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Anne TAYLOR-VAISEY Obituary

ANNE LOUISE TAYLOR-VAISEY Anne was born to Marian Louise and Bernard Cullon on November 16, 1947. She grew up in a house beside a lake at the bottom of Fallingbrook Road, where her parents raised six children. Anne was third of the brood in that Scarborough home, younger sister to Margot and Bryce and big sister to Tom, Heather and Sue. Her teenage years in the Beach were quintessential: bikini-clad boardwalk jaunts with her beloved boxer, Cleo, the first of many treasured canine sidekicks; adventures with Nancy, her best friend; summertime trips overseas as part of Bernie's "European Odyssey" tours for students; evenings watching Joni Mitchell perform at the Riverboat in Yorkville; band performances wailing on an alto sax; football games leading the cheerleading squad from the sidelines; an acceptance letter from the University of Toronto's Trinity College. 1967's Summer of Love landed Anne in Winnipeg, where a season's worth of hard-earned paycheques at a pair of gruelling jobs (for which she had no love) set her on a path into librarianship - a lifelong profession she pursued with infectious passion and pioneering instincts. A master's in library science from the University of Western Ontario vaulted her into working life at Trent University, which meant moving to Peterborough. In the summer of 1972, while toiling in the Bata Library stacks on campus, Anne met Bob. That fall, they reconnected in the library elevator. A week later, they were cohabiting in her apartment on Stewart Street. Two years later, they were married and building a life together. The pair eventually welcomed Miranda and Bryce into the world. Anne remained at Trent all the while, working as map librarian and then circulation and reference librarian. She sharpened the cutting edge of online searching when few understood the digital revolution that would come to define her profession. Anne left Trent when the family moved to Scarborough in 1984, settling in Guildwood Village. Nicholas joined the family about a year later, and Anne spent seven years at home with the three children. She fell in love with her new calling, a departure from a workplace but not a departure from work. (She once wrote a letter to the Toronto Star about her frequent bristling at The Question from skeptical observers of her new occupation - "Do you work?" - which forced her to dispel undesirable views of women who choose to take a break from their careers.) Her children also drove her involvement in the anti-nuclear movement, an effort to create a safe community for women and girls, and a commitment to composting and recycling. Anne's professional renaissance was launched at the University of Toronto's Office for Continuing Medical Education, where she started as library services consultant in 1991. She co-authored articles that were cited by thousands of researchers. She served as president of both the Toronto Health Libraries Association and the Indexing and Abstracting Society of Canada. She was the architect of the website of the Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education. In early 2022, SACME awarded Anne a Presidential Tribute for her decades of service. In 2001, Anne started a new role as the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College's reference librarian, another professional rebirth that allowed Anne to work directly with students and faculty - and for which she was awarded CMCC's Distinguished Service Award in 2009. In 2012, Anne joined a multidisciplinary and international team of health-care professionals at the Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, where she showcased her rigorous approach to scientific research. She was named adjunct professor at CMCC in 2016 and chief editor of the Index to Chiropractic Literature the next year. Anne was still contributing to the IDRR from her hospital bed this past January. For Anne, no place was more sacred than her patch of paradise on the Mississagua River in the Kawarthas. Two years after she was born, Bernie built the "old cottage" that still stands on the side of the property facing the fairy's golden path across the river. Anne spent endless summers there as a youngster with the sprawling Taylor clan, catching elusive frogs with ease; in later years, she embraced a new role as welcomer of family, friends and colleagues who shared her reverence for the Mississagua's morning mist, lazy afternoons, fleeting sunsets and one-match fires after dark - and, of course, her beloved frogs and chipmunks. On the river, Anne was bliss personified, the picture of calm as she floated on her paddleboard in silent pursuit of mergansers, loons, and herons. She quietly enjoyed life's simplest pleasures to the fullest. Anne entered the care of Princess Margaret Hospital in January, and was comforted greatly by compassionate health-care professionals in the final chapter of her nearly two-year ordeal with cancer. Deserving of special mention are her palliative nurses: Carolyn, Bernie, Ryan, Annie and Mark. She died peacefully on Feb. 8, surrounded by family as she watched the sun fall beneath the horizon. She was 74. Anne will always be remembered by Bob, her husband of 47 years and partner of 49; her children Miranda (Joe), Bryce (Tiffany) and Nicholas (Emma); her siblings Margot, Bryce, Tom, Heather, Sue and the "outlaws"; her nieces and nephews; and countless friends and neighbours. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Anne's memory would be greatly appreciated. Proceeds will fund an annual award bearing her name that honours a graduating student.

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Published by The Globe and Mail from Feb. 19 to Feb. 23, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Anne TAYLOR-VAISEY

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19 Entries

John McCluskey

March 24, 2023

Sorry to hear of the loss of a beautiful person. We were friends at Malvern Collegiate and on the Hundred Steps beach.

Kathy Smith

April 6, 2022

My(belated and) sincerest condolences Bob, to you and your entire family.

Dennis Kerr

April 3, 2022

Bob, heartfelt condolences.

Helena Pstross

March 27, 2022

Ann's moving obituary brought back memories of our discussions about the beauty of the DDC, glass of wine in hand, stars above our heads, Hamish keeping us company. My belated condolences, Bob and family.

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Jane Tipping

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Jennifer Houle

March 1, 2022

My condolences and prayers for comfort! I will notice her absence this summer without her wave with us on our nightly boat ride's!

Brian Floody

February 23, 2022

a lovely memorial to a bright light that seems to have had a full life that influenced many others. I remember her well from those early 'Beach' days

Anthony Seed

February 22, 2022

A remarkable woman. My condolences to all her family

Karine

February 22, 2022

I am thinking of you during this very difficult time. My condolences to Miranda and the entire family. Karine

MANDY NWOBU

February 21, 2022

My condolences to you and your Family. May God grant you the fortitude to bear this great loss.

Cathryn Walker

February 21, 2022

So terribly sorry to hear this news. Bob, your Imperial family sends our deepest condolences. Such a beautifully written tribute, honouring her life and memory.

Janine Taylor

February 20, 2022

I was lucky to have been a student at CMCC while Anne was at the library there. She always welcomed students with a warm smile, and a phenomenal knowledge of the resources within that library. My deepest condolences to her family.

Judith & Lou

February 20, 2022

Anne was my (Jude) soul mate on our beautiful Mississagua river. We will miss her smiling face as she paddled down the waterway. RIP Anne.

Andrew Sulatycki

February 20, 2022

Anne was such a lovely woman. So helpful and kind. We used to have good talks at the CMCC library, and once I graduated some great email threads back and forth. She was an excellent resource to call upon with for any research question, and an even better person. She will be missed.
My condolences to the family.
RIP Anne.

Rebecca Jones

February 19, 2022

Bob, I'm so sorry to read of Anne's death. What a beautiful, articulate tribute to an incredible individual and librarian. May she rest in peace and rise in glory. Be well, Bob.

Scott and Theresa Tuttle

February 19, 2022

Bob and family,
Theresa and I send our condolences, may she Rest In Peace.

Susan Beatty

February 19, 2022

What a beautiful tribute to Anne. My sympathies to the family. You will carry her in your heart.

John Ecker

February 19, 2022

What a beautiful story of a life well lived. Our family first met Anne´s on the river and have so many wonderful memories of her. She will be missed.

Bill & Mary Abouatallah

February 19, 2022

Miranda we are so sorry for your loss. Words can´t express the depth of your loss. You and your family are in our prayers.

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