A celebration of
Byron Toben’s life

Westmount Magazine theatre critic was a prominent supporter of Montreal’s cultural community

By Irwin Rapoport

Updated November 30, 2025

Westmount Magazine mourns the passing of Byron Toben, a prolific contributor, respected critic, and cherished member of Montreal’s cultural community. A past president of The Montreal Press Club, Byron had been Westmount Magazine’s theatre reviewer since the publication’s launch in 2015, during which he wrote more than 497 articles and reviews on theatre, film, music, lectures, and cultural events.

Byron’s reviews were distinguished by their insight, wit, and generosity. Whether capturing the energy of a Fringe production or reflecting on a local festival, his writing revealed a deep love for performance and community. Readers valued how he contextualized each play within broader cultural and historical frames – always inviting reflection without dictating opinion. And Byron not only reviewed plays but also, throughout his life, organized play readings with friends.

Before joining Westmount Magazine, Byron contributed to Rover Arts, Charlebois Post, The Downtowner, and The Senior Times, and was known professionally as an expert consultant on U.S. work permits for Canadians. Outside his writing, he supported organizations such as Ciné Gael Montréal and championed Montreal’s vibrant theatre scene, sharing its stories with enthusiasm and care.
Byron Toben will be remembered not only as a talented critic and journalist but also as a kind, curious, and lively presence whose contributions enriched both readers and the cultural fabric of Montreal. His voice leaves a lasting echo in the city’s artistic life and in the pages of Westmount Magazine, where his legacy endures through his extensive archive of words and reflections.

Byron had been Westmount Magazine’s theatre reviewer since the publication’s launch in 2015, during which he wrote more than 497 articles and reviews on theatre, film, music, lectures, and cultural events.

Byron, who lived a long, accomplished, and eventful life, left us on October 11. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Lee Smith. As news of his passing spread, the reaction was universal: we lost a good friend, a champion of the arts community, and an advocate for so many Irish community organizations. For so many, it felt like losing a best friend and a family member. Byron, via his passion for the arts and promotion of theatre and the Fringe Festival, film festivals, painters, sculptors, and musicians, Irish community cultural activities and causes, and issues that concerned him, played a crucial role.

Ciné Gael Montréal, was one of the first groups to mourn Byron’s passing. It informed the members of its Facebook groups on the sad news with this post:

To all of Byron Toben’s many good friends – and they were thick on the ground! – very saddened to hear this morning from Byron’s good pal Ken Wilson that Byron passed away yesterday. His reviews and publicity writing about Montréal’s on-stage and on-screen activities has been a treasure for many years. RIP

Chicago lost him to Montréal a long time ago, and now Montréal has lost him to the stars. Byron was a very devoted supporter of our series.

All our thoughts and commiseration go out to Bonnie.

‘Attending all manners of theatre, from mainstream to fringe, from professional to amateur, Byron was a great supporter of new talent and his presence at a new show was always appreciated by cast and crew.’

– Pat Dumais and Andrew Burlone, Westmount Magazine

Pat Dumais, the editor of Westmount Magazine and Andrew Burlone, its publisher, mourn the loss of their colleague and good friend:

Byron Toben joined Westmount Magazine in the summer of 2015, shortly after we began publishing. He was recommended by one of our other contributors, writer Marilynn Vanderstaay. His focus as a reviewer was on the arts, particularly the theatre, although he sometimes ventured into business topics or political commentary, especially after Donald Trump was elected president in 2016.

Byron’s theatre articles were often peppered with anecdotes about the play itself, or the playwright or the actors involved. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of the topic, which our readers appreciated.

An outing with Byron, whether dinner or a show, was always a treat. One of our favourite events was the annual Irish Shorts Film Festival, produced by Ciné Gael Montreal, where we voted for our favourite films. He was indeed a fan of all things Irish!

Attending all manners of theatre, from mainstream to fringe, from professional to amateur, Byron was a great supporter of new talent and his presence at a new show was always appreciated by cast and crew.

He was always courteous and fair, even if a show was not his cup of tea or did not meet his production or acting standards. He never critiqued in an aggressive way.

Always kind and generous, he helped us get Westmount Magazine up and running, and he was a pleasure to work with. We miss him dearly.

Pat & Andrew

‘… the ideal bureaucrat in the Chinese Empire was a Confusian at work, practical, logical, and productive, and a Taoist for the remainder of the day, with a focus on the abstract, imagination, self-reflection, and many other qualities that make for a fulfilling life. Byron’s life reflected that balance, that yin-and-yang.’

– Irwin Rapoport

Byron Tobin was born and raised in Chicago. How he ended up in Montreal and met his wife, Bonnie Lee, is quite the story and typical of how many people from all over the world end up in Montreal. He attended DePaul University, where he earned his law degree and then studied international law at Columbia University in New York City. In the midst of this endeavour, his talents were recognized by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which has an office in Montreal. The organization literally made him an offer that he could not refuse, and in return, they secured an outstanding administrator. Byron’s work led him to travel all over the world to attend conferences and meetings with his peers, colleagues, and airline executives.

Byron was single until Bonnie Lee Smith entered his orbit. From Ontario, this accomplished nurse moved to Montreal from St. Catharines, where her career blossomed to the point that she wrote a doctoral thesis on the roles and responsibilities of head nurses and was the Director of Nursing at the Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital in Laval. Bonnie Lee’s abilities were also recognized at home and abroad – she was invited to teach a nursing course in China.

It was more than chance that Bonnie Lee and Byron met, fell in love, and eventually married. Bonnie Lee was checking out the poetry section of a bookstore in Place Ville Marie, and at that moment, Byron appeared. His passion for literature, plays, and poetry led him to find his soul mate and lifelong and beloved partner. A mutual appreciation of poetry led to a conversation and initial introduction, and the rest, as they say, was history. You can say that they were destined to be together, and their independent journeys ended at that magical moment. From that point onward, their relationship bloomed, with each supporting the other in their goals and ambitions.

In a course on the history of China that I took at Concordia University, Professor Martin Singer pointed out that the ideal bureaucrat in the Chinese Empire was a Confusian at work, practical, logical, and productive, and a Taoist for the remainder of the day, with a focus on the abstract, imagination, self-reflection, and many other qualities that make for a fulfilling life. Byron’s life reflected that balance, that yin-and-yang. Respected at work for his abilities and contributions, he was dedicated to helping IATA achieve its mission to help regulate and maximize international air travel. And upon leaving the office, it was time for him to focus on himself, his family and friends, and his passions. On this, he was extremely successful. He and Bonnie Lee grew as a couple, and via his interest and support of the arts and all things Irish, his imaginative side soared and was satisfied.

‘Co-writing an article with Byron would have been wonderful. We discussed it, but the right situation did not arise. However, we were definitely in tune with each other, and our friendship sparked creativity.’

– Irwin Rapoport

Byron lived a good and fruitful life, making the most of every minute. His zest and curiosity guided him at every moment, and those who knew him were grateful for his friendship, support, integrity, and humanity.

I began writing for Westmount Magazine several years ago, and although Byron and I never met in person, I started reading his theatre reviews and other articles. We connected through his review of a production of the play Sejanus, Play inspires research into Roman emperors. The history of the Roman Republic and Empire fascinates me, and Byron’s review of Sejanus inspired me to write The fascinating world of ancient Rome, which was published on June 23, 2021. The first paragraph reads:

I would have loved to have seen a performance of Red Bull Theater‘s recent revival of Ben Jonson’s Sejanus, His Fall, which Byron Toben reviewed in his recent column, Play inspires research into roman emperors, as ancient Rome has always fascinated me, particularly the fall of the Roman Republic and the civil wars that led to Gaius Octavius, Gaius Julius Caesar’s nephew, becoming Rome’s first emperor and founder of the Julio-Claudian dynasty that gave us Tiberius, Gaius (better known as Caligula ), Claudius, and Nero.

My article included a link for a YouTube video featuring a lecture by Dr. Gregory Aldrete on Cicero and Roman oratory. This, in turn, inspired Byron to write Did Trump study Cicero’s secrets of oratory?, referencing me in the article: “Cicero’s secrets of oratory are discussed at length by Dr. Gregory Aldrete of the University of Wisconsin, as cited by occasional WestmountMag.ca contributor Irwin Rapoport. Below are the 18 bullet points there listed.”

The inspiration continued as Byron’s article led me to feature Dr. Aldrete in We should not ignore the lessons of history and of course, I credited Byron as the genesis for the article:

Both Byron Toben and I wrote recent articles on ancient Rome that featured and made reference to Dr. Gregory Aldrete‘s excellent and most informative lecture on YouTube entitled Cicero and the Secrets of Roman Oratory. As both of us were very impressed by the lecture, the question arose – why not go directly to the source and speak with Dr. Aldrete? He was contacted by email, and he replied within 24 hours while travelling and, to my delight, he generously agreed to be interviewed on the relevance of Classical studies and his passion for teaching.

Needless to say, Byron and I communicated by email, and that led to several phone calls. We never met, but we understood each other and discovered that we had mutual interests, ideas, and concerns. The opportunity to meet in person never arose, but I consider him a friend. We maintained contact over the years, and when I penned an article about an upcoming play, Byron, in his review, referred to my article and included a link to it. I was thrilled. It was as if we were working together to inform and promote the production.

When Byron passed, I was at the Montreal Neurological Hospital awaiting an operation. Thus, I only learned about his death after I returned home a few days later. I was taken aback, but immediately recalled our conversations. Co-writing an article with Byron would have been wonderful. We discussed it, but the right situation did not arise. However, we were definitely in tune with each other, and our friendship sparked creativity.

Like others, as you will see below, I miss Byron.  He lived life to the fullest and chartered his own course. All who knew him are grateful and will cherish memories of him.

We reached out to several of Byron’s friends for their memories and recollections.

‘It did not take long for us to discover many things in common: both Americans, and both devout Liberals and Democrats; he had held a position in the world of aviation as Counsel at IATA, which is what had brought Byron to us, a sister organization to ICAO, where I had several long-running contracts.’

– Antoine Maloney, Ciné Gael

Antoine Maloney, with Ciné Gael, recalls his cherished friend

Byron Toben was an American transplant from Chicago and a longtime resident here. We probably first crossed paths when he joined the Ciné Gael Montréal email list in 2007. It did not take long for us to discover many things in common: both Americans, and both devout Liberals and Democrats; he had held a position in the world of aviation as Counsel at IATA, which is what had brought Byron to us, a sister organization to ICAO, where I had several long-running contracts.

Byron was most of all devoted to the performing arts and the visual arts, the world of theatre, galleries, and movie screens.

If it was the right political season, he’d be busy staging watch-parties for Obama speeches, and for U.S. election results, and American Overseas Voters gatherings to get out the vote.

I never participated, but he was also active in the realm of managing and dealing with U.S. taxes for overseas Americans, and especially, offering advice.

Byron loved performance, and loved discussing it with anyone else who was an enthusiast – and of course writing about it.

For Ciné Gael Montréal, the Irish Film series that I’ve worked on since 1993, he was a massive publicity aid – and Aide! He wrote reviews, screening announcements, and he knew how to get them in front of an audience, an immense help to our group; latterly, that was primarily in WestmountMag.ca.

As we prepare for a new season, our 34th, he is already much missed. I’m ordinarily at the entrance door of our theatre, doing my “meet and greet” for our Membership. Byron always came early and sat across from me on one of the benches with hellos for everyone, and many sitting down to chat with him.

Farewell Byron.

* a past-president of the Montreal Press Club.
* Contributor to WestmountMag.ca
* Contributor to Senior Times Online
* Organizer of Montréal Voters Abroad
* Devoted Democrat… but what other choice for him?

‘At the Montreal English Theatre Awards (METAs) on November 9, Byron was featured in the In Memoriam section. You could hear the saddened reactions of people throughout the theatre.’

– Janis Kirshner, publicist

Arts and book publicist Janis Kirshner publicized many of the plays that Byron reviewed.

She sent this message of condolence to Bonnie-Lee:

Byron was always so supportive, especially in the early years of Laura Mitchell and I (as the duo TITTERS) performing comedy/theatre together. We never forgot that. And Byron continued to tirelessly support, encourage and promote the entire theatre community for decades. At the Montreal English Theatre Awards (METAs) on November 9, Byron was featured in the In Memoriam section. You could hear the saddened reactions of people throughout the theatre.

‘Byron went to countless plays and had a few “theatre buddies,” as he liked to call them – friends he invited to join him at performances. I had the good fortune to become one of them, and for nearly two decades, he single-handedly brought the world of theatre back into my life. I will forever be grateful for that beautiful gift.’

– Verona Sorensen, artist

Verona Sorensen, a “theatre buddy” of Byron’s, attended many plays with him over the years.

FAREWELL, MY FRIEND

Amid the autumn busyness, I received the sad news that a dear friend, Byron Toben, had passed away. I immediately regretted letting the hectic pace of life get the better of me, having missed the visits I had been meaning to make for weeks.

Over the years, Byron became one of my favourite people. I first noticed him when I was studying acting – a theatre critic whose face often appeared in the audience at major productions at Concordia University. But it wasn’t until nearly a decade later, when a friend organized a theatrical birthday celebration, that I finally met him in person.

He had a steady, quiet presence amid the rowdy, exuberant crowd of actors and performers set loose on their playground — the stage. By then, my focus had shifted from acting to painting, and it was a treat to glimpse both the world of the extreme extroverts and this calm, grounded figure within that wonderful chaos. I approached Byron and told him I remembered him from my university days. We spoke for quite a while that evening — an easy, genuine exchange.

A year or two later, I happened to bump into him on the Metro, and we reconnected. From then on, he began attending my art shows, and I often accompanied him to some of the finest English theatre productions in town. Byron went to countless plays and had a few “theatre buddies,” as he liked to call them – friends he invited to join him at performances. I had the good fortune to become one of them, and for nearly two decades, he single-handedly brought the world of theatre back into my life. I will forever be grateful for that beautiful gift.

L to R – Lynn Verge, Mary Ann Lacey and Byron Toben in conversation at the 2017 Atwater Library Benefit Cocktail – Image: courtesy of the Atwater Library

He was my kind of company – warm, respectful, intelligent, curious, and genuinely interested. All the qualities that made his passion for theatre and writing a perfect fit. The number of reviews he wrote over the years was astounding, and his quiet dedication truly amazed me. As we watched various plays, he would often highlight something that resonated – perhaps a personal or historical connection, an insight, an anecdote, or a detail. I noticed in his articles that he built full-fledged reviews from these first impressions. Those initial insights were like entryways into the world being presented on stage.

He also had a kind heart, always asking about my projects and supporting my art or social endeavours in the way he knew best: by writing thoughtful articles about them.

As he grew older, mobility became more challenging, but that never stopped him. He would still catch the bus, regardless of the weather, and make his way to venues across town. In more recent years, walking slowed him down, so he arranged lifts and used a cane – and eventually a wheelchair – to reach his destinations. He may not have attended as many plays, but theatre-going remained a passion. The last play we saw together, The Odd Couple, on August 17, 2025 (just two months before he passed), was full of laughter and exuberance and held special meaning for me, as I had performed in it in high school.

Ours was not a typical friendship, but it made perfect sense to me. Our excursions and rendezvous with Montreal culture reminded me of decades past, when I attended Shakespeare in the Park, fringe plays, and all kinds of art events with Margaret Thomas, the closest of family friends, who was like a grandmother to me and a cherished presence in my life. Byron Toben reflected that same connection, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have experienced such a friendship again. I will miss him dearly.

‘Byron has been a champion of English theatre in and around Montreal for longer than I can remember.
He graced every opening night whether at the Centaur and the Segal or independent companies in smaller venues sometimes far off the beaten track.’

– Kathleen Fee, Artistic Director, Festival Bloomsday Montreal

Kathleen Fee, the Artistic Director of Festival Bloomsday Montreal, speaks for many who knew Byron.

Byron has been a champion of English theatre in and around Montreal for longer than I can remember.
He graced every opening night whether at the Centaur and the Segal or independent companies in smaller venues sometimes far off the beaten track.

Byron saw everything. He knew how hard it is to put on a show and was unfailingly supportive and encouraging.
I’ve been involved with Festival Bloomsday Montreal since its inception in 2011, first as a performer and now as Artistic Director. Byron attended our readings and entertainments year after year and could always be counted on for a perceptive, positive commentary.

Of course, he was tremendously supportive of singers and musicians as well. He was one of a kind.

He was a commanding presence with his strong features and broad shoulders, but his voice was mellow, and there was always a twinkle in his eye.

Byron Toben will be missed. RIP.

‘When I attended shows as an audience member, I would always see him after a performance, still glowing from being there… a true theatre-lover! … Byron was a legend in our town, and he will be missed. His memory truly is a blessing.’

– Ellen David, actor and director

Ellen David, an award-winning, bilingual Montreal-based actor and director, known for her work in film, television, and theatre, including plays performed at the Centaur Theatre and the Segal Centre

It is so hard to wrap one’s mind around the knowledge that Byron Toben is no longer with us. He was such a fixture in the Montreal arts scene! As an actor and director in our city and environs, I can’t think of anyone who was more supportive of my career than dear Byron. When I look back over the archives of the material he has written about the shows I was part of… it warms and fills my heart to know that he was in the audience those many times. He was so knowledgeable about the history and context of the work he was watching, so you knew he would have an informed and comprehensive view and would contribute a clear and concise offering to his readers. When I attended shows as an audience member, I would always see him after a performance, still glowing from being there… a true theatre-lover! As the years went on and it became more difficult for him to participate, he still made the admirable effort to show up and contribute. Byron was a legend in our town, and he will be missed. His memory truly is a blessing.

Byron was a very gentle, honest soul. For him, it was always about others, never himself.

– Peter Trent, former Mayor of Westmount

Former Westmount Mayor Peter Trent appeared in several theatrical productions that Byron had reviewed.

Just to illustrate for your readers how far back Byron Toben supported English theatre in Montreal: I first met him in 1980, when I played Dr Sanderson in the Genesian’s very amateur production of Harvey. He faithfully watched me at one or two Lakeshore Players’ productions, then Centaur and a series of Geordie’s fundraising plays (the latter efforts featured my friend Peter Blaikie as lead).

Byron was a very gentle, honest soul. For him, it was always about others, never himself. 

Feature image: courtesy of Byron Toben 

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Irwin Rapoport is a freelance journalist and community advocate from Westmount with bachelor’s degrees in History and Political Science from Concordia University. He writes extensively on local politics, education, and environmental issues, and promotes informed public discourse and local democracy through his writing and activism.