Leslie Howard Saunders

Leslie Howard Saunders (September 12, 1899 – March 30, 1994) was Mayor of Toronto, Canada, from 1954 to 1955 and the last member of the Orange Order to hold the position until William Dennison. He also served as Mayor of East York in 1976.

Early life Saunders was born in London, England and immigrated with his family to North Bay, Ontario at the age of six. Controller Roy E. Belyea, a fellow Orangeman, criticized Saunders for his action accusing him of being intolerant of religious minorities.

The Mayor's letter was reprinted in the press prompting him to be vilified in editorials. The controversy, along with Saunders's decision to bar the press from attending meetings of the Board of Control, was a contributing factor in his subsequent electoral defeat at the hands of Nathan Phillips, the first non-Protestant, the first non-Orangeman in the twentieth century and first Jew to be mayor of Toronto. During the election, Saunders had proclaimed himself to be running as "Leslie Saunders, Protestant". In pointed contrast to Saunders, Phillips was hailed as "Mayor of all the people".

Forty members of the Orange Order had become Mayor in Toronto's history, including all of Toronto's mayors in the twentieth century up to and including Saunders. After his defeat, Saunders became Grand Master of the Orange in Canada and Imperial Grand President but was unable to stem the decline of the Order, particularly amongst youth, in what was becoming an increasingly multicultural, non-sectarian city.

East York Saunders became politically active in the Toronto suburb of East York. He ran for reeve in 1960, and was defeated by True Davidson. He was elected to the East York council in 1961, where he became a fixture. In 1976, he argued against holding a Flag Day to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Maple Leaf Flag replacing the Canadian Red Ensign as Canada's flag.

He served as the borough's chief magistrate in 1976 when he became interim mayor, appointed to complete the term of Willis Blair upon his appointment to the Ontario Municipal Board. He was re-elected to council as an alderman for a final term before retiring in 1978.

Orange Order Saunders was a devoted Orangemen and served as Imperial Grand President of the Grand Orange Council of the World, the Order's highest office, for six years.