NTCI Notables

Author: admin

  • 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.

  • Dr. Victor Ling

    Dr. Victor Ling (1943- )

    • Cancer Researcher • Biochemist • Academic Leader
    • Class of 1964 (1962?)

    A pre-eminent cancer researcher, Dr. Victor Ling is best known for uncovering key mechanisms behind drug resistance in cancer, including the discovery of P-glycoprotein, one of the proteins responsible for multi-drug resistance in treatment. His work reshaped how scientists understand why some cancers stop responding to chemotherapy and opened new directions for targeted therapies.

    Born in Shanghai, Ling moved with his family to Hong Kong as a child before emigrating to Toronto in 1952. After excelling in math and science at North Toronto C.I., he earned his BSc at the University of Toronto and completed his PhD in biochemistry at the University of British Columbia. Postdoctoral work on DNA structure took him to Cambridge, England, where he trained in the lab of Fred Sanger. He then returned to Toronto as a researcher at the Ontario Cancer Institute, building an international reputation in molecular and structural biology.

    In 1995, Ling moved to Vancouver to serve as Assistant Dean in UBC’s Faculty of Medicine and remains affiliated with the university. He is also the founding President and Scientific Director of the Terry Fox Research Institute, helping to steer national collaboration in cancer research.

    Dr. Ling’s honours include the Gairdner Award (1990) and the Steiner Award (1991). In 2008, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, recognizing his profound influence on cancer research and international scientific leadership.

  • Jack Dow

    Jack (March) Dow (1912–1984)

    • Musician • Educator • Conductor
    • Head of Music at North Toronto C.I. (1946–1958)

    Born in Dutton, Ontario, Jack Dow became one of the most influential music educators in Toronto despite having little formal training in his early years. A natural musician, he played piano, violin, and trumpet, performing in school bands and orchestras before earning his BA from Western University in 1936. Encouraged by his university conductor, Don Wright, he attended teachers college and began his career in elementary schools before moving to secondary teaching in Ottawa and then to Northern Secondary School in Toronto.

    Dow’s defining chapter began in 1946, when he was invited to North Toronto C.I. to launch Ontario’s first secondary school music program offering instrumental music for academic credit. With the support of Principal Bill Houston, he built the program from scratch, gathering instruments, stands, and community support to form the school’s first band and later a string ensemble. He produced the inaugural Maytime Melodies in 1947, a tradition that continues today, and even wrote the first verse of the school song. His ensembles went on to win numerous Kiwanis Festival awards, establishing NT’s reputation for musical excellence.

    Beyond NT, Dow spent 25 summers teaching at the Department of Education’s Summer School, and in 1958 became Assistant Head of Music for the Toronto Board of Education. There he created instrumental programs in elementary schools and founded the Toronto Music Camp at Lake Couchiching, attended by generations of NT students. Promoted to Director in 1972, he retired in 1976 and was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 1978.

  • Christie Mary Blatchford

    Christie Mary Blatchford (1951–2020)

    • Journalist • Author • Broadcaster
    • Class of 1970

    Born in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Christie Blatchford was truly a force to be reckoned with. Her family moved to Toronto when her father became manager of the North Toronto Memorial Arena, making North Toronto C.I. her school of choice. Remembered by classmates as a determined “spitfire,” she graduated in 1970 and went on to study journalism at Ryerson, where she was named the program’s leading graduate.

    During an exemplary career, Blatchford achieved the rare feat of working for all four major Toronto newspapers. She broke barriers at The Globe and Mail in 1973 as Canada’s first female sports reporter, later bringing her sharp wit and tenacity to the Toronto Star, The Sun, and the National Post. A fearless writer, she also authored several non-fiction books, including Fifteen Days: Stories of Bravery, Friendship, Life and Death from Inside the New Canadian Army. Based on her time embedded in Kandahar, Afghanistan, the book won the 2008 Governor General’s Literary Award.

    Blatchford’s voice was also a staple on CFRB 1010 radio. Her accolades included a National Newspaper Award and the George Jonas Freedom Award. Her final career achievement was her induction into the Canadian Journalism Hall of Fame in December 2019. Too ill to attend the ceremony, she received the award at her bedside from Mayor John Tory. An avid runner and climber who had scaled Ben Nevis shortly before her diagnosis, Christie passed away in February 2020, leaving a legacy of courage and unvarnished truth.

  • Ian Macdonald

    Ian Macdonald (1929 – )

    • Economist • Academic Leader • Rhodes Scholar
    • Class of 1948

    Ian Macdonald’s career spans academia, government, and community leadership, earning him recognition as one of Canada’s most accomplished economists and higher education figures. A proud graduate of North Toronto C.I., he excelled in academics and sports, particularly ice hockey and track and field. After completing undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto, he earned a Rhodes Scholarship and studied at University of Oxford, continuing to compete in varsity sports. 

    Macdonald began his academic career as a professor of economics at U of T and served as Dean of Men at University College. He then entered public service in Ontario, holding roles including Chief Economist, Deputy Treasurer, and Minister of Economics and Intergovernmental Affairs. In 1974, he became president of York University, leading the institution for over a decade with distinction. He now holds the title of President Emeritus, continuing as a professor of public policy and economics and directing the Master of Public Administration program.

    Beyond academia, Macdonald has contributed to numerous organizations, including the Canadian Rhodes Scholars Foundation, the International Association of Universities, Hockey Canada (as Chair, 1987–1994), and the Canadian Olympic Association. His lifelong commitment to sports includes playing on the U of T and Oxford hockey teams and participating in York’s faculty team for over 45 years.

    Macdonald’s many honours include the Governor General’s Medal, the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilee Medals, the Officer of the Order of Canada, the Vanier Medal, and recognition from the Dominican Republic. In 2005, the Government of Ontario created the H. Ian Macdonald Visiting Economist position in the Ministry of Finance, and York University awarded him the George Tatham Award for lifetime teaching excellence which is a testament to a career of leadership, scholarship, and enduring service.