I Was Here | Podcast on Podbay

I Was Here

The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education

I Was Here is a podcast and photo series featuring older adults who have interesting stories about, or long histories with, spaces and places in Toronto. Their stories reveal many events of social, cultural, and political importance to our city’s history. I Was Here was created with generous financial support from The Accessibility Project at Ryerson University’s G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education. A very special thank you to Programs for 50+ and Community Engagement at The Chang School, who supported this endeavour to give these storytellers a much-needed platform and audience.

Episode 6: The CNE with Greg

In 1977, when Greg was 17, he ended up working for Paddy Conklin, the man who ran the midway at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE). The Ex was the biggest fair in Canada – home to the Flyer, Wild Mouse, and Tilt-a-Whirl. It had the Food Building, Whack-a-Mole, sideshows, and rock concerts that became part of music history. He is now Vice-President with North American Midway Entertainment – he’s still working at the Ex.

Mar 14, 2019

44 min

Episode 5: Tent City with Cathy and Beric

Cathy and Beric have been fighting for Toronto’s homeless for 30 years. With others, they started the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee to bring social justice and housing to the growing numbers of Toronto’s homeless. For almost a decade, they made headlines with their fight, culminating in Tent City, an encampment of outliers and activists on Toronto’s vacant waterfront.

Mar 14, 2019

1 hr 27 min

Episode 4: Willowdale with Elva

Born in June 1915, Elva remembers coal fires on streetcars when she lived in Mount Dennis, mail delivery twice a day, and the thrill of hot water coming out of taps. Elva became a pioneer of the suburbs, forging friendships with other young stay-at-home moms, and lived in her two-storey home until she was 97, earning the title “The Wise Woman of Glenelia Avenue”.

Mar 14, 2019

45 min