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Former Thunder Bay mayor marks 90th birthday
By JIM KELLY
Saturday, May 17, 2008

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Saul Laskin, the first mayor of the City of Thunder Bay, has something in common with the Hoito Restaurant. They both turn 90 this month. Laskin is a few days older, though.
His birthday was Thursday, while the Hoito observes its birthday Sunday (though the celebration takes place today).
Laskin became mayor when the former cities of Fort William and Port Arthur amalgamated in 1970. He served as head of council until 1972. Laskin was previously the mayor of Port Arthur from 1962-69.
He was also on the board of governors at Lakehead University for 15 years and received both an honorary doctorate and the title of Fellow of Lakehead University.
Reached at his Toronto home, Laskin said turning 90 didn‘t feel any different than when he turned 50.
“I‘m surrounded by a wonderful family,” he said. “As you get older you have your ups and downs, but I feel good.”
Birthday celebrations will continue this weekend with a Kiddush lunch at Congregation Darchei Noam today where Laskin will be called to the Torah (reminiscent of a bar mitzvah).
Helping him celebrate will be his two sons, three daughters and 12 grandchildren.
There will be something to celebrate next month, too. Laskin and his wife Adele will celebrate their 62nd wedding anniversary in June and she turns 85 on June 20.
Laskin said he occasionally reminisces about those halcyon days of the 1960s and ‘70s when he was mayor.
“I look back at the wonderful council I had in Port Arthur and Thunder Bay,” he said.
“I miss a lot of those fellows who are no longer with us.”
Looking back on his 90 years, Laskin said he has no regrets.
“I‘ve always been optimistic. Life goes on and society goes on. I‘ve lived in a certain period of life and did what I wanted to do,” he said.
One of the troubling issues he sees today are that some of the basic needs of people are greater than ever.
“I‘m a little despondent when I see so many homeless people, especially in Toronto you see that happening,” Laskin said.
“Some people even with a good job can‘t afford to pay rent. We‘re getting into a society where we have the have-nots and the very rich,” he said.
“The middle class, unfortunately, is slowly vanishing.”
Despite society‘s ills, Laskin has an abiding love for his country.
“It‘s tough to take when you see what‘s happening over the years,” he said.
“But we still live in the best country in the world despite our problems.
“People generally are pretty good here. I find the average person still thinks of his fellow man,” Laskin said.
When asked if he‘s looking forward to his 100th birthday, he gave a big hearty laugh.
“I sure am,” he said.
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