Saul Hayes: Reflections on his life as a public figure and as a father

Listen to Marilyn Hayes discuss the life of her prominent father, Saul Hayes, from both a public and a personal perspective. Saul Hayes (1906-1980) was an important ambassador for the Canadian Jewish community, fighting tirelessly for human rights and for the relaxation of Canada’s restrictions on immigration following WWII. A practiced lawyer, Saul Hayes served as the national Executive Director (1942-1959) and national Executive President (1959-1974) of the Canadian Jewish Congress, as well as taking on the role of Executive Director of the United Jewish Relief Agency of Canada (1938-1942) and participating in numerous human rights committees. In this interview, however, Marilyn Hayes also reflects on what Saul Hayes was like as a father, recounting the games he used to play with her, his sense of humour, and the lessons she has learned from him. Saul Hayes, as Marilyn Hayes adds, was also a devoted son, son‐in‐law, husband, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and overall a family man. Despite his important public role, he was always available for his family. This interview was conducted and edited by Rose Tornabene.