Mike Filey


Mike Filey is a Canadian historian, journalist and author. He was awarded the Jean Hibbert Memorial Award in 2009 for promoting the city of 4 and its history.

Early life

Born in 1941 in Toronto, Filey attended high school at North Toronto Collegiate Institute and earned a degree in chemical technology from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
As a child Filey's family lived 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, he was an organizer of Heritage Toronto, a citizen's group interested in Toronto's history. Since 1975, he has written the column, The Way We Were for the Toronto Sun. He has written more than two dozen books about the history of Toronto. Among the topics covered are Toronto Transit Commission, books with old photographs, and nine books of Toronto Sketches. He also has a radio show on New AM 740. His guided walks include topics such as Toronto, Then and Now.
According to his friend Alan Parker, another columnist at the Toronto Sun, Filey is known as "Toronto’s best-known historian".

Personal life

He and his wife, Yarmila, live in Willowdale, Toronto.

Publications

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