NTCI Notables

Category: Public Service

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Elvino Sauro

    Elvino Sauro (1932–2017)

    • Musician • Educator • Lifelong Learner
    • Class of 1951

    Elvino Sauro’s journey at North Toronto C.I. began in 1947, when music teacher Jack Dow and Principal W. J. Houston arranged a loan for him to buy his first trumpet. Working at a Dominion store to repay it, Sauro quickly became a standout trumpeter, performing in school bands and eventually touring with jazz ensembles.

    After his performing career, he turned to education, teaching film studies at Toronto Metropolitan University (then Ryerson), where a film studies award now honors his contributions. Even in retirement, Sauro never stopped learning, taking over fifty continuing education courses and returning to trumpet after a five-decade hiatus to perform in NT’s 100th reunion concert, Memories Forever. In 2011, he donated funds to support the concert medley and program design, and in 2013 he established the Elvino Sauro Music Award, an endowment supporting students in grades 9–11 for lessons, music camps, and retreats. Today, the fund exceeds $100,000 and continues to enhance NT’s music program indefinitely.

    Following his passing in 2017, NTCI was bequeathed his three trumpets, including the one he purchased with the school’s help over 70 years earlier, its case covered in travel stickers. Known for his boundless curiosity, generosity, and love of music, Elvino Sauro’s legacy ensures that NT students will continue to be inspired and supported for generations.