REGINALD BRIAN LAND

REGINALD BRIAN LAND UE, 1927-2016. Professor Emeritus and former Dean, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto; former Executive Director of the Legislative Library, Queen's Park. Following a long struggle after breaking his hip in January, Brian died at age 89 on November 26th. He is lovingly remembered by his grandson Geoffrey Crowther and his daughter Mary (Hugh Crowther) of Georgetown, as well as his son John (Barbara) of Kitchener. Brian is survived by his brother-in-law the Rev. Charles (Nancy) Eddis of Montreal, sister-in-law Joan Eddis of Ottawa, and sister-in-law Susan Eddis Crease Morales (Martín) of Toronto. Brian was fond of all his nieces and nephews. Throughout his life, though, he made a special effort to be close to the children of his Detroit-based brother Donald: Brian Land (Ellen) of Vienna, VA, Dr. Diane Land (Tim McCloud) of Tucson, AZ and Susan Land (Glenn Bucek) of Arlington, VA. Predeceased by his wife Edith Eddis (1928-2013), his sisters Louise, Joyce (Calder) and Joan and his brother Donald. Brian was born to Beatrice Beryl Boyle and Allan Reginald Land in Niagara Falls. Brian had a keen intellect and an accomplished life. What made him so endearing, though, was his humour and healthy sense of the ridiculous, his stories, his knack for making friends, his warmth and fairness and his interest in others and the world around him. Brian earned four degrees from the University of Toronto including graduate degrees in political science and library science. While there, he met his future wife, Edith; they were married nearly 60 years. In his early 20s, Brian was hospitalized with tuberculosis for 15 months in the Mountain Sanatorium in Hamilton where he had a thoracoplasty. He was one of the lucky survivors and, while there, he met fellow patient Peter Bosa, who became one of his closest friends. Brian held positions with the Toronto Public Library, the Windsor Public Library, the University of Toronto and the Ontario Legislative Library. While on leave from the University of Toronto in 1963-1964, Brian served as Executive Assistant to the honourable Walter Gordon, then Lester Pearson's Minister of Finance. From 1964-1972, Brian was appointed Director and later Dean of the University of Toronto's Library School (now the Faculty of Information) and implemented a new master's program and the first doctoral program in library science in Canada. He also planned the Library School's 1972 move into its new quarters in the Claude T. Bissell Building. In 1978, Brian was appointed executive director of the Ontario Legislative Library at Queen's Park. He continued to teach part-time at the University of Toronto, retiring from both jobs in 1993. Brian was active in various associations and served several as President, including the American-based Association for Library and Information Science Education (1973-1974), the Canadian Library Association (1975-1976) and the Association of Parliamentary Libraries in Canada (1982-1984). He was blessed to see Canada's high arctic, Prairies and coasts as a part-time Commissioner on the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), 1972-1978. He wrote Eglinton: The Election Study of a Federal Constituency (1965), four editions of Sources of Information for Canadian Business and was Founder and General Editor of The Directory of Associations in Canada (1974-1997). During his retirement, Brian continued his lifelong interest in genealogy and the history of Canada. Deep thanks go to Mike Crease and Shelly Baines, each of whom brought Brian joy in his final years. The family also extends its sincerest gratitude to Mountainview Residence in Georgetown for giving Brian such loving attention in his last months, particularly the nurses, PSWs and other staff in the Care Wing. Memorial donations made to the University of Toronto - Faculty of Information Fund or to a charity of choice would be appreciated by the family. Donations may be made at the funeral home, or donations and condolences may be sent online at www.gilbertmacintyreandson.com Enitor ne opera concilio labore deism.