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A TRIBUTE TO COLIN VAUGHAN

© Mary M. Alward

Colin Vaughan worked as a Political Specialist for Toronto's CITY-TV for 23 years. He reported on city and provincial governments, elections and visits of dignitaries from around the world. He was an accomplished architect and journalist. Colin died at home in his sleep in the early hours of the New Year. He suffered a heart attack just hours after celebrating with his family.

I have watched CITY-TV for many years, though I live sixty miles west of the Mega City. I have always looked upon the staff there as happy and vivacious people. They work as a team and seem to be a close-knit family. Colin was no exception.

To the outside world and to those who didn't know him, Colin seemed a little hard-nosed. He told it like it was and if the truth hurt, too bad.

Over the years, I began to see a different side to Colin. His eyes would twinkle with mischief and a devilish grin would creep over his face. He, I realized, was a man of mischief, much like my own Dad had been.

Colin came to Canada from his native Australia in the early 1950's and took work with the firm of Robbie, Vaughan and Williams as an architect. He was one of Toronto's leading architects and was in charge of design for the Hummingbird Centre, formerly known as the O'Keefe Centre. Colin also designed many other buildings in the city and certainly left his mark there as well as a great legacy.

Colin was elected to City Council in 1972. He hoped to right the wrongs that he had witnessed as an architect. When he ran into political obstacles, he joined David Crombie and the reform movement. After two terms on City Council, Colin began his life at CITY-TV. He also worked for The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail and Toronto Life.

Colin was one of a kind. He seemed to force his will upon his job instead of letting his job rob him of his personality. He was tough - and tough on everyone. He treated all politicians equally and made certain his point of view was heard. One thing I can say after watching Colin over the years; he got to the point. When he asked a politician a question, he expected an answer and an honest one. If he didn't get it outright, he would pursue the issue until an answer was forthcoming. Colin felt we were paying our politicians and that they were accountable to the people who had voted them in. He could take complicated political issues, connect to them and put the matter in laymen's terms so that his viewers knew exactly what he was talking about. During elections, he told it like it was and left it to his viewers to decide how to vote.

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