W. Bruce Leslie

Details

Inductee: W. Bruce Leslie

Year inducted: 2009

About:

Bruce Leslie was born on September 27, 1909. He was an only child whose early days were filled working with his father learning the tricks of the newspaper trade, before he officially joined The Review staff in October 1928.

Starting in the editorial department, Bruce held several positions, including telegraph editor, where he was responsible for gathering and editing stories that came across the newswire. He matured into a city reporter, covering everything from the collapse of the Honeymoon Bridge in 1938 to the latest goings-on at city hall. By the 1940's he moved to the papers advertising department and eventually assumed the role of general manager, editor and acting publisher of The Review in 1956.

Over the years, Bruce was also a popular columnist and wrote several daily columns for The Review, including "Scouse" (a comic news column that ran from 1931 to 1940) and "Letters That Missed The Mail" (a folksy humour column that ran from 1958 to 1969) featuring a character named "Joe Swampweed". In local circles, Bruce was often nicknamed "Joe Swampweed" due to his strong connection with his column.

His most well-known column was "From One Angle," which started in 1970 and largely reflected on small moments that took place around his rural Willoughby home. His column featured several recurring characters, including his two Yorkshire terriers, his pet cats and notably "Mrs. Green thumb" a pseudonym he used for Wyn, his avid gardening wife. 

He sold The Review in 1973 to the Thomson Corporation.

Bruce Leslie passed away on December 19, 1995, at the age of eighty-six, having spent seven decades as a writer, publisher and an active member of the Niagara Falls community.