News

Politician Saul Laskin died Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008 at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto after collapsing at his home. He was 90.

Born in Fort William, Ontario, on May 15, 1918, he was the youngest of three sons of Max and Bluma (Zingel) Laskin. His eldest brother, the-late Bora Laskin, was a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

A veteran of the Second World War, Mr. Laskin served in the Canadian Army with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders in Holland and Germany and was part of the Canadian forces that liberated Bergen-Belsen.

After the war Mr. Laskin owned and operated Laskin's Furniture and Appliances in what is now Thunder Bay for more than 40 years. He entered municipal politics in the late 1950s, serving as alderman of Port Arthur from 1959 to 1962, and then mayor until 1969. An enthusiastic supporter of the amalgamation of the twin cities of Port Arthur and Fort William, Mr. Laskin became mayor of the new city of Thunder Bay in 1970, a position he held until 1972. A passionate advocate of social justice and civic participation, he was also on the board of governors of Lakehead University for 15 years. In the late 1980s he retired from the furniture business.

Mr. Laskin is survived by his wife of more then 60 years Adele Tritt, three daughters and two sons, a dozen grandchildren and his extended family. The funeral is Monday at Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel on Steeles Avenue at 10:00 am.