Carleton hospital, Ottawa, with complications from cancer treatment since mid-month. He is survived by his wife of almost 48 years Irene Daina McIntosh (nee Stanionis).

Gord was a career journalist with more than 20 years with The Canadian Press. He had been a fixture on Parliament Hill since the 1980s when he transferred to the Ottawa bureau from CP Toronto where he specialized in covering business. Born in Toronto, his early years in the business started in the 1970s with Thomson newspapers. The Woodstock Daily Sentinel-Review in southwestern Ontario was where he and Irene met on the job more than 50 years ago. He quickly rose through the ranks from reporter to city editor to managing editor before joining CP in 1979. With the start of the new millenium, Gord went into private practice, offering consulting services in public affairs and communications. He was particularly proud of his achievements during this second career, hilighting his role as chief strategist of a successul advocacy campaign by the Canadian Medical Association that won international and national awards.

Good friend, mentor, larger than life – this is what has shown up most often in the many tributes that have been shared publicly and privately with Irene since his passing. His friend and former colleague Dianne Rinehart summed it up succinctly:

“Gord not only fought for right over wrong in his reporting. He was a fighter who would not put up with bullies any time, anywhere. Heaven help a politician, political staffer or another reporter who bullied anyone else when Gord was around.”

Always willing to help people individually, he believed strongly in giving back to the community. His involvement includes work with the Canadian Media Guild, director of the Government Relations Institute of Canada (GRIC) 2001-2007, Ottawa chapter president of the International Association of Business Communicators 2006-2008, president of the National Press Gallery 1996-1998, and director of the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom (UNESCO) since 2007.

A consummate story teller himself, most people have a favourite story or memory of Gord. A celebration of life will be planned in future to provide an opportunity for many of you to share those stories.

As per Gord’s wishes, cremation has taken place. There is no formal service. If you wish to honour Gord’s memory, buy a newspaper today and celebrate free press.

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