Gilbert TAYLOR

1936 - 2023

GILBERT TAYLOR September 5, 1936 - May 27, 2023 Gil Taylor, a pioneering Canadian filmmaker, devoted supporter of the Canadian military, and a lover of the great outdoors, passed away at home after a year-long battle with cancer. Gil was born in Oshawa, the only child of William and Thelma Taylor. He is survived by his wife, Anne, recently celebrating sixty years of marriage filled with friendship, adventure, and unconditional love. He is deeply grieved by his family and friends and by those who had become his 'unofficial' family: Glenn, Ewa, Monika, Amelie and Miles. After graduating from Ryerson, while working at Procter and Gamble, (the only time he worked for a company and not for himself) Gil met William (Bill) Marshall. The two became friends and created Marshall Taylor Productions in the 1960's, a successful public relations firm and film production company that produced many short films and documentaries as well as the feature film 'Flick' (1970), which Gil directed. They also produced such ground-breaking stage shows as 'Fortune in Men's Eyes', and 'The Staircase' and worked with John Bassett to bring 'Hair' to Toronto. Later, Gil ventured out on his own, founding Intercom Films, receiving, among other awards, a Genie nomination for Best Picture, two Gemini nominations, and a Gold Medal at the New York International Film Festival. He was a founding member of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, President of the Independent Producers' Group, and a member of the Canadian Film and Television Producers' Association and the Independent Producers' Association of Great Britain. Gil was a lifelong supporter of the Canadian military. He was Second Lieutenant in the Queen's York Rangers (1st American Regiment), Royal Canadian Armour Corp, and did volunteer service with The Rangers for more than thirty years as a member of Regimental Council, including five years as Chairman. He was elected a Life Member of the Rangers Regimental Council. Gil also served as Honorary Colonel of the Toronto Scottish Regiment (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Own). One of Gil's proudest accomplishments was his five years as President of the Royal Canadian Military Institute. He worked closely with his friend, Jeffrey Dorfman, to help create the Institute's dazzling new premises on University Avenue, as they oversaw the plan from the design stage to the completed project. Working with the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires was another important part of Gil's life. He was twice Chair of the Great Lakes District, from 2008 to 2010 and again from 2021 to 2023. He was made a Life Governor of the organization. Gil was a past member of the Last Post Society, an organization that provides dignified funerals and burials to Canadian veterans, serving as secretary for the National Office and Chair of the Ontario branch. He was President of Legion Branch 165, and a member of The St. George's Society. His other volunteer activities included work for the World Wildlife Fund, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Variety International. He was recognized as Volunteer of the Year for UNICEF. In recent years Gil was a member of the Board of Directors of Global Affairs Institute. Gil had a love of the outdoors and many of his happiest days were spent in the woods either hunting or just being out in nature, a lifelong passion he shared with his friend from childhood, Robert (Bob) Clayton. Gil cherished their times together. As recently as this fall Gil was still hunting in the woods at his beloved farm near Tamworth with his hunting companions. Despite the many, many hours he put into his business and volunteer endeavours, Gil, in addition to his love of the wilderness, was also an avid writer (with many of his recent articles appearing in The Toronto Sun), traveller, film and theatre fan, a voracious reader and an expert cook. He had a keen interest in politics and did not suffer fools gladly. In addition to his film accolades, Gil's honours and decorations include the Queen's Jubilee Medal, the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers, The Commissionaires Long Term Service Medal with five bars, the Commissionaires Distinguished Service Medal, and the Last Post Medal. Family and friends are invited to the visitation at the Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue) from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6th or 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, June 7th, followed by a service at 11:00 a.m. A reception will take place after the service and then the family, and those who wish to accompany them, will proceed to York Cemetery for the interment. Donations can be made to Princess Margaret Hospital at https://thepmcf.ca/donate/ or to a charity of your choosing. Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.