Elizabeth Patricia SAUL

1936 - 2022

ELIZABETH PATRICIA SAUL Elizabeth Patricia (Pat) Saul was born October 31, 1936, and raised in the West End of Toronto. Eldest daughter of Duff and Gord Chalmers and sister to Karen Ann, she attended Keele Street Public School and Humberside Collegiate. Pat received her BA from Victoria College at the University of Toronto where she met the love of her life, John Shannon Saul. After marrying in 1962, they began adventures that would lead to seven years in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where she completed her Masters in Education. In Dar she made lasting friendships and gave birth to her two children, Nick and Jo. Upon returning to Toronto, Pat remained active in supporting the liberation struggles in Southern Africa. She found work at the North York Board of Education where she would spend her career (but for a year spent in Mozambique writing curriculum for the Ministry of Education), first as a history and global issues teacher and later as department head. While at Westview Centennial she helped launch Promoting Excellence and Success Beyond Limits, where she served as Chair of the Board and continued her lifelong work of advocating for students in marginalized communities. In her final years of teaching, Pat was seconded to York University to teach Urban Education. After winning the honour of North York's "Woman of the Year" upon her retirement in 1995, Pat continued her work in the Jane and Finch community, as well as going on to co-found Word-Play, a community-based program to promote the joy of reading and writing housed at Type Books in Toronto. Along with her commitment to activist work, Pat also made time for cultivating her long-lasting friendships, contributing to three separate book clubs, and, most importantly, helping to nurture her four incredible grandchildren. Her legacy is one of kindness, generosity, community-building and connection-making. Her fight for social justice was grounded in a genuine curiosity for and love of people. She died peacefully at home on September 16, 2022, surrounded by the family she loved and who loved her deeply. She leaves behind her beloved husband, John, her kids Nick and Jo, her daughter-in-law Andi (Curtis), and her grandchildren Ben, Clare, Quinn and Charlie. She is predeceased by her son-in-law David Mills. Sincere gratitude to Dr. Sacher and the incredible staff at Princess Margaret Hospital and to Dr. Melissa Melnitzer and the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to Success Beyond Limits. A celebration of Pat's remarkable life will be held November 6th, 3:30-6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium of Trinity St. Paul's, United Church Toronto.