Gord McIntosh had all the patience in the world for a young reporter who was learning the ropes at The Canadian Press (CP) parliamentary bureau, and none for politicians who tried to spin their way out of trouble.

Colleagues and competitors praised Gord for his dedication to “the story,” for his professionalism, his sardonic sense of humour, and his kindness to colleagues. Though he had a fulfilling career after the wire service, Gord was always at heart a “CPer” who valued the public interest, factual accuracy, straightforward storytelling and meeting deadlines.

He died on Saturday April 24, from the complications of late-stage cancer at the Queensway Carleton Hospital.

He was 75.

We – his friends at World Press Freedom Canada committee where he served for many years – send our deepest condolences to his wife, Irene.

“Gord was a force of nature,” said WPFC President Heather Bakken.

“He saw journalism as a higher calling in the public interest and approached it with unequivocal clarity; he was an exemplar who worked with neither fear nor favour and dedicated himself to supporting and defending press freedom until his final days. He will be dearly missed.”

Gord was born in Toronto, studied journalism at Seneca College and, like so many reporters, started his career at a small daily newspaper. He joined The Woodstock Daily Sentinel-Review, where he rose to become managing editor.

He joined The Canadian Press as a business reporter in Toronto before transferring to the parliamentary bureau in Ottawa where he spent 15 years writing on business, politics and policy. During that time, he served as president of the Parliamentary Press Gallery which manages the media’s relations with the House of Commons and Senate.

He also served a stint as president of the Ottawa Press Club, and enjoyed sharing a pint with the other journalists, politicians and ministerial aides who would frequent the Wellington Street club, which no longer exists.

His friend Dianne Rinehart described Gord as “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. He was a larger-than-life character, and he was always on the side of good,” she wrote on Facebook.

Gord was an active union member, rising to the position of vice president of his Guild local. He represented the union with a presentation to the Kent Commission, which was established in 1980 to investigate concentration in the newspaper industry.

After leaving CP in 1999, Gord continued freelancing, and he was a longtime columnist for Investment Executive. He worked as media adviser with the Canadian Medical Association. He and his wife Irene established their consulting firm, 110 Per Cent communication services, that provided media services to associations, non-profits and companies.

Gord served as a WPFC director for 15 years. He was always ready to roll up his sleeves and help write and edit copy and organize events. He was one of those people who, when he took on a job, you never worried about it again: You could count on it being delivered on time and well executed.

Dean Beeby, who worked with him at CP and later on the WPFC committee, said Gord described himself as a “bottom feeder” who would go after important stories that the pack was ignoring.

“He was tenacious, sharp and sardonic,” Beeby said. “Gord remained dedicated to the craft all his life, impatient with blowhard politicians and supportive of young reporters. Right now, he’s likely digging into the exorbitant costs of recent renovations to the Pearly Gates.“