The Beaverton, a Canadian satirical online publication, is facing criticism from transit officials in Toronto for posting an article appearing to poke fun at suicide.
The story published on Thursday with the headline, ‘Friends say man died doing what he loved, making thousands late on the subway,’ was accompanied by a photograph of a Toronto subway train.
Local transit officials were quick to denounce the article after it appeared on Twitter.
“You failed your readers here. Suicide is not funny, it’s not edgy or limit-pushing,” Toronto Transit Commission spokesman Brad Ross tweeted. “It’s tragic. Talk to a parent.”
Get daily National news
Anne Marie Aikins, spokesperson for Metrolinx, the province’s regional transportation agency, also did not find the humour in the article.
“Seriously not funny. I’m hoping @TheBeaverton realizes their lapse in judgement. Suicide by rail is no joke,” she tweeted.
- 2026 BC Summer Games open in Kelowna under smoke warning
- Kelowna’s growing population making it harder for young people to find work
- Mosquitoes are ‘bugging’ Saskatchewan, with numbers way up compared to past years
- ‘The right direction’: Saskatchewan applauds direct-to-consumer alcohol sale agreement
Following a host of negative comments online, The Beaverton removed the article and issued a statement in which it mentioned the death of the publication’s founder from suicide two years ago and “making jokes about it is one way” to process his loss.
“We respect some people feel this is inappropriate but comedy has always been our way of coping and, frankly, we don’t know any other way,” the statement read.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.