are you serious?

i couldn't even get him to drink over the past few years. he was one of the cleanest people i've ever met. (again, in the past few years) Getting your facts straight might help your career.

This story is embarassing.

He was the voice of 102 and it was unfortunate to no longer see him around Sundays at Velvet. It wasn't the same to not see him, spend time with him, listen to his stories(which he had many!)Reconstruction left us without a heart to the Edge. He was a good soul and deserves to be shown more respect than this horrible article...get your facts straight!

Good work, Susan... good work.

We've lost an important radio signal in the night. The least you could do is to get it right.

This "article" is criminally neglectful of basic journalistic principals!

Didnt Streek win NOW awards for Best Toronto DJ multiple years? Isn't there someone else with actual knowledge with a personal story who could take this on instead? He deserves a better obit for the Thursday edition. Get on it.

We hit concerts where he wouldn't even touch beer.

You're a disgrace to the profession. Go work at Walmart.

How pathetic that you couldn't be bothered to make the most meagre half-assed effort in either researching this man's life or writing his obit. You couldn't his age even CLOSE to correct? Shame on you.

I wouldn't wish a 'firing' on anyone--I've seen how traumatic it can be for my fellow friends in the fickle, fickle media. And it seems to have been a blow to Martin, too.

That said, if you aren't fired, you should most certainly be demoted or suspended. Much better people--actual writers/researchers--are more than qualified to do your job. Clearly you're not up to it.

RIP Martin Streek.

Do some fvcking research!

Try getting off your ass and talking to someone who actually knew him.

You could start with practically anyone in Toronto media. Or anyone in the Toronto club scene.

Hack journalism. Thanks for stomping on the memory of a guy who didn't deserve the treatment you gave him.

Clearly, you need to get your facts straight. If this is any indication of your journaling talents, I don't even think NOW is good enough for you.

You probably shouldn't add this to your professional portfolio.

And, nice fact-checking. Maybe you should have focused on what Martin did in his life, instead of slandering him publicly.

Pathetic. Martin deserves far, far greater than that.

Consider me a non-reader of NOW anymore.

please get this article deleted and have it redone by someone else.

Who are you? Quincy? Are you the freaking coroner?

His corpse isn't even cold, the cause of death not yet known--probably not even to police or his own family. But here is Susan G. Cole gleefully, mindlessly jumping in (trying to scoop the other media I suppose), and yet not even knowing the guy well enough to even know how old he was.

Did you actually interview any of his friends/fans/family for this piece? Or did you just make it up out of whole cloth and plagiarize the rest?

This is sickening. And terribly cruel-slash-self serving.

Count me as yet another reader who will have nothing further to do with NOW. Not as long as you are a contributor there.

Susan, your disrespect and unknowledgeable article on one of the best to ever be in Radio is disgusting!

Martin was definitely one of my mentors in my journey to be a great announcer! I worked with many nights as part of the edge intern army and never saw him as so much touch anything that was excessive! As people have pointed out above he would only drink water!

He loved life and loved his career! I am sure it was a devestating time when he was let go of the Edge!

Today is a time to celebrate his life not make acquisations of what he did or did not!

Your a disgrace to journalism and I hope that you are relieved of your duties!

1. DOB wrong. 2. Addiction wrong.

This entire obit was offensive and libelous and NOW should be ashamed.

Martin Streek is a Toronto icon and should have been sent off as such. Regardless of what anyone thinks surrounding the cause of his death, he should be remembered for what he brought to the music scene... which was a whole helluva lot.

This "obit" is an affront to his family, friends, colleagues, fans... and especially to Martin himself.

I expected so much more from NOW.

If you have any sense of decency, you will remove this ridiculous piece of "writing" (and I use that term loosely) and try again.

Perhaps have it written by an actual writer.

Ms. Cole, I'm not a fan of ad hominem (look it up, dear) attacks, but you are clearly a moron who has no business writing for publication. You embarrassed yourself and NOW, a publication I will no longer bother with.

NOW, show some integrity and have this obit re-written.

Martin Streek deserves a proper obit. NOW had best find an actual a journalist for this purpose.

I demand that this be deleted, and unless NOW is willing to assign someone with itegrity to write a peice on Martin Steek then I sugest that they not only hang thier heads in shame, but also go re-evaluate how they report the news.

If I was a family member of Martins I would be horified to read garbage like that. Now that it is part of the public domain I would not be surprised if you are slapped with a lawsuit.

I don't travel in anything like the same social circle as NOW writers and Edge DJs do, and even *I* know that the Streeker struggled with addiction issues. It's hardly a discredit to his memory to acknowledge that -- it's an all-too-human problem that many good and lovable and admirable and tremendously talented people have struggled with.

It's a health issue that's far better addressed with honesty and compassion, not hypocrisy and silence.

R.I.P Martin, the mark you left on me will forever remain!

Peace brother

...the stories will never end my friend

You're stupid.

Didn't take them long to get that info either. They just had to read this and some of your other AWESOME articles. Just think of what you could have done if you took the time to do your job....stupid.

This is worse than student journalism. Much worse. Just delete, what the hell is wrong with you NOW? Mistakes are made, just admit it and move on.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Streek family.

Alan Cross has a much better article here: http://www.exploremusic.com/news/2009-07-07/Martin-Streek-This-Charming-Man

really stupid how they could possibly let go Martin or Barry Taylor all of whom made a big impact on almost all Canadian musicians and were the listener's favorites. the person that fired them deserves not only to be fired but to die a horrible death because the edge will never be the same and by the way it's going now, it might even die itself, which I really hope doesn't happen I hope they can soldier on without Martin and Barry. Barry should be an A&R rep though. Rest In Peace Martin you will never be forgotten. one of the greats.

Alan Cross has a much better article here: http://www.exploremusic.com/news/2009-07-07/Martin-Streek-This-Charming-Man

really stupid how they could possibly let go Martin or Barry Taylor all of whom made a big impact on almost all Canadian musicians and were the listener's favorites. the person that fired them deserves not only to be fired but to die a horrible death because the edge will never be the same and by the way it's going now, it might even die itself, which I really hope doesn't happen I hope they can soldier on without Martin and Barry. Barry should be an A&R rep though. Rest In Peace Martin you will never be forgotten. one of the greats.

"He had been trying to clean up over the past years – decades on the club scene had led to some dangerous excess."

Despite the fact that he chose to take his own life, he still deserves respect, regardless of what you may or may not know (or think you know) about him.

Nevermind the person who gave the OK to let that little DOOZY out.

Morons.

Regardless of the subject, your article was poorly written; but when considering that you call this an obituary, Martin would be turning in his grave. Oh wait... he hadn't even made it to the morgue before you posted this inconsiderate and slanderous piece of trash.

Someone screwed up big time, and how NOW management handles the damage control will be a benchmark that they should be judged by for years to come.

Susan G. Cole Senior Entertainment Editor

I've read many comments left by others that Martin was a clean healthy man. these people knew Martin!

This article makes me sick! remove this article!

This obit is as offensive as a would be obit for Micheal Jackson, listing his "alleged" offences.

Keep up the great journalism, hopefully you'll be a lesson at Ryerson, Jrn101: What not to do and how by Susan G. Cole

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/media/story/2009/07/07/martin-streek.html

Life must be good when you only have to cash cheques, you fucking jerk-off.

Next article, please - for I can't wait.

It frightens me that a woman who got her bachelor's degree from Harvard could write something such as this. The family, friends AND fans of Martin Streek deserve an apology.

Stop the judgement, of anyone. A man is dead. It is very sad, for everyone who loved him, or knew him, or welcomed his voice over the airwaves.

Also, since you travel in those "circles" you might not want to tarnish yourself with the same brush. How will your so-called NOW "obit" read?

love and peace.

Saddest part about all of this?

NOW staffers will be sharing high-fives and back-slapping each other over their own "edgy" tone and the "controversy" generated by this bullshit. May NOW Magazine die a slow, painful death - for we've only been witness to the decline so far.

Ms. Cole, this very publication handed awards to Mr. Streek. Why not mention those? How about a quick call to CFNY to speak to someone there, get a nice quote or two for your article? I really and truly don't understand why you would think that this tripe you've published would suffice in any way.

Let me lay this out for you, plain and simple. Thousands of people are saddened, upset, and shocked by this tragedy. Those who knew Martin personally are grieving. Those who knew him from the radio and the clubs are feeling an emptiness that's difficult to explain. We all turn to the media, not for speculation and manufactured innuendo, but for facts and a celebration of a true local music icon. You have failed your readers in a very big way today.

This "article," if it can be called that, disrespects everything Martin stood for and gave to his listeners, family and friends. The thoughts Alan Cross shared on his blog are a true sentiment of the real Martin Streek and how he will really be remembered.

Susan Cole, "Do you hear that? Yeah, that." That's the sound of the slap to the face you gave to Martin's memory and those who mourn his loss.

Rest in peace, Martin. The Edge was never the same since you left.

Way to go, Toronto!

Feel free to take early retirement, Susan G. Cole!

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/662512

You've embarassed Toronto, Martin Streek and yourself. Do yourself a favour and disappear.

clearly if the publisher of this hack rag won't remove such slanderous shite...his morals and integrity are in question more so than the hack writer who posted such crap.

have some respect for a man that MADE radio in this city...RIP Martin...you deserve SO much more!

Cole is so useless, she has stunk up NOW's editorial pages for YEARS and makes me embarrassed to be a feminist sometimes. Send her packing and get a REAL writer in ...

RIP martin...

NOW...this woman needs to go!

Puhleez.

2) NOW should publish a full retraction for the misinformation and libel.

3) A full, fitting and factual obit should be written (by an *actual* writer), and published both online and in NOW's print edition.

4) NOW staff should seriously consider demoting or suspending Susan G. Cole. Please note that I am not asking for her firing--I wouldn't wish that on anyone. But perhaps she'd like to volunteer for a nice long leave of absence. ;)

PERIOD!

PERIOD

http://torontoist.com/2009/07/out_cole.php

When will NOW wake up and ditch this awful writer?

Yes, we've noticed.

This article is slanderous, offensive, and absolutely unforgiveable.

I AM JOINING THE MASSES.

OFF WITH HER HEAD, GONE WITH HER JOB, HER VAG ON A SPIKE.

Toronto's lost a true original??!?! Correction Toronto lost one of the most amazing people who ever lived there.

Susan. I want your job. Because you have no respect. No sensitive bone in your fucking body to write junk like this.

If you pass on. I hope they write about your problems the same way. How embarrassing.

Ha, I'm so witty.

It is not Ms. Cole's place to irresponsibly insinuate that "excess" was responsible for Mr. Streek's sad decision. Nor is it her place to "OUT" anyone with a past substance abuse problem, if indeed they had one, especially in such a time of grief. Classless move. Judging by the comments here, if Martin did grapple with substances, it was in the distant past and he was living a clean lifestyle now. So how extremely rude of Ms. Cole to dumb down his entire obit to "excess". (not to mention extremely lacking of journalistic quality)

As for Martin Streek, I did not know him, but I met him once briefly. He seemed like a decent guy, friendly, down-to-earth. We exchanged a couple glances and smiles, and that was it. There was something deep in those eyes, and it was evident even in the few minutes we chatted. I remember thinking he was pretty attractive, and wishing he'd chat me up longer! And now that I've read the comments here from people who did know him, I wish I had gotten to know him better. Even though it was fleeting, I will always remember you, Martin. May you rest in peace.

This is only worth reading to see the love for Martin coming through in comments.

RIP - Martin Streek.

NOW?magazine: for shame

The only thing I know about him is he was a DJ, he liked Alt Rock , Nine Inch nails. had little ego and abused drugs which maybe why he's dead. He was also the best looking fifty seven year old ever.

I've seen better Obits in the a weekly community circular.

I'm not sure what she was thinking, if anything, when she posted this unpolished turd. Shouldn't the bogus birth date have tweaked her Spidey Sense? I mean, 1952 would make him 57 years old, for christ sakes!

And to turn negative comments back on the critical poster is just plain lame and unprofessional. To boot, I'm not sure when speculation became part of an obit.

If you can't get the story first, at least get it right.

http://torontoist.com/2009/07/out_cole.php

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1444526405&ref=profile#/group.php?gid=100440287276&ref=mf

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=10122&post=42553&uid=119929793956#/group.php?gid=100440287276&ref=mf

Michael Hollett - Editor of NOW should be receiving your thoughts and he should be hiding his head in shame.

NOW - we are all embarrassed for you!

Now NOW - why don't you get busy and correct your obvious and shameful oversite.

Is this really a way to honor Martin - with some teenager's skewed perceptions and assumptions?

If this was the best NOW could come up with, they shouldn't have done anything at all.

And to Susan, maybe you should start working on an obit for NOW magazine.

Her known addiction to prescription hemorrhoid cream and her tiny penis are clearly affecting her ability to craft a proper obituary.

The great care that Ms. Cole takes when writing about gay activists and issues is in stark contrast to her shoddy, careless treatment of Streek.

You're here. You're queer. Fine with me, Susan. But is the 'not going away' part negotiable?

ever wonder what it would be like to work somewhere for 20+ years and give every ounce of your soul to what you believed in, only to have it flippantly cast aside because of some bookkeepers quest for profits and short term personal gains

judging from the time and care you have taken with this piece i don't think you will ever understand what martin went through

and its a pitty - because "beautiful are the damaged for they know they can survive" that is until they choose otherwise

They couldn't have been more smug, dismissive, unsympathetic or unapologetic. They were practically gleeful in their sociopathy. It was almost as sickening as Susan Cole's nonapology.

I'm sure they're counting on this 'just going away' so they can pursue the same old, same old self-interested agenda. And meanwhile, taking our tax dollars in the form of government grants to keep the paper going--and their own asses in cushy jobs on our dime.

Well, call me crazy, but I don't think we should let them. I think we should stand up.

So, toward that end, please allow me to issue another invitation to join my FB group about Susan Cole and her so-called 'journalism':

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=100440287276

Yes, I know, we all hate getting group invitations (believe me, I hear you), but this one might be worth joining.

Thanks for reading. And to anyone who wants to add to the links or the group description, please do leave your thoughts. I promise to incorporate all. Also, anyone who wants to be an admin, let me know, and I will add you immediately.

Cheers. And RIP Martin Streek.

Most major publications start their journalists/interns writing obituaries. I can only guess that Ms. Cole missed that part of her internship, or that week in Journalism school.

I am compiling a list of Susan G. Cole's most hate-filled and offensive quotes. A sort of Top Ten, if you will.

There is this one, of course, for starters:

"If you've followed this story without reading the original blog, you'd think that Mallick called Palin white trash. She did not do that, actually. What she said was that by naming Palin to the ticket, McCains sewed up the white trash vote. And, let's admit, there exists some white trash in America."

http://music.nowtoronto.com/daily/story.cfm?content=165111

First of all, I cannot express how offensive I find the term 'white trash'. And not just because it hateful. And not just because it labels an entire group as garbage. And not just because it is offensive to white people in general.

On the contrary, it is rather the obvious implication that the user feels other ethnic groups are trash--so to make it clear he/she is specifying *caucasians*, they must include the 'white' qualifier. It never ceases to amaze me how so many like Ms. Cole throw the term around so freely, and yet somehow miss that basic fact.

Anyone who is more familiar with her 'oeuvre' than I is more than welcome to contribute to the list. Please send me a note, or just add your own on the group page. I promise to include all. Thanks to everyone who has joined. :)

Oh, and here's the group link again:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=100440287276

I hope you are fired and until you are I will never read NOW again.

Angelica ( a friend of Martin's for the past 20 years!)

Although a small mention in her article above, Susan G. Cole is sadly misinformed about Martin and longboarding. He was one of the originals - the Metrolongboarders -in the new generation of longboarding that started about 12 years ago. I was in that original grew as well, as one of the organizers. Most of us were in our early 30s to early 40s back then. Until this year the Metrolongboarders road every other Sunday in the GTA.

As Martin cleaned up his life style he ironically had less time riding with us the last couple of years. But when he road, we was highly energetic and daring. The man was always fully "on" all the times.

Since Martin seemed to a very dedicated person, I'm sure applied him self fully to snowboarding and cycling, as well.

Do your research next time.

and BuddyGus, you know nothing about depression. It's an illness, not something that you CHOOSE to have. I've also heard you DJ before, and you SUCK.

Don't even compare yourself to Streek because you have NO SKILL.

Let's start with the anonymous "goof" shit, you fucking goof. Try that face to face and you wouldn't get the "G" out.

Next up: Your criticism and critique of Streek sounds like jealousy - of which I have no doubt - for he had a following and yeah, maybe even groupies. How about yours?

Then, "... I don't want nuts like you bothering me ..."; which doesn't really cut it when one uses a fairly obscure and easily searched pseudonym to discover that a) you have some kind of fetish for male dolls and b)you're hooked up to Yahoo! Messenger and readily contactable: http://www.sideshowcollectors.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1815197

Naturally, you'll deny any connection in the same way that you lack any conviction. I'll spare you a second "goof" riposte, for you make a real one admirable, so how about "jerk-off", jerk-off? Make sure you wipe the cum off of GI Joe's face when you're done; out of respect, of course.

Boo and hoo, buddy.

I'm not jealous of anyone, was he your girlfriend?

If you are such a smart guy, you might want to now that I haven't used this alias for anything before, but you did prove my point by cyber-stalking me...even if it isn't me profile, but I'm sure you enjoyed the site.

Asshats like you who glorify idiots that kill themselves are just sad, he was a loser that didn't get help....boo fucking hoo. Feel bad for his family, not him....GOOOOOOOOF!

Buh-bye

I knew it wouldn't take a sociopath like you long to check in to see if you'd stirred up a response.

Frankly, it's as infantile as I'd expected (Oooh! Tit!) with - naturally - that requisite homophobic slur. How long did the whole thing take to conjure up? The entire hour between mine and yours? Yeah, probably.

As for "cyber-stalking" you: not quite. If such were the case, I'd have done the Yahoo! Messenger thing and maybe (but not likely) got the wrong guy, but that would be a massive waste of my truly precious time.

"Asshat"? Huh? Did you hear that one at daycare, jerk-off? For that matter, "asshole fucker"? What do you have against anal penetration anyway - unless the thought takes you back to horrifying memories of your own conception.

Yeah, it could only be a wanna-be like yourself who would take the time and effort to actually seek out a derogatory site about Martin's passing and then dump all over it in your self-serving, "controversial" fashion. Did you bother to note, though, that you're in the most minuscule of minorities here - just like in the apparent shambles that is your supposed real life?

You could add a thousand "O"s to goof and it wouldn't trouble me at all because again, it only shows how weak and puerile you are - nothing more.

Finally: "Buh-bye"? Yeah, a co-opted dismissal, because in all of your rant you never do come up with anything original anyway.

I'm done here - but I have a feeling you're nowhere near it. Once you finish your role playing with the closet door shut, I'm sure you'll be out and back. Remember, though, that if you'd commit both hands to to composing a response instead of your obvious "dick in one, keyboard in the other" style, you'd be able to vent all of that hatred a whole lot more quickly. Do it for us, "BUDDYGUS" (Yecch!)

I don't care about him, never did in all the years I knew him. That's right, I knew him and he was a jerk. Sorry if it offended all you people that want to praise a loser who took the easy way out for himself.

I will never change my mind about what I thought about him and never will.

Cry for a person that didn't care about you or his family, I won't.

If my missives on here bother you....too bad, grow up and realize that not everyone has the same ideas as you do. I stated how I felt about him and his death and some of you have to attack me for it.

I only replied to your posts, never putting any poster down until provoked.

I'm not homophobic, I'm not scared of gays which is what a phobia is, get it right.

I stated what I thought of him and if you don't agree, that's fine, keep on moving and post your love notes about him.

Much better. Thanks for you input.

Its called research Susan. Learn it!