NTCI Notables

Alumni Honour Roll

  • Ralph Scott McCreath

    Ralph Scott McCreath (1919–1997)

    • Lawyer • Skate Canada Hall of Fame Member
    • Class of 1938?

    Born on April 27, 1919, Ralph Scott McCreath grew up in Toronto’s Moore Park neighbourhood alongside his three siblings. As a student at North Toronto Collegiate, he quickly distinguished himself as a talented multi-sport athlete, though it was on the ice where he truly excelled. A dedicated member of the Toronto Skating Club, Ralph demonstrated early promise, earning four medals in the junior men’s and pairs events at the 1935 Canadian Championships.

    Between 1936 and 1941, McCreath’s skating career flourished as he captured an impressive twenty-four medals across Canadian and North American Championships, including several golds. His success earned him a place on Canada’s Olympic team for the 1940 Winter Games, though the competition was ultimately cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II. Undeterred, Ralph continued to compete, winning gold at the 1941 North American Championships and coming close to receiving the prestigious Lou Marsh Trophy that same year.

    In 1940, he enlisted in the 48th Highlanders of Canada, serving overseas in England, France, and North Africa. Rising to the rank of Major in the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, McCreath balanced military service with his athletic pursuits. Following the war, he returned to competitive skating and claimed his third and final Canadian senior men’s title in 1946.

    After earning his law degree from Osgoode Hall in 1949, Ralph built a successful career in corporate law while raising four children with his wife, Myrtle. His passion for skating endured well beyond his competitive years. He served as a judge for Canada at three Olympic Games and numerous World Championships, and contributed significantly to the sport’s development through roles with the Canadian Figure Skating Association, the Olympic Trust, and the Canadian Olympic Endowment Fund.

    In recognition of his lasting impact, McCreath was inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame in 1994. He passed away on May 2, 1997, at the age of 78, remembered as both a decorated athlete and a devoted contributor to Canadian sport.

  • James Ditson Service

    James Ditson Service (1926–2014)

    • City Councilor and First Mayor of North York
    • Class of 1944

    A lifelong Torontonian, James Ditson Service was raised in the city’s north end, attending Allenby Public School before continuing on to North Toronto Collegiate. He went on to study at the University of Toronto’s Victoria College and later earned his law degree from Osgoode Hall. Called to the Bar in 1954, Jim built a distinguished legal career that spanned more than four decades, ultimately being appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1983.

    Service’s commitment to public life emerged early. In 1958, he was elected Councillor for Ward 7 in North York and was re-elected two years later. His leadership abilities quickly became evident, and in 1964 he was elected Reeve of North York, serving as head of the municipality. Just two years later, he became North York’s first Mayor. In these roles, Jim served not only as Chair of Council and the Board of Control but also as Chief Executive Officer, helping guide the community through a period of growth and change.

    Beyond politics, Jim was an active entrepreneur and community builder. He became involved in property development, contributing to numerous projects across Ontario. In 1967, recognizing the need for greater cultural representation in broadcasting, he partnered with Johnny Lombardi to co-found CHIN-FM Radio, a pioneering station dedicated to multicultural programming in Toronto.

    Jim also played a significant role in local recreational life. He was instrumental in the purchase and development of the Humber Highland Curling Club, remaining actively involved for three decades. A founding Past President of the Hyperion Club, he maintained a strong connection to the organization for 55 years.

    Together with his wife, Josephine, Jim raised four daughters during their 63-year marriage. He passed away on August 1, 2014, at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy of public service, leadership, and community impact.

  • Dr. Ron Wesley Taylor

    Dr. Ron Wesley Taylor (1937–2025)

    • Professional Athlete • Physician • Engineer
    • Class of 1957

    Dr. Ron Taylor was a truly unique individual whose life followed two extraordinary and distinct paths. While a student at NT, his prowess on the pitcher’s mound for the Leaside Baseball Association attracted the attention of the Cleveland Indians. He graduated in 1957 with a rare arrangement: he would play professional baseball in the summers while pursuing an Electrical Engineering degree at the University of Toronto in the off-seasons.

    Despite graduating 5th in his engineering class in 1961 with 17 corporate job offers, Taylor followed his heart to the Major Leagues. His 11-season MLB career was highlighted by two World Series championships: first with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964, and later with the famous 1969 “Miracle Mets,” where he played a crucial role as a relief pitcher.

    During a USO goodwill tour to Vietnam, Taylor was inspired to make a dramatic career pivot. At age 30, following his baseball retirement, he returned to U of T to tackle a grueling pre-med schedule. He graduated from medicine in 1977, the oldest student in his class. He eventually combined his two passions by serving as the Toronto Blue Jays team physician for 35 years. A member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, and the Order of Ontario, Ron is remembered as a quiet man with a dry wit and an awe-inspiring legacy of success.

  • Ann (Goulding) Mortimer

    Ann (Goulding) Mortimer (1934- )

    • Ceramicist • Member of the Order of Canada
    • Class of 1952

    Ann Mortimer, Class of ’52, became one of Canada’s most celebrated ceramic artists despite never studying visual arts during her time at North Toronto. Instead, she immersed herself in the school’s music program, playing the French horn, flute, and piccolo. Following graduation, she trained as a nurse, worked for several years as a flight attendant, and married in the early 1960s before beginning to explore artistic pursuits while raising her young family.

    Her introduction to the arts came through a fibre arts course in King City, where she experimented with smocking and textiles. Yet it was clay that ultimately captured her imagination. After creating her first vase in a local class, a summer course at the Hockley Valley School for the Arts ignited a lifelong passion for ceramics. Determined to deepen her knowledge, Ann enrolled as a mature student in Georgian College’s fledgling ceramics program in 1970. She completed the three-year program in only two years and remained for a third year as an instructor, beginning a teaching career that would span more than four decades.

    Following the sudden death of her husband in 1978, Ann channelled her energy into building a new home and studio in Newmarket, where she pushed the boundaries of ceramic art through technically challenging sculptural works. Her organizational talents also made her a driving force behind numerous Canadian and international ceramic events, earning her a reputation as both an innovator and mentor within the field.

    In recognition of her extraordinary contributions to Canadian art and ceramics education, Ann was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2001. Her works remain highly sought after and are held in public and private collections around the world. Throughout her life, she also maintained a strong connection to North Toronto, proudly attending both the school’s 75th and 90th anniversary celebrations.

  • Keith Davey

    Keith Davey (1926–2011)

    • Politician • Strategist • Senator
    • Class of 1944

    Born and raised in Toronto, Keith Davey’s path to national influence began in the classrooms of North Toronto C.I., following his early years at Allenby Public School. After graduating from NT, he earned his degree from Victoria College at the University of Toronto in 1949. He entered the media world as sales manager at CKFH, while quietly building his reputation within the Liberal Party of Canada for sharp instincts, people skills, and tireless organization.

    After successive Liberal defeats in 1957 and 1958, Davey helped rally a small group determined to rebuild the party. In 1960, he left his broadcasting career to focus full-time on politics. The following year, he was appointed national campaign director, crafting the strategy that helped return the Liberals to power in 1963. His behind-the-scenes leadership went on to shape multiple winning campaigns for Prime Ministers Lester B. Pearson and Pierre Trudeau.

    Nicknamed “The Rainmaker” for his knack for turning long-shot campaigns into victories, Davey later reflected on his career in his bestselling 1986 memoir The Rainmaker. In recognition of his lasting impact on Canadian public life, he was appointed to the Senate in 1966 and named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1999. Widely respected as a master strategist and mentor, Keith Davey helped lay the groundwork for decades of Liberal success and left a quiet but enduring mark on Canada’s political history.

  • Roger Paul Neilson

    Roger Paul Neilson (1937–2003)

    • Hockey Coach • Innovator • Educator
    • Class of 1955

    Born in Toronto, Roger Neilson’s coaching journey began early.  He started coaching in his first year at McMaster University and continued until his graduation, earning a degree in Physical Education. A natural teacher with a deep respect for the rulebook, Neilson became famous for spotting tiny loopholes others missed and for pioneering video analysis in hockey, earning the enduring nickname “Captain Video.” More than tactics, he believed in building disciplined, resilient teams, often finding success with rosters others overlooked.

    After university, Neilson coached youth hockey and minor league baseball, then stepped into the OHL in 1966 as head coach of the Peterborough Petes, guiding the club for a decade and establishing his reputation as a master developer of young talent. A brief stop in minor pro hockey followed before his NHL breakthrough in 1977–78 as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Over the next two decades, he coached eight more NHL teams, including the Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, and Ottawa Senators. In the summers, he ran youth hockey camps through the University of Windsor, sharing the game with kids from Ontario to Israel.

    Diagnosed with cancer in 2000, Neilson stepped back briefly, then returned to the bench with characteristic grit. Before his death Roger was awarded a Doctor of Laws (McMaster University, 2001), inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a Builder (2002) and appointed a Member of the Order of Canada (2002). His legacy and commitment to hockey lives on through initiatives in the NHL and beyond including “Roger Neilson Elementary School” (Peterborough, 2004), named in recognition of his commitment to teaching and Ottawa’s “Roger Neilson House” (2006), a paediatric palliative care facility built in his memory.

  • Dan Levy

    Dan Levy (b. 1983)

    • Actor • Writer • Producer
    • Class of 2001

    The son of Eugene Levy, Dan Levy rose to international fame as the co-creator, writer, producer, and star of the CBC comedy Schitt’s Creek. The series became a cultural phenomenon, and at the 2020 Emmy Awards Levy made history by winning four trophies in one night for acting, writing, directing, and producing, an unprecedented sweep for a single season of a comedy series. Alongside television success, he has appeared in feature films and continues to build a wide-ranging screen career.

    Despite his global profile, Levy frequently credits North Toronto C.I. for helping him “find his voice.” As a student, he led a production of Clue and later publicly thanked his former English teacher, Anne Carrier, for inspiring his confidence as a writer at a pivotal moment. He went on to study film production at York University and Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson), building the storytelling skills that would define his career.

    In recognition of his significant contributions to Canadian television and his advocacy for 2SLGBTQI+ communities, Levy was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2023. With multiple film and television projects underway, his career continues to evolve but remains rooted in creative courage, inclusive storytelling, and the formative support he found in the NT classrooms where it all began.

  • Mike Filey

    Mike Filey (1941–2019)

    • Toronto Historian • Journalist • Author
    • Class of 1959

    A Toronto native who grew up near Bathurst and Bloor, Mike Filey discovered his lifelong passion for local history as a student at North Toronto C.I., inspired by his history teacher Hal Brown. After Grade 13, he studied chemical technology at Toronto Metropolitan University (then Ryerson Polytechnic Institute), before beginning his career with the Ontario Water Resources Commission.

    Filey soon found his calling in storytelling and public history. He worked in event planning and public relations with the Canadian National Exhibition and later Canada’s Wonderland, but by the 1970s had turned fully to researching and sharing Toronto’s past. His journalism career included writing for the Toronto Telegram and later the Toronto Sun, where his beloved column, The Way We Were, brought lost corners of the city back to life. His first book, A Toronto Album: Glimpses of the City That Was (1970), launched a prolific run of more than two dozen titles. A familiar voice on Zoomer Radio 740, he also appeared regularly on local broadcasts, delighting listeners with vivid tales of “the old Toronto.”

    A dedicated NT supporter, Filey advised the North Toronto Foundation on heritage elements during the school’s rebuild, helped with the 75th and 100th anniversaries, and contributed to Hail! North Toronto: Celebrating a Century. Honoured with the Jean Hibbert Memorial Award by the Etobicoke Historical Society in 2009, he is remembered as Toronto’s most passionate champion of its past and as a classic-car lover whose turquoise-and-white 1955 Pontiac forever reminded him of his NT days.

  • Joan Donaldson

    Joan Donaldson (1946–2006)

    • Journalist • Broadcaster • Educator
    • Class of 1964

    A pioneering journalist and respected media leader, Joan Donaldson was the founding Head of CBC Newsworld, guiding its development and launch in 1989. Known for her keen news sense and dedication to storytelling, she shaped Canadian broadcast journalism and mentored countless reporters and producers.

    Born in Toronto, Donaldson attended North Toronto C.I., graduating in 1964. During her time at NT, she was active in Tri-Y, school sports, and the band and orchestra. She began her career with the CBC in 1967 as an editor for National Radio News, later serving as Senior Editor for The World at Six, Sunday Morning Magazine, and various news specials. She also produced 24 Hours in Winnipeg and returned to Toronto as a producer for Newsmagazine and other specials.

    Donaldson briefly worked with CTV’s W5 before teaching broadcasting at Toronto Metropolitan University (then Ryerson Polytechnic) and at the University of Western Ontario in the Journalism Program for Native People. In 1985, she rejoined CBC as Coordinator of Regional Programming for TV News and Current Affairs, before being appointed Head of Newsworld.

    A tragic accident in 1990 ended her broadcasting career, but her legacy lives on. In her honour, the Joan Donaldson CBC News Scholarship was established in 1999 and ran until 2024, later replaced by the CBC News Summer Scholarship in memory of Joan Donaldson and Peter Gzowski. Her vision, mentorship, and trailblazing career remain an enduring influence in Canadian journalism.

  • James Keith Spicer

    James Keith Spicer (1934–2023)

    • Public Servant • Journalist • Academic
    • Class of 1952

    One of North Toronto’s most distinguished alumni, Keith Spicer rose from modest beginnings to become a defining figure in Canadian unity. His time at NT helped chart his life’s course: a Grade 10 French pen-pal sparked his lifelong affection for the language, while teacher Betty Bealey honed his commitment to English. He was also an active participant in the school’s music program, playing trumpet and percussion.

    After earning degrees from the University of Toronto and the Institut d’études politiques de Paris, Spicer balanced a dual career in academia and journalism. However, his trajectory shifted permanently when he served as a researcher for the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism. This work paved the way for Pierre Trudeau to appoint him, at just 35 years old, as Canada’s first Commissioner of Official Languages in 1970. Known as the “Ambassador of National Unity,” he famously used humor to smooth waters during times of deep political tension.

    Spicer’s extensive public service continued as Editor of the Ottawa Citizen, Chairman of the CRTC, and head of the Citizen’s Forum on Canada’s Future. He concluded his career as a founding director at the UN University for Peace in Costa Rica. An accomplished author of memoirs and fiction, and a true “bon vivant,” Spicer never forgot his roots. He returned to his alma mater to co-host NT’s 75th Anniversary Music Night at Roy Thomson Hall in 1987, celebrating the school that gave him his start.