Explore every episode of the podcast Muddy York: A Toronto History Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beatrice Worsley, Canada's Female Computer Pioneer w/Scott Campbell | 03 Mar 2026 | 00:46:56 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. | |||
| Parkdale | 17 Feb 2026 | 00:22:10 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. | |||
| Kit Coleman, Trailblazing Female Journalist of the Gilded Age | 21 Oct 2025 | 00:23:12 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. | |||
| Toronto Zoo | 07 Oct 2025 | 00:41:51 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. | |||
| Yonge Street - 1867 to Today | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:21:06 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. | |||
| Yonge Street - 1793 to 1867 | 02 Sep 2025 | 00:18:34 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music:
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| Patty Conklin, Carnie King of Toronto w/John Thurston | 19 Aug 2025 | 00:28:52 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music:
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| Bonus: Scadding Cabin | 15 Aug 2025 | 00:05:40 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music:
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| Caribana - The Carnival That Changed Toronto | 29 Jul 2025 | 00:30:24 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music:
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| Cholera in Toronto | 15 Jul 2025 | 00:17:44 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music: Myuu – Falling Rain Chopin – Funeral March Jimena Contreras – Golden Cage Ami – No.2 Remembrance The Westerlies – Dover | |||
| CN Tower | 01 Jul 2025 | 00:19:29 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music:
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| Don River Valley w/Jennifer Bonnell | 17 Jun 2025 | 00:47:13 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music: The Westerlies – Dover | |||
| History of Black Slavery in Toronto | 03 Feb 2026 | 00:29:22 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. | |||
| When Toronto Tore Down the Fancy Stuff | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:28:32 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music: The Westerlies – Dover Freedom Trail Studio – Classic 1985 (Movie Soundtrack) Zachariah Hickman – Argonne Joel Cummins – Gaiety in the Golden Age Brian Bolger – A Fool’s Theme Jimena Contreras – Hopeless Quincas Moreira – Central Park Jesse Gallagher – Divine Life Society Joel Cummins – Resolve Dyllah – Randy Flutternubs | |||
| The Beaches | 20 May 2025 | 00:23:43 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music: The Dover – The Westerlies Classic 1985 Movie Soundtrack – Freedom Trail Studio Resolve – Joel Cummins Looping Ascent – Joel Cummins Everything – Joel Cummins Looping Ascent (Repeat) – Joel Cummins Argonne – Zachariah Hickman Allégro – Emmet Fenn Resolve (Repeat) – Joel Cummins The Dover (Repeat) – The Westerlies Potato Deal – Unknown Artist | |||
| Castle Frank | 05 May 2025 | 00:21:43 | |
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 You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music: "Dover" – The Westerlies Used as theme music at the beginning and end of the episode "Cylinder Three" – Chris Zabriskie Genre: Ambient Minimalism CC BY 4.0 – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Resolve" – Joel Cummins Genre: Cinematic Ambient / Piano Free to use via YouTube Audio Library "Looping Ascent" – Joel Cummins Genre: Piano / Ambient Free to use via YouTube Audio Library "Argonne" – Zachariah Hickman Genre: Classical / Chamber Free to use via YouTube Audio Library "A Fool’s Theme" – Brian Bolger Genre: Reflective / Indie Instrumental Free to use via YouTube Audio Library | |||
| 1895 City Budget | 15 Apr 2025 | 00:12:32 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music: The Westerlies – The Dover Aaron Kenny – Gaiety in the Golden Age Aaron Kenny – The Curious Kitten Freedom Trail Studio – Classic 1985 Movie Soundtrack Joel Cummins – Resolve The Westerlies – The Dover | |||
| Florence Linehart | 01 Apr 2025 | 00:32:18 | |
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 souls minions of orthodoxy at City Hall. On this episode of Muddy York, she joins us to discuss her overlooked contributions to this city. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music:
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| Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres | 18 Mar 2025 | 00:18:25 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music: The Westerlies - Dover Arron Kenney - Gaiety in the Golden Age Doug Maxwell - Honky Tonkin' Dough Maxwell - Rag Time Time E Jammy Jams - Dark Town Strutters Ball Zachariah Hickman - Argonne Track Tribe - Members Only Joel Cummins - Resolve | |||
| Streetcar Strike of 1886 w/Greg Koabel | 04 Mar 2025 | 00:38:50 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music: The Westerlies - Dover | |||
| Battle of St. Andrew | 18 Feb 2025 | 00:20:00 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music: Argonne - Zachariah Hickman | |||
| Degrassi w/Sarah Fisher | 04 Feb 2025 | 00:43:01 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music:
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| Toronto Hockey and the Birth of the Leafs | 21 Jan 2025 | 00:20:37 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music: The Westerlies - The Dover Aaron Kenny - Gaiety in The Golden Age Joel Cummins - Looping Ascent Joel Cummins - Resolve Brian Bolgers - A Fool’s Theme Air Hockey Saloon by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | |||
| Royal Alexandra Theatre | 20 Jan 2026 | 00:23:45 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. | |||
| Toronto Hockey Before the Leafs | 07 Jan 2025 | 00:18:59 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music: The Westerlies - The Dover The Westerlies - Cooper Ave The Westerlies - The Light Within Joel Cummins - Resolve Joel Cummins - Looping Ascent Aaron Kenney - Gaiety in the Golden Age | |||
| Bonus: Christmas Window Displays | 22 Dec 2024 | 00:10:39 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music: Carol Of The Bells - Audionautix Christmas Village - Aaron Kenny Christmas Homecoming - Aaron Kenny Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - Kevin MacLeod O Christmas Tree - DJ Williams Central Park - Quincas Moreira The Dover - The Westerlies | |||
| Chinatown w/Arlene Chan | 17 Dec 2024 | 00:44:43 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. Music: The Westerlies - The Dover The Soundlings - Deck The Halls | |||
| Toronto Sewer System (or What Lies Beneath?) | 03 Dec 2024 | 00:21:28 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: The Westerlies - The Dover | |||
| Toronto and World War I - Part 2 (1917-18) | 19 Nov 2024 | 00:20:59 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: The Westerlies - The Dover World's Sunrise - Jimena Contreras Hopeless - Jimena Contereras Nature Nurture - Quincas Moreira | |||
| Toronto and World War I - Part 1 (1914-16) | 05 Nov 2024 | 00:21:32 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: The Dover - The Westerlies Argonne - Zachariah Hickman Hard Times Come Again No More - The Westerlies Oh, It's a Lovely War! - British WW1 Song Look What My Boy Got In France - British WW1 Song What Are You Going To Do To Help The Boys? - British WW1 Song Over There - British WW1 Song Sound Off Alert-March - United States Marine Band Lola - United States Marine Band With Shot and Shell - United States Marine Band | |||
| Bonus: Other Places Called Toronto | 29 Oct 2024 | 00:06:32 | |
If you listen to this podcast, then you probably live near Toronto. That usually means that you're from southern Ontario, but you could live in PEI. You could be from Indiana, Illinois or Iowa. You could live in Australia or England. You could even be from the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars. Yes, there a host of different places called Toronto and we’re going to talking about them on this special bonus episode of Muddy York. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: The Westerlies - The Dover Rolling Heads - Unicorn Heads | |||
| Hurricane Hazel (Anniversary Repost) | 15 Oct 2024 | 00:25:56 | |
Today is the 70th Anniversary of Hurricane Hazel striking Toronto, one of the worst disasters in the city's history. 81 people died and more than 4,000 were left homeless. To commemorate this anniversary, Muddy York is reposting our episode about Hurricane Hazel. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: The Westerlies - The Dover Zachariah Hickson - Argonne Asher Fulero - Forest Lullaby Emmet Fenn - Allegro Chopin - E minor Prelude Brian Bolger - A Fool's Theme | |||
| Timothy Eaton | 01 Oct 2024 | 00:21:24 | |
For most of the 20th century, Eaton’s was the most famous store in Canada. At its height, 7% of all retail shopping in Canada was done there. Today, all that remains is the name of the Eaton Centre. This week on Muddy York, we will be talking about Timothy Eaton, the man who turned a small store on Yonge Street into the most important retail business in Canadian history. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: The Westerlies - The Dover Joel Cummins - Resolve Joel Cummins - Looping Ascent Zachariah Hickman - Argonne Brian Bolger - A Fool's Theme | |||
| Toronto International Film Festival | 17 Sep 2024 | 00:18:19 | |
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is a world-famous cultural event that has launched some of the biggest films in cinema history. But it had humble origins as three film producers fought to overcome local skepticism, Hollywood indifference and a censorious province. So, grab your popcorn and settle in as we explore the fascinating history of TIFF. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: The Westerlies - Dover Joel Cummins- The Resolve Joel Cummins - Ascending Loop Freedom Trail - Classic 1985 Movie Soundtrack Audionautix - There You Go | |||
| The Attorney General Has Been Shot - the Small-White Duel | 06 Jan 2026 | 00:14:49 | |
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. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. | |||
| Bonus: Private Lives of John & Elizabeth Simcoe w/Adam Bunch | 13 Sep 2024 | 00:34:53 | |
Adam Bunch joins us for this special episode discussing the private lives of John Graves Simcoe, the man who founded Toronto, and his wife Elizabeth. Tune in to learn more about the spy rings, pyromania and thwarted passions of these two public figures. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ | |||
| Marilyn Bell | 03 Sep 2024 | 00:18:08 | |
Next Monday, September 9th, will be the 70th anniversary of a major athletic and cultural event in the history of Toronto. On that date in 1954, a sixteen-year-old girl touched the breakwater near Sunnyside Beach making her the first person to swim across Lake Ontario. She became a media sensation and Canada’s sweetheart, but two years later, she hung up her swimsuit and retired to live an ordinary life. This week on Muddy York, we’re telling the story of Marilyn Bell and the marathon swim that made her a legend. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: The Westerlies - The Dover Joel Cummins - Everything Has a Beginning Aaron Kenney - The Curious Kitten Joel Cummins - Resolve Joel Cummins - Looping Ascent Freedom Trail - Classic 1985 Movie Soundtrack | |||
| Yorkville Music Scene | 27 Aug 2024 | 00:20:00 | |
During the 60s, Yorkville was arguably the most important cultural location in Canada, launching the careers of people that have made such enormous contributions that we can hardly remember what Canadian music was like before they arrived. In our last episode, we didn’t have enough time to give this topic the attention it deserves, so this week will be dedicated to the rise and fall of the Yorkville music scene. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: The Westerlies - The Dover The 126ers - Innocence TrackTribe - 1968 The 126ers - A Call On Us Aaron Liberman - Lightfoot Dusty Rhymes - Freedom Trail | |||
| Yorkville | 06 Aug 2024 | 00:24:50 | |
Over the years, Yorkville has been Toronto's first suburb, a working-class neighbourhood, the centre of the Canadian counterculture and one of the swankiest districts in the city. Learn more about this colourful neighbourhood on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: Craig McArther - Potato Deal Jesse Gallagher - Divine Life Society John Deley and The 41 Players - Hold on a Second Quincas Moreira - Don't Fret Quincas Moreira - Central Park Quincas Moreira - Orange Sunset The 126ers - A Call is Upon Us The Westerlies - Dover (Theme) Track Tribe - As You Were | |||
| Bonus: Toronto Olympic Bids | 28 Jul 2024 | 00:08:56 | |
The Olympic flame has been lit. Join Adam Waiser and Grayson Miller for this bonus episode where we dive into Toronto's many bids to host the Summer Olympics. Some of them failed due to administrative mishaps; others were thwarted by political blunders. Learn all about it on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ All Music by The Westerlies: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoIyoWuQx_Ga7fQ35flEmQA/ | |||
| John Candy and the 1991 Argos | 16 Jul 2024 | 00:31:52 | |
The story of the 1991 Argos features a rare coin and baseball card collector who owned the LA Kings, the greatest hockey player of all time, and one of the greatest football prospects of the 1990s. Most of all, it featured John Candy. This is the story of the Grey-Cup winning team that electrified Toronto for one magical season. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: The Westerlies - The Dover Freedom Trail Studio - Classic 1985 Movie Soundtrack Joel Cummins - Looping Ascent Causmic - Flight to Tunisia Mini Vandals - Lift Up Joel Cummins - Re Links: SCTV Johnny LaRue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66hLNY-D13A&t=14s Wayne Gretzky Trade to LA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4nE58aXXjU TSN - John Candy True Double Blue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4HzYF67B6U&t=573s Raghib "Rocket" Ismail and Others Celebrate The Argos 150th: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLcsTQL_73g&t=43s 1991 - The Best of Raghib Rocket Ismail CBS Sports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5wHn9jVB7g&t=107s 1994 - CTV News John Candy Has Died : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMcJn-LSKmo End Teaser - John Candy 1991 Argonauts Promo: | |||
| Fred Gardiner | 02 Jul 2024 | 00:24:37 | |
Have you ever wondered who the Gardiner Expressway was named for? Fred Gardiner was the first Chairman of Metro Toronto and he was responsible for some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the city, including the Don Valley Parkway and the highway who bears his name. Learn more about this important builder on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: The Westerlies - The Dover Jimena Contreras - World's Sunrise DougMaxwell Production - 1940's Sunrise Brian Bolger - First Dream Joel Cummins - Resolve Dan Lebowitz - Side Steppin' | |||
| Fort York | 18 Jun 2024 | 00:18:53 | |
Fort York was built to defend Toronto from our dastardly neighbours to the south. It would participate in two major battles throughout its history. It lost the first one when the Americans captured York during the War of 1812, but it won the second battle, which was a decades-long fight against the developers and city planners who wanted to demolish it. Learn more about the guardian of Toronto Bay on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: Soothsayer - John Patitucci Nature Nurture - Quincas Moreira World's Sunrise - Jimena Contreras The Dover - The Westerlies | |||
| Horseshoe Tavern w/Stan Davidson | 04 Jun 2024 | 00:26:06 | |
When the Tragically Hip sang about "that night in Toronto with its checkerboard floors", they were talking about the Horseshoe Tavern. Famous bands like the Pixies and the Stones played there while they were in town and Canadian bands like Blue Rodeo and the Barenaked Ladies played there on their way to fame. Learn more about one of Toronto's iconic musical venues on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: The Westerlies - The Dover Unicorn Sand - Rolling Heads Josh Lippi & The Overtimers Matt Harris - Critter Cruise The Whole Other - An Army of None | |||
| Bonus: Toronto is Getting a WNBA Team | 24 May 2024 | 00:04:51 | |
Join host Grayson Miller for this bonus episode of Muddy York where we dive into the monumental announcement of Toronto's new WNBA franchise. We'll reflect on the rich history of basketball in Toronto, explore the present excitement surrounding the expansion and offer an early look at what this development could mean for the future of women's sports in Canada. Tune in for an engaging and informative journey through Toronto's basketball legacy. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: The Westerlies - The Dover | |||
| Bonus: A Christmas Story Filming Locations | 21 Dec 2025 | 00:05:24 | |
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! You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History, Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/. | |||
| Leaside Aerodrome w/Jeremy Hopkin | 21 May 2024 | 00:42:46 | |
Toronto history aficionado Jeremy Hopkin joins us to talk about the history of the Leaside Aerodrome. This airfield was originally built by the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. It would become the site of the first airmail delivery in Canadian history and the home of the Toronto Flying Club. Learn more about this vanished piece of Toronto history on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: The Westerlies - The Dover | |||
| CHUM | 07 May 2024 | 00:27:51 | |
Certain things at certain times become the centre of pop culture. For Gen Z, it’s TikTok. For Millennials, it was MuchMusic and MTV. For boomers who grew up here, it was 1050 CHUM. This is the story of the radio station that introduced rock n roll to Toronto and became the centre of youth culture for a decade or more. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: The Westerlies - The Dover Bruno E - 1973 The Unicorns - Rolling Heads Track Tribe - The Greaser | |||
| Inspiring Mayors w/Mark Maloney | 16 Apr 2024 | 00:37:22 | |
For this episode, we welcome Mark Maloney, author of Toronto Mayors: A History of the City's Leaders, to talk about mayors who were brave, mayors who were charitable, mayors who were visionary and mayors who just got things done. Learn more about these Inspiring Mayors on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: The Westerlies - The Dover | |||
| Royal York Hotel | 02 Apr 2024 | 00:18:27 | |
The Royal York is the grand old dame of Toronto hotels. It was built as one of Canada's grand railway hotels and upon completion, it was the tallest building in the British Empire. It's hosted the Royal Family alongside performances by everybody from Jim Carrey to Tina Turner. Learn more about this Toronto landmark on the latest episode of Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ Music: Theme Song: The Westerlies - Dover Aaron Kenny - Gaiety in the Golden Age Aaron Kenny - The Curious Kitten Doug Maxwell Productions - 1940's Slow Dance Chris Haugen - Fractal of Light Brian Bolger - A Fool's Theme | |||