Mike Filey

{{Infobox person

| name = Mike Filey

| image = Mike Filey, prior to a ceremony at the Distillery Loop, 2016 06 18 (27751979955) (cropped).jpg

| image_caption = Filey prior to a ceremony at the Distillery Loop

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1941|10|11}}

| birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|07|30|1941|10|11}}

| death_place =

| occupation = Historian, radio host, author

}}

Mike Filey (October 11, 1941 – July 30, 2022)[https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/thestar/name/mike-filey-obituary?pid=202528775 Mike Filey] was a Canadian historian, radio host, journalist and author. He was awarded the Jean Hibbert Memorial Award in 2009 for promoting the city of Toronto and its history.

Early life

Born in 1941 in Toronto,{{Cite web |url=http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/whatson/today.cfm?id=5917&festival_id=180 |title=Lecture: Mike Filey |website=Harbourfront Centre |access-date=June 4, 2018}} Filey attended high school at North Toronto Collegiate Institute and earned a degree in chemical technology from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.{{Cite web | url = http://www.etobicokehistorical.com/mike-filey.html | title = Mike Filey – 2009 Recipient of The Jean Hibbert Memorial Award | website = Etobicoke Historical Society | access-date = June 4, 2018 | quote = However, over 25 years ago now, Mike turned his interests to his true vocation – researching, documenting and speaking about Toronto's history. }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.intelligencer.ca/author/mike-filey |title=Mike Filey |website=The Belleville Intelligencer |access-date=June 4, 2018}}

As a child, Filey lived with his family on Bathurst Street, just south of the iconic Honest Ed's.

Career

Filey began his career at what is now the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, working there for nine years. He then worked for five years at the Canadian National Exhibition and four years at Canada's Wonderland.

In 1972, Filey was an organizer of Heritage Toronto, a citizen's group interested in Toronto's history.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/46178537/?terms=%2522Mike%252BFiley%2522%252BToronto |title=Three city halls still stand in Toronto|date=November 27, 1972| page=24 |newspaper= The Ottawa Journal |via=Newspapers.com}} From 1975 to 2020, he wrote the column, The Way We Were for the Toronto Sun.

Filey is the author of more than two dozen books about the history of Toronto. Among the topics covered are the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), books with old photographs, and twelve books of Toronto Sketches. Over the years, Filey was a regular guest on several radio stations including CFRB,{{cite web | url=https://omny.fm/shows/newstalk1010/october-19-2019-toronto-spirit-of-place | title=October 19, 2019 – Toronto: Spirit of Place – NEWSTALK1010 }} CKFM,{{cite web | url=https://broadcasting-history.com/listing_and_histories/radio/ckfm-fm | title=CKFM-FM | History of Canadian Broadcasting }} and CHFI-FM and hosted his own weekly radio show, Mike Filey's Toronto, on Zoomer Radio 740.{{cite web | url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2009/03/04/to175-historian-mike-filey-on-the-changing-face-of-toronto/ | title=CityNews | date=March 4, 2009 }} His guided walks included topics such as Toronto, Then and Now.

According to his friend Alan Parker, another columnist at the Toronto Sun, Filey has been called "Toronto's best-known historian".

For his love for Toronto, his extensive research, and his "consistent willingness to share his knowledge" in the history of Toronto, he was bestowed the Jean Hibbert Memorial Award by the Etobicoke Historical Society in 2009.

Personal life

Filey lived in Willowdale, Toronto, with his wife, Yarmila. Filey died on July 30, 2022, from prostate cancer.{{cite news |last1=Warmington |first1=Joe |title=Former Sun writer Mike Filey lauded as 'guardian of Toronto's history' |url=https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-former-sun-writer-mike-filey-lauded-as-guardian-of-torontos-history |newspaper=Toronto Sun |date=August 2, 2022 |access-date=August 6, 2022}}{{Cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Jane |url=https://www.zoomerradio.ca/news/2022/08/03/beloved-toronto-historian-mike-filey-dies-of-prostate-cancer-at-80/|title=Beloved Toronto Historian Mike Filey Dies of Prostate Cancer At 80|website=www.zoomerradio.ca |date=August 3, 2022|access-date=August 6, 2022}}

Publications

{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title= Toronto: Spirit of Place|url=http://magiclightphoto.ca/toronto-spirit.html|date=2019|publisher= Magic Light Publishing|isbn=978-1894673877}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=Mike Filey's Toronto Sketches, Books 10–12|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0sSzCgAAQBAJ|date=October 24, 2015|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-4597-3545-3}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title= Toronto Sketches 12 : The Way We Were|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=P0G9BgAAQBAJ|date=2015|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1459731691}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=Trillium and Toronto Island: The Centennial Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J-bOXkRHoOUC|date=March 31, 2014|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-77070-550-0}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=Toronto Sketches 11: "The Way We Were"|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Epu7M6yiL0oC|date=November 10, 2012|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-4597-0765-8}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=Toronto Sketches 10: "The Way We Were"|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mAxZ7-8HF-EC&pg=PA3|date=November 16, 2010|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-4597-1161-7}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=Toronto: The Way We Were|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ToQcKz0DFM4C|date=October 27, 2008|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-55002-842-3}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=Toronto Sketches 9|url=https://archive.org/details/torontosketches90000file|url-access=registration|date=April 2006|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-55002-613-9}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey and John McQuarrie|title= Toronto: A Photographic Portrait|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=6QodAQAACAAJ|date=2005|publisher= Magic Light Publishing|isbn=978-1894673198}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title= Dates to Remember: Roads Travelled, Bridges Crossed|url= https://humphreymiles.com/45/Over-135-Years-of-Service.html|date=2004|publisher= Humphrey Funeral Home - A.W. Miles Chapel}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title= Toronto Sketches 8: The Way We Were|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=0dPEnyoio_gC|date=2004|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1550025279}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title= Toronto Sketches 7: The Way We Were|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=GRpmj1U7Tk4C|date=2003|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1550024487}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=A Toronto Album 2: More Glimpses of the City That Was|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b_VB_NbsQWUC|date=September 1, 2002|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-55488-059-1}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=A Toronto Album: Glimpses of the City that was|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wTuuFKQ0wtEC|date=September 2001|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-0-88882-242-0}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=Toronto Then & Now|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=73q6Wsa0v6QC|year=2000|publisher=Magic Light Publishing|isbn=978-1-894673-00-6}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title= Toronto Sketches 6: The Way We Were|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=UWDsEMZZ-bgC|date=2000|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1550023398}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=Mount Pleasant Cemetery: An Illustrated Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LKYrQN8MbKUC|date=June 1999|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-55002-322-0}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=Discover & Explore Toronto's Waterfront: A Walker's, Jogger's, Cyclist's, Boater's Guide to Toronto's Lakeside Sites and History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I8ofK1wKiLAC|date=April 1998|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-55002-304-6}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=The TTC Story: The First Seventy-five Years|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=StOp6Ts9Mr0C|date=October 1, 1997|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-77070-079-6}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title= Toronto Sketches 5: The Way We Were|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=1mtfLNkvmOIC|date=1997|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1550022926}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|author2=Victor Russell|title=From Horse Power to Horsepower: Toronto: 1890-1930|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cw6yAF4EHCAC|date=July 25, 1996|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-55488-173-4}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=I Remember Sunnyside|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=78LE3JE5ZREC|date=October 1, 1996|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-4597-1338-3}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title= Toronto Sketches 4: The Way We Were |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=LokvcRr6qXsC|date=1995|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1550022483}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title= Toronto Sketches 3: The Way We Were|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=YHmOb8CSBPgC|date=1994|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1550022278}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=More Toronto Sketches: The Way We Were|url=https://archive.org/details/moretorontosketc0000file|url-access=registration|date=September 1, 1993|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-55488-232-8}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=Toronto Sketches: The Way We Were|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GB0stAEACAAJ|year=1992|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-55002-176-9}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=Like No Other in the World: The Story of Toronto's SkyDome|url=https://archive.org/details/likenootherinwor0000file|url-access=registration|year=1989|publisher=Sun Controlled Ventures|isbn=978-0-919233-31-7}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title= Toronto Flashbacks 1: A Postcard Book of 30 Black and White Historical Photographs|url= https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?kn=%22Toronto%20Flashbacks%201%22&sts=t&cm_sp=SearchF-_-topnav-_-Results&ds=20|date=1989|publisher=Firefly|isbn= 9780920668610}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title= Toronto Flashbacks 2: A Postcard Book of 30 Black and White Historical Photographs|url= https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?kn=%22Toronto%20Flashbacks%202%22&sts=t&cm_sp=SearchF-_-topnav-_-Results| date=1989|publisher=Firefly|isbn= 9780920668627}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=Not a One-horse Town: 125 Years of Toronto and Its Streetcars|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JLS9PAAACAAJ|year=1986|publisher=Mike Filey|isbn=978-0-9691501-1-4}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=A Toronto Almanac : Things Typical, Topical & Trivial about Toronto : in Celebration of Toronto's 150th Anniversary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CLE5AQAACAAJ|year=1983|publisher=M. Filey|isbn=978-0-9691501-0-7}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title=Toronto City Life: Old and New|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xHM2PwAACAAJ|year=1979|publisher=Nelson, Foster & Scott|isbn=978-0-919324-40-4}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title= Wish You Were Here: Great Postcards of Early Toronto|url= https://www.abebooks.com/9780919872356/Wish-Great-Postcards-Early-Toronto-0919872352/plp|date=1977|publisher= Greey De Pencier|isbn=978-0919872356}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey, Richard Howard and Helmut Weyerstrahs|title="Passengers Must Not Ride on Fenders"; A Fond Look at Toronto: Its People, Its Places, Its Streetcars|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ezVvuQAACAAJ|date=1974|publisher= Green Tree Publishing}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title= Toronto: The Way We Were: A Collection of Photos & Stories About North America's Greatest City|url= https://www.abebooks.com/9780919324220/Toronto-way-collection-photos-stories-0919324223/plp|date=1974|publisher= Nelson, Foster, & Scott Ltd.|isbn=0-919324-22-3}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title= Toronto: Reflections of the Past|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ZuYjAAAACAAJ|date=1972|publisher= Nelson, Foster, & Scott Ltd.|isbn=978-0919324121}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey, Pierre Berton, John Robert Colombo, Ron Haggart, William Kilbourn, Robert McMann, Douglas Richardson and Anthony Adamson|title= The Open Gate; Toronto Union Station|url= https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?isbn=0887780725&cm_sp=mbc-_-ISBN-_-all|date=1972|publisher= Peter Martin Associates|isbn=9780887780721}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title= Look at Us Now|url=https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?kn=%22Mike%20Filey%22%20%22Look%20at%20us%20now%22&sts=t&cm_sp=SearchF-_-topnav-_-Results|date=1971|publisher= Toronto Telegram}}
{{cite book|author=Mike Filey|title= A Toronto Album: Glimpses of the City That Was|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=stIUAAAAYAAJ&q=A%20Toronto%20Album|date=1970|publisher= University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-0802017376}}

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite news

| url = http://blogs.canoe.com/parker/news/five-questions-for-mike-filey/

| title = Five Questions for Mike Filey

| publisher = Toronto Sun

| author = Alan Parker

| date = November 9, 2008

| accessdate = July 24, 2016

| quote = As a researcher, writer and raconteur, Mike has been chronicling the life and times — past and present —of the beloved city of his birth for four decades. He's been called "Toronto's best-known historian" — and deservedly so.

}}{{dead link|date=February 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{cite news

| url = https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/the-way-we-were-memories-of-old-toronto

| title = Memories of old Toronto

| newspaper = Toronto Sun

| author = Mike Filey

| date = November 17, 2018

| accessdate = November 14, 2018

| quote = No, more than that, because 758 is where I grew up while attending Palmerston Public School, playing in the back laneway that ran between Lennox and Bloor Sts., going to events at the K-Club in the basement of the old church at the corner of Bathurst and Lennox and watching movies at the Metro, Midtown or, most likely, Alhambra theatres.

}}