Bora Laskin Former Chief Justice of Canada and first jewish Justice

Justice and Legacy: Remembering Bora Laskin

On my walk through Holy Blossom Memorial Park Cemetery in Toronto, gavel in hand, I visited the grave of a man whose legacy changed the shape of Canadian law: Bora Laskin.

Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Laskin was a brilliant student who quickly rose through the academic ranks. He graduated top of his class at both the University of Toronto and Harvard Law School, earning gold medals at each. With a Master of Laws from Harvard, he was poised for a prestigious legal career.

But despite his exceptional credentials, doors remained closed. Because he was Jewish, no major law firm in Canada would hire him—an undeniable reflection of the deep-rooted anti-Semitism of the time. Rather than be defeated, Laskin turned to teaching, becoming a revered professor and legal scholar, shaping young legal minds across the country.

Then came a moment of historic change. On March 19, 1970, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau appointed Bora Laskin to the Supreme Court of Canada, making him the first Jewish justice ever to sit on the bench of the country’s highest court. Just three years later, he was named Chief Justice—a position he held with distinction until his death in 1984.

Laskin’s tenure was marked by progressive thinking and a deep belief in human rights and civil liberties. He played a key role in modernizing Canadian constitutional law, and his influence continues to be felt in legal circles to this day.

Sadly, Justice Bora Laskin died in office on March 26, 1984. He was 71.

1912-1984