Awarded posthumously
Over many years, Gilbert Taylor had volunteered thousands of hours to the causes of Canadian Veterans with many organizations. These organizations included the Royal Canadian Military Institute, where he was heavily involved with the extensive redevelopment of the Institute’s building. They also included the Last Post Fund, where he worked to uncover unclaimed Veterans’ remains and replace grave markers of Indigenous Veterans which had been neglected. He had also written more than 50 columns for the Sun/Post Media on the accomplishments of Canadian Veterans and the importance of remembrance.
Gilbert joined the Royal Canadian Military Institute in February 1989, and quickly became a member of the board of directors. He was eventually elected as president and served in that role for five years. Gilbert devoted more than eight years to the re-development of the Institute’s building. He was essential in signing a development deal that revamped and restored the old premises while ensuring the organization remained on solid financial footing. He was one of two volunteer project managers and was onsite to oversee the work being done almost every day for the four-and-a-half years of construction. During construction, while the institute had no physical home, Gilbert remained proactive and engaged with members which was essential in maintaining membership numbers.
Gilbert was also a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 165 since 2007. During his time with the Legion, he worked with Dr. David Shergold on efforts to provide care for modern-day Veterans by bringing them into the Veteran’s Centre at Sunnybrook Hospital. He also worked to increase Legion membership and Poppy Fund participation.
In 2006, Gilbert joined the Ontario branch of the Last Post Fund. He served as a national director, national secretary and immediate past chair. During that time, he worked with funeral directors in Ontario on efforts to uncover unclaimed Veterans’ remains and qualify them for a dignified funeral. He has also worked with First Nations Chiefs in Ontario to uncover neglected graves of Indigenous Veterans and provide them with suitable markers.
Gilbert also worked on the provincial and national levels of the Last Post Fund’s homeless Veterans project, successfully reaching many Veterans across Canada and has worked with head office to develop a national advertising program. He contributed more than 50 columns for the Sun/Post Media on the accomplishments of Canadian Veterans and the importance of remembrance.