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Steven Michael Edwards
Steven Michael Edwards
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Steven Edwards Obituary
Steven was born on the 20th of January 1957 in Portsmouth, England but moved with his family to Birmingham as an infant. Growing up he enjoyed summer and winter holidays in Scotland with his maternal grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. After passing A levels at Kings Norton Grammar School for Boys he worked at a newspaper in Leamington Spa then joined his family in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He worked briefly for Manitoba Hydro and soon re-entered the journalism profession, in which he had a long and distinguished career.
After working at the Kamloops Daily News, Steven became a reporter with the Winnipeg Sun where his whimsical stories around a competition to 'adopt' a scarce Cabbage Patch doll demonstrated his talent for tabloid style news. This led to employment with Star Magazine where he was the lead reporter on the scandals concerning Bill Clinton during his first run for president. Steven's many scoops were dutifully picked up by news outlets around the world.
His restless energy, doggedness and brilliance led him to quit the Star soon after this accomplishment and move to Paris, France where he worked as a freelance reporter while learning French.
He then moved to Quebec City where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics in his newly acquired second language. This facilitated his move into more serious journalism. A desire to learn Spanish led to a number of trips to Ecuador, where he met his wife Hilda. They soon moved to Toronto, Ontario, where for a short while they lived in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood.
Further freelance work in Toronto, Ontario brought him to the attention of the nascent National Post where he became a correspondent based in New York City, with special responsibility for stories regarding the UN, including the Rwandan civil war and, of course, 9-11 and its aftermath.
Minutes after the attacks on the World Trade Center Steven traveled on foot towards the scene and recorded the story of the collapse of the buildings in a harrowing account for the National Post. He went on to report on the subsequent fallout from the attacks with stories on UN resolutions concerned with wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the controversies surrounding Omar Khadr and Guantanamo Bay.
He was in Guantanamo Bay in 2010 covering the military commissions there when he fell ill and was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He pursued information regarding his treatment with the same doggedness that he had demonstrated with his journalism career and worked with the Kidney Foundation and committees advocating for 9-11 survivors.
Late in life Steven moved into teaching, working for the NY public schools teaching high school aged newcomers where English was not their first language.
He is survived by his mother, Isabel, sisters Elaine (Vijay) and Elizabeth (Michael) and brother John. He was devoted to his daughters, Alejandra (Hanlin), Inga (Adrian), and Lisia, and worked unfailingly for their protection and success. He was predeceased by his father Reginald.
A memorial service will be held at Kingston Rd. United Church, 975 Kingston Rd. Toronto, at 11am on January 18th, 2025, followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made in Steven's memory to the Kidney Cancer Association. https://www.kidneycancer.org
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
George Jacub
January 17, 2025
I was working the police beat at the Winnipeg Sun when Steven arrived, and we quickly became great friends. His British accent was like catnip to the ladies and I was his happy wingman. My favorite memory is the night we left work to go to the Winnipeg Press Club and found it uncomfortably packed. We decided to go to the pub downstairs to kill an hour and come back. When we walked into the pub, the Rose and Crown, it was like finding the legendary 'elephant's graveyard'. At the time the ratio of men to women in any bar was 10 to one. At the Rose and Crown, it was reversed. "THIS is where all the girls are!" I remember exclaiming. We bellied up to the bar and and started chatting up the ladies, only to discover that the Rose-and-Crown was where all the ex-pats from England hung out. Steven was in heaven. It became a regular stop for us after that night. George Jacub
Karen Howgate
January 15, 2025
Karen Howgate
January 15, 2025
Simon Paul
January 14, 2025
Steven was such an amazing person, full of life and energy--he was incredible to be around. He was so observant, insightful in every situation, and had an incredible sense of humor. I feel so lucky for the time I got to spend with him. I will be taking time on the day of his memorial in his remembrance.
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Dawn Sadler
January 14, 2025
I met Steven in 1993, he had been friends with my husband since school in Birmingham. Before I met him in person he used to send post cards and letters from the various places he was in the world which we both would enjoy reading about his adventures. His life seemed pretty exciting to me even then. I remember a funny story he reported to us of when he was living in France studying of buying what he believed was tinned stew from a shop which he then realised was cat food after he had consumed it.
In 1993 he came to stay with us whilst visiting the uk and our friendship was born. He was really easy to get on with straight away, warm natured with a great sense of humour and some great stories about things he had been doing. His visits continued through the years, initially whilst he was single and then with his wife Hilda and then as each of his beautiful girls came along. During those years he also became a god father to my youngest son and we have continued to stay regularly in touch through all those years since. He had been talking to me about his plans to visit the uk again in 2020 but sadly that could not go ahead.
I remember on one visit I had told him how when I dropped my three teenage sons off at school they liked to get out the car and pretend they didn´t know me and how sometimes I used to wave and shout love you at them all as I drove passed much to their embarrassment. Steven thought this was really funny and when he left my house he opened his car window and was waving at them and shouting "love you" over and over and laughing his head off at their reaction. It still makes me smile thinking about it.
He has left such an admirable legacy of making a positive difference to many through his reporting, his teaching, his work with Kidney Cancer Association and his friendships. It has been so lovely to read all the heartfelt comments on social media of the people´s lives he touched and how much he will be missed by many.
To me Steven was the most amazing human being and friend, who led the most extraordinary life. He has lived a life full of experiences that I could never dream of having, it made him very knowledgeable about so many topics and an absolute pleasure to discuss/debate life with. He was fearless sometimes investigating stories others had not and he carried that bravery on for his battle with cancer. I am already missing his friendship and not being able to pick up the phone to talk to him. There will always be a Steven hole missing from my life for me and my family.
I know he was very proud of his girls and spoke with so much love about them and their achievements. My thoughts and love are with them and their rest of his family at this very sad time.
Karen Howgate
January 12, 2025
I knew Steven in the early 80s in Winnipeg. A group of Brits would often meet at the local bar on a Saturday night and socialize with all having our birthplaces in common. I was new to Winnipeg and Steven made me feel so welcome. Our friendship lasted a few years until he moved to NY.
We reconnected a few years ago via facebook and I followed his health battle, but he was always upbeat and was a tireless champion for researching and treatments.
He spoke very fondly of his family and was so proud of his girls.
Steven made many accomplishments and I am sure his family are proud of the person he was.
We will all miss you Steven!
Paul Knox
January 10, 2025
Steven and I were competitors of a sort, although it didn´t really feel that way. I made a number of trips to New York for UN-related stories and we always ended up chatting. The talk often turned to our lives as foot soldiers during Canada´s ginned up "newspaper war."
Thanks to everyone who´s shared tales of Steven´s earlier life and work. Although it´s sad to learn of his illness and death, he had much to be proud of. My condolences and best wishes to his family.
Eliot Zimelman
January 9, 2025
I had the privilege of working with Steve during the nascent days of National Post in 1998 until 2000. He was the consummate journalist, usually one step ahead of everyone around him. His sharp sense of humor was a welcome addition to the Canadian-centric staff, and his moral compass was as good as it gets. We spent many an hour talking about work, religion, Israel, and family, and I valued our friendship within and outside of the paper above nearly all others. His honesty and resolve were evident in both his professional and personal life, including his fight against the disease that eventually took his life. He had the rare combination of street and book smarts while being super modest. And he was generous, once even giving up his bed for the night so that I could have a comfortable place to sleep when visiting him in New York City. I could go on and on - he was that special of a colleague and friend. Oh yeah, he was also an amazing father. The world is a less better place with Steve not being here, and I will truly miss him.
Nadya Alsina Pomales
January 7, 2025
We meet at University of Laval at Quebec around 1993, we use to talk a lot and enjoyed visiting the ice and snow sculptures.
Steven always gave me very good advice and lately we have been in touch from the distance and I was trying to support him but he ended giving me so lovely recommendations and wrote me more than one amazing and beautiful letters because he was gifted with words and also so wise!
When we meet, more than 30 years ago, he told me to leave my boyfriend at home and to go out with him instead.
He was always writing about his three adorable daughters and was extremely proud of them, he wanted to live as long as he could to be there for them.
He will be missed!
Joe Lauria
January 6, 2025
I was a colleague of Steve's at the United Nations. While he covered for the National Post I was Southam's correspondent covering the U.N. for the Montreal Gazette, Ottawa Citizen, etc. We were often chasing the same stories. I am very saddened to hear this news. Joe Lauria.
Nadya Alsina Pomales
January 6, 2025
Elaine Jeff
January 4, 2025
i remember when i got my first computer the first thing i did was to get on friends reunited to look for the Edwards family, who emigrated to Winnipeg in Canada from Birmingham, in the 1970s. I always wondered what happened to them and what they were doing now. There he was Steven Edwards, i messaged him straight away and asked if he was the Son of Isabel and Reg. Indeed he was and he quickly put us back in touch with them, i was so excited to tell my Mom that i had found Steven and that we will be hearing from Isabel and Reg very soon. He then came over to North Wales with Hilda, Alejandra and Inga who was just a few months old. they stayed with me and we had a great week catching up. i'll never forget the day he told me about the dust at 911, i was horrified to hear the story but honoured to have known such a brave person. He was such an inspiration and we kept in touch what a wonderful man to have undertaken all the trials and tests in research for a cure for Kidney Cancer. I was so sad to hear of his passing and will never forget him. R.I.P. Steven
Betty Campbell
January 4, 2025
Always looked after us and took us to interesting places when we visited him in Canada and France where he took us round the art galleries. He was always helpful to others and looked forward to him visiting us in Scotland. Aunty Betty
Gord Stencell
January 4, 2025
Interesting story. We were at a restaurant in Toronto and one of us observed the lull in patronage. I flagged the server for another coffee. The server said, "We closed 45 minutes ago. You two are enjoying your conversation so much I couldn´t bring myself to interrupt. We would like to go home now." His presence had impact and influence. I´m certain they would have given me the boot; that was all Steven.
Though passionate about so many topics, including his own survival, none compared to his interest in and excitement about the lives of his children. About them, he never quipped or joked, as he did about everything else. Of them, he only spoke adoringly.
He was a great and gracious friend.
Greg McComb
January 3, 2025
I got to know Steve when he lived at Downing Street in Winnipeg; we were both 19 years old, we became fast friends. I spent a lot of time at that house with his parents, Isabelle and Reg, they were like family to me. He climbed poles for Manitoba Hydro and he actually didn't mind that; I had to convince him to got back to England and pursue a career in journalism. He got a job for a small weekly in Leamington Spa and I followed him there, we lived in a basement flat together for about a year. Before he passed, I texted him to thank him for putting me up there. That stay in Britain shaped my life. I had a bit of misspent youth and sharing pints of beers with Brits in local pubs and hitch hiking around Britain with its beautiful countryside put me on the right path.
Greg McComb
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