In Memoriam: Geoff Taber 1960-2016

Dec 26, 2016

Geoff Taber, Jacquie Taber, and their sons Scott and Andrew

Geoff Taber, his beloved wife Jacquie and sons Scott and Andrew perished in a cottage fire on Christmas Eve. There are no words adequate enough to express the depth of grief we feel about this tragedy. Geoff was a generous, vibrant and wonderful person, a prescient and talented partner and a great friend.

He was at the forefront of understanding the importance of the technology sector to Canada and was the founder of the firm's Emerging Companies Group. The same entrepreneurial spirit Geoff exuded struck a chord with the many emerging and later-stage companies that sought his advice over the years. He loved bringing together entrepreneurs and investors and devoted his time to ventures to encourage entrepreneurship such as the Creative Destruction Lab at the Rotman School of Business as well as The Next 36, Canada's Entrepreneur Leadership Institute. Today the technology industry practice he and his partners (and also his best friends) built at Osler is among our most important business lines. But it is the man we will miss the most.

Geoff's wife, Jacquie Gardner, was an exceptionally talented corporate lawyer who began her practice at Osler and later joined Altamira Investment Services where she served in the role of General Counsel and Secretary before dedicating her talents full-time to raising two amazing sons, Scott and Andrew.

We will treasure Geoff’s indomitable spirit, passion for adventures including biking some of the world’s most challenging terrain and, above all, the unstinting love for his family and friends.