Clayton and Lou Ruby Lawyer and Publisher
A Tale of Two Rubys: From Sensational Headlines to Human Rights
On my walk through Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto and later at Holy Blossom Memorial Park Cemeteries, I had the unique experience of reuniting father and son — Lou and Clayton Ruby — whose lives and legacies offer a compelling portrait of Toronto’s evolving social fabric.
Lou Ruby, the father, was a property developer and the publisher of Flash, a Toronto tabloid founded in 1930. Known for its sensational headlines, Flash was a weekly that captivated readers by reporting on trials and skimming court schedules for names of Toronto’s elite, often embroiled in drunkenness, petty crimes, or messy divorces. Lou also owned race horses, weaving horse racing updates into the mix. He passed away on November 20, 1979, at the age of 79.
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His son, Clayton Ruby, took a very different path. Rather than chronicling court dramas, Clayton lived them — as one of Canada’s most dedicated civil rights lawyers. For more than five decades, he fought passionately for human rights, earning a reputation as a champion of the underdog. His most memorable cases included defending Guy Paul Morin, representing politician Svend Robinson, advocating for Dr. Henry Morgentaler’s reproductive rights, and standing up for those charged in the 1981 Toronto Bathhouse Raids.
Clayton Ruby was regarded not only as a legal giant but also as a mentor and leader within the Canadian legal community. He died in Toronto on August 2, 2022, at the age of 80.
See my related site on Canada’s greatest trial lawyers.
