It was known for decades as the Toronto Star Building, located at #1 Yonge St., right at the foot of the world's proverbial longest road. But it wasn't just home to the newspaper. For many years, the 25th floor - the top one in the structure - was the H.Q. and studios for Toronto's now defunct CKEY, a one time powerhouse in the market.

I worked there as my first regular paying job in radio (although it didn't pay much!) right out of college and it immediately plunged me into the middle of some real superstars - Keith Rich, John Woodbridge, Pete McGarvey, Bob Crabbe, Bernie McNamee, Ian Brownlee, Pierre Burton, Charles Templeton, and even Stephen Lewis, who did commentary. (And God help me, Joe Morgan, who was not, shall we say, the sweetest person in the room.) 

What I remember best about the place, beside the long elevator ride to the top, was the incredible view from the newsroom and studios, overlooking the lake and a lot of the city. We were the first to know there was something going on in Mississauga in 1979 - although we didn't know what it was at first -  because we could see flames in the darkness emanating from there all the way in downtown Toronto. Turns out, it was the now infamous Mississauga train derailment 

Glad to see the place where I made so many memories will survive. Maybe one day when I'm rich (it will have to wait until the next life!) I'll book the penthouse suite for a night and have a look again at that magnificent view. 

The old Toronto Star building at 1 Yonge will live for a little while longer — as a luxury hotel