Fonds consists of correspondence regarding Cherniack's activities as legal representative in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario for the Co-operative Committee on Japanese Canadians, before the Royal Commission on Japanese Property Losses. Fonds also contains lists of property claimants and appropriate forms for filing property loss claims, as well as Cherniak's case files comprised of applicable property deeds, real estate assessments and tax receipts.
Cherniack, Saul M., 1917-2018 : Saul M. Cherniack lawyer and politician, was born and educated in Winnipeg, receiving an L.L.B. in 1939 from the University of Manitoba, after which he practiced law, except for three years military service. He served in the Canadian Army in World War Two, enlisting in the Royal Canadian Artillery, and leaving as a captain in the Canadian Intelligence Corps as a Japanese language specialist. In 1947, he acted as counsel in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario for the Co-operative Committee on Japanese Canadians, representing many Japanese claimants before the Royal Commission on Japanese Property Losses, 1947-1950, (frequently called the Bird Commission). He was active in public and community affairs, serving in an executive capacity in many organizations, including national vice-president of the Canadian Jewish Congress and chairman of the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board of Governors. Active in municipal and provincial politics, he was elected to the Manitoba Legislative Assembly in 1962, and served as minister of finance in the N.D.P. government of Manitoba from 1969 to 1972, and 1973 to 1975, as well as minister for urban affairs, and reporting for Manitoba Hydro and the Manitoba Telephone System. He served in the Legislature until 1981. In 1984, he was made a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and was a member of the Security Intelligence Review Committee under the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act. He was awarded both the Order of Canada in 1994 and the Order of Manitoba in 2002. After he retired from public service, he volunteered in English as a Second Language classes, becoming the oldest participant, at 95 years, in the Winnipeg School Division. He passed away in 2018.
