Muddy York: A Toronto History Podcast

It took more than 20 years to build the current Union Station. Over the next century, new lines like TTC, GO and VIA would arrive, it would nearly be knocked down to make room for a new development called Metro Centre and the rail lands around it would slowly be replaced by the lakeshore neighbourhoods that we know today. A year before its 100th anniversary, learn about the history of Union Station on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

In 1972, the Toronto production of Godspell featured one of the greatest casts in the history of theatre, including Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Gilda Radner, Andrea Martin, Victor Garber, Dave Thomas and Paul Shaffer among others. Nick Davis has directed a new documentary about that show called You Had to Be There and he is here to talk about this sometimes-overlooked piece of Toronto cultural history.

It’s hard to overstate how much the railroads changed Toronto. For the next two episodes, we're going to tell the history of the railroads in Toronto through the story of most important train station in town - Union Station. Longtime podcast supporter Mitchell Daniels will join us to add his expert knowledge. Learn all about it on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

The SS Noronic was known as the Queen of the Lakes. For 36 years, she transported passengers in comfort and style. Until the night she caught fire at the foot of Yonge Street and at least 118 passengers died. On today's episode of Muddy York, we tell the story of the Noronic Fire, the deadliest event in the history of Toronto.

Gerry FitzGerald turned Toronto into a world leader in public health, producing vaccines and medicines that saved tens of millions of lives. Unfortunately, he would be destroyed by his own demons and by his era's backwards attitude towards mental illness. James FitzGerald, author of What Disturbs Our Blood, joins us to discuss his grandfather's life and legacy on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

For decades, Massey Hall was the most famous venue in Canada. It hosted legendary performers like Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry and Gordon Lightfoot. It also hosted a variety of events staged by local community groups. On this episode, we cover the history of the Grand Old Lady of Shuter Street. Learn all about it from Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

Toronto's Black community is almost as old as the community itself. The first census ever done in York identified 15 black residents. Some of them were slaves, but some of them were free persons who chose to settle there. Natasha Henry-Dixon of York University has made it her mission to recover the stories of these often overlooked people. She joins us on this episode to talk about the lives of these early black residents on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

Next Monday, June 8th, is the 200th Anniversary of an often overlooked event. On that date in 1826, a mob forced its way into a newspaper printing shop and proceeded to smash the printing press as well as anything else they could find. The rioters were all members of the local elite, better known to us as the Family Compact, and their target was a muckraking journalist named William Lyon Mackenzie. This attack was meant to stop him in his tracks. Instead, it would save his newspaper and launch his political career.

Ontario Place was Toronto's summer getaway from the noise and heat of the city. It was also our attempt to match Montreal and the spectacular success of Expo 67. Today, it's at the centre of a debate about what to do with the stretch of the waterfront that it used to occupy. This episode is about the creation of Ontario Place. Former MP Adam Vaughan will also join us to talk Therme's plans for the site on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

In part two of our history of the Don Jail, we'll learn more about some of the men who were executed there, including the last two men to be executed in Canada, we'll hear about the gang of bank robbers who managed to escape, not once, but twice, and we'll find out what happened to the building after the jail was finally closed. Learn more about Toronto's most notorious prison on this episode of Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

The Don Jail was Toronto's most notorious prison, home to some of the most dangerous offenders in Canadian history. In part one of this episode, we'll explain why the prison was built and the ideas behind its design. We'll also talk about some of the people who spent time there during the 19th century. Learn all about it at Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

In 2010, the world-famous Toronto International Battle of the Bands would become the centre of a series of bizarre events related to a little known group called Sex Bob-Omb. On this episode of Muddy York, we will be telling the story of the 2010 TIBB and the mysterious band that came out of nowhere to dominate all the news surrounding it. 

Most people believe that ML baseball arrived in Toronto with the Blue Jays on April 7, 1977. However, this was actually the third ML game to be played in the city. Harvey Sahker, author of Before the Blue Jays, joins us to talk about these two lesser known ML games. Learn all about this forgotten part of Toronto baseball history on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

On the evening of March 17, 1960, five workers died in an underground tunnel because of the neglect and indifference of the men in charge of the project. It became known as the Hoggs Hollow Disaster and it would fuel a drive for workplace safety that created many of the rights that we have today. Learn more about this tragic event in this episode of Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

Beatrice Worsley became a computer scientist at a time when computers could fill entire rooms and most people had no idea what they were or how they worked. She operated and designed the programming language for Canada's first digital computer. And she was often the only woman in the room while she did her groundbreaking work. Scott Campbell from the University of Waterloo joins us to talk about this often overlooked computer pioneer on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

Parkdale might seem like an ordinary Toronto neighbourhood, but its story includes the Grey Cup, an amusement park, the KKK, mental health and the largest school in Canada. Learn more about this distinctive community on this episode of Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

We would like to give a shout out to Brett Craig who first requested this topic and now has a moral obligation to promote this podcast to everyone that he knows.

Black slavery arrived in Canada with the loyalists. It would be limited in 1793, but not fully abolished until 1834. This is the story of the people who were enslaved, the woman whose defiance prompted the government to take action, and the continuing threats of enslavement faced by Black Torontonians even after emancipation.

The Royal Alex is the grand old dame of Toronto theatres and the oldest continuously-operating legitimate theatre in North America. In this episode, you can learn about how it was built in a fit of upper-class pique, how it became the only Canadian legitimate theatre to survive the Depression, and how it became the heart of the Mirvish theatrical empire. If you're a Toronto theatregoer, this is the episode for you.

226 years ago, the Attorney General was shot and killed in a grove near the Distillery District. Everybody knew who did it, but the shooter went free because it happened in a duel. This week’s episode is about the Small-White Duel, a tale of two gentleman who faced each other in mortal combat over a matter of honour and because their wives couldn’t get along.

Over the years, A Christmas Story has become a bona-fide holiday classic. However, I would guess that most viewers don’t realize that much of the film was made right here in Toronto. Since we’re only four days away from Christmas Day, we decided to make a bonus episode about the different locations where film scenes were shot.

Happy Holidays from Muddy York!

Leo Chan, professor chef and general food expert, joins us to talk about the history of Chinese restaurants in Toronto - from Sing Tom's Cafe (founded in 1901) to the Big Four (Nanking, Lichee Garden, San Woo and Kwong Chow) to the later waves of newcomers and the vast diversity of Chinese regional cuisines. It's the holiday season, so order some Chinese food with Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

Garrison Creek used to run through western Toronto before flowing into the harbour. Over the years, it would be covered and filled in, but its ghost lingers on. If you know where to look, you can still find traces of it throughout the city. Learn more about Toronto's forgotten river on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is the largest and most-visited museum in Canada. But who built the ROM? Where did the totem poles in the lobby come from and who was the Mr. English who offered to build a planetarium entirely on his own dime? Learn more about Toronto's most distinguished museum on this episode of Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

Ed Conroy of Retrontario joins us to talk about the Golden Age of Kids TV in Toronto. We'll be looking at Uncle Chichimus, the Friendly Giant, Mister Rogers, Butternut Square, Mr. Dressup and more on this episode of Muddy York.

Kit Coleman was a woman; she was also a journalist. When she began her career in 1889, this made her a trailblazer and even a subversive figure. For some people, female journalists were only slightly higher than streetwalkers in the Victorian social hierarchy. For 22 years, she wrote for The Mail and The Mail and Empire newspapers. Then, she struck out on her own as one of the first syndicated columnists in Canada. This episode is about Kit Coleman, the Queen of Hearts.

We would like to thank Barbara Freeman, author of Kit's Kingdom, who provided the voice of Kit Coleman for this episode.

The Zoo is a Scarborough institution. But it raises the question: what is a zoo in Toronto’s eyes? Is it an animal sanctuary? A school field trip factory? A conservation lab? On this episode of Muddy York, we'll look at the history of the high-minded, ethically ambitious and chaotically managed mega-zoo that we know today as well as the Riverdale Zoo that came before it.

In our last episode, we covered the history of Yonge Street up to 1867. This episode will focus on the last 150 years. We’ll talk about how it became the city’s main shopping street, how streetcars and urban development moved north, and how the Yonge Street Strip was left to decay before a massive shopping mall helped to kickstart a recovery.

Is Yonge Street the longest street in the world? Hard to say. But it is the most important street in Toronto. On this episode of Muddy York, learn more about the history of this thoroughfare, including how it was built in the middle of winter, what it was like to travel during the 19th century and the corrupt businessman who managed to steal it.

If you went to the Ex from the 70s to the 90s, you may remember seeing a clown’s head logo with red hair, a black hat and plus signs over his eyes. The clown was named Conko and he was the logo for Conklin Shows, the company that managed the CNE midway alongside a host of other fairs across Canada and the U.S. John Thurston, author of Carnie King, joins us to talk about Patty Conklin, the huckster and showman who created Conklin Shows and built a carnival empire with Toronto and the CNE at its centre.

Today is the first day of the CNE. If you’re one of the millions of people who will plan to visit the Ex, you might want to take the opportunity to check out the oldest building in Toronto. Built in 1794, it’s called the Scadding Cabin and it’s located on the Exhibition Grounds, just west of the Bandshell and next to the large wind turbine. For the next two weeks, the cabin will be open to the public and the York Pioneers will be there to show you around and answer any questions you might have.

Caribana is about artistry, community and joy. It began in Canada's Centennial year of 1967 as a gift from the Caribbean community to the people of Toronto. Since then, it's grown into the largest cultural festival in North America - we're talking about more than a million people, a $400 million economic impact and more feather than a Vegas revue. Learn more about this Toronto cultural institution on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

This episode of Muddy York is about a cholera epidemic that struck Toronto from 1832 to 1834. If we had written this episode ten years ago, it would have been very different. But then Covid arrived. While you’re listening to how people reacted to the appearance of a new disease in the 19th century, you may notice some things that seem familiar from our own experience.

The CN Tower is probably the most recognizable symbol of Toronto. Every Torontonian also knew that it was the tallest free-standing structure in the world; we memorized that phrasing. But why was it built and what is it used for besides selling postcards? Today, we look at the history of the CN Tower on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

On this episode, we explore the history of the Don River Valley. Jennifer Bonnell, author of Reclaiming the Don, joins us to talk about the river, the valley, the parkway and the people who've lived and worked there. Learn more on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

We’re kicking off a new series that we're calling When Toronto Tore Down the Fancy Stuff — a deep dive into the beautiful, bold, and totally doomed buildings this city once had … and then promptly erased. In this episode, we're talking about Moss Park, Crystal Palace, Government House and Hanlan's Hotel. So buckle up, we’re heading into the age of grandeur — and the wrecking balls that followed. Many sources were used, but special thanks to Lost Toronto by Doug Taylor.

Is it The Beach or The Beaches, singular or plural? We're calling it The Beaches and this episode of Muddy York is dedicated to the history of this distinctive Toronto neighbourhood, from amusement parks to racetracks to stylish water treatment plants. There's a lot more to The Beaches than the beach, although there are plenty of beaches.

What comes to mind when you hear Castle Frank? A TTC station? An area of Rosedale? Bob Georgiou joins us to talk about one of those little corners of Toronto whose story touches on the man who founded the town of York, a lost landmark of pioneer days, and two of the biggest infrastructure projects in Toronto's history.

Special Guest Star: Nathalie Muzinga as Dame Elizabeth Simcoe

We're doing something a little different for this episode of Muddy York. We got our hands on a copy of the city budget from exactly 130 years ago and we're going to look at some of the ways that the government used to raise and spend money. There is some interesting stuff - well, it's interesting if you're the kind of person who listens to history podcasts.

Florence Linehart is one of Toronto’s greatest unsung visionaries. And yet … outside of a very specific group of academics, subway historians, and people who take brunch way too seriously, her name has been completely forgotten. She shaped the Toronto subway system and she fought the soulless minions of orthodoxy at City Hall. On this episode of Muddy York, she joins us to discuss her overlooked contributions to this city.

The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres were built to host vaudeville as the Canadian flagship of the Loew's theatre chain. The building would become one of top cinemas in Toronto before being converted back into a theatre to host the Canadian premiere of Cats during the 1980s. Learn about the last stacked theatres in the world on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

In 1886, employees of the Toronto Railway Company went on strike. They weren't fighting for a pay raise or shorter hours; this strike was over their right to even join a labour union. Greg Koabel from The Nations of Canada podcast joins us to talk about this important event in labour history on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

Next week's provincial election inspired this episode which is about an election campaign that was fought in the riding of St. Andrew all the way back in 1955. This race was significant because the local Tory candidate wanted to defeat the last communist MPP at Queen’s Park. This campaign was about what it meant to be a communist elected official and it reflected a ferocious debate that was taking place within the Toronto Jewish community about who they should support and about who would support them.

Set in the school hallways of Toronto, Degrassi is less about teenagers attending school and more about the architecture of growing up. Join us to learn more about one of the most successful media franchises in Canadian history on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

As a bonus, Sarah Fisher, who played Becky Baker on Degrassi: TNG, joins us for an interview at the end of the episode.

Welcome to the second episode on the history of hockey in Toronto. When the last episode ended, Toronto’s first professional hockey team had just disbanded. If Toronto was going to win its first Stanley Cup, it would need a new team of pros. Or two teams of pros as things turned out. In this episode, learn how how Toronto won its first Stanley Cup, how the players from this Cup-winning team got moved to Seattle and how the NHL was created to get rid of a troublesome Toronto team owner.

If you’re going to do a podcast about Toronto, it’s only a matter of time until hockey comes up. However, we’re going to do something a little bit different. The next two episodes of Muddy York will be about the history of hockey in Toronto before the Leafs arrived on the scene.

Welcome to a special holiday episode of Muddy York, the podcast where we dig into Toronto’s hidden stories and, let’s be honest, let ourselves get swept up in a little nostalgia. Today, we’re peeling back the frosty layers of one of Toronto’s most magical holiday traditions: the department store Christmas window displays.

Arlene Chan joins us to talk about the history of Toronto's Chinatown. The Chinese presence in Toronto goes back to at least 1878. However, the first Chinatown would become a victim of urban redevelopment during the 1960s. Learn more about the people who built this community and the fight to preserve it on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

On this episode of Muddy York, we’re plunging deep into Toronto’s underground story—the tale of our city’s sewers. It’s a story that’s all about overcoming the gritty, grimy obstacles of urban growth. It's also an opportunity for us to make loads of puns. So join us to learn more about the Toronto Sewer System. It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it.

By 1917, tens of thousands of Torontonians had joined the Canadian forces fighting in Europe and thousands had died. Women were entering the workforce to replace men who had joined the army and the cost of living kept rising as the war consumed ever more resources. This episode will focus on Toronto’s experience during the last two years of the war, as people began demanding conscription to compel so-called shirkers to join the army, and social tensions led to violence as people turned on anyone who opposed conscription or anyone who just happened to be different.

World War I was a cataclysm that fundamentally changed western civilization. Toronto was just a small piece of this massive event, but four years of war would transform the city in ways both big and small. In commemoration of Remembrance Day, our next two episodes will tell the story of Toronto during the First World War – how the city supported the war effort, how Torontonians volunteered to fight and sometimes die overseas, and how the war changed the lives of the people who stayed behind.