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MaryAnn TaylorOn December 10, 1922 Norman and MaryAnn Campbell of Stornaway, Scotland welcomed an early Christmas present in the form of a baby girl who they named MaryAnn, after her mother. The family moved to Canada when MaryAnn was three years old. She and her four brothers grew up in Fort William, ON (now Thunder Bay).
When World War II began, MaryAnn joined the Royal Canadian Navy and served as a petty officer for three and a half years. While she was in Halifax, Mary Ann met W. G. (Bill) Taylor who was also in the Navy. They married in 1946 in Fort William. Their first home was in Red Lake, Ontario. Several moves later the Ministry of Natural Resources transferred her husband to the Swastika District, taking up residence in 1967 with their four children Aileen, Heather, Jo-Ann and Robert. Aileen is the owner of "White Lace and Promises" in New Liskeard while Jo-Ann and Robert have remained in Kirkland Lake. Heather has recently returned to retire in Kirkland Lake.
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Heather describes her mother as a volunteer extraordinaire, a well loved dog groomer, a highly successful entrepreneur, an amazing gardener, queen of fashion and beloved wife, mother, grandmother and mentor. A card given to her by one of her children expressed how proud her family was of her when she won the 1992 CJKL Citizen of the Year Award.In 1992 she was honoured to receive the Citizen of the Year award which has the criteria of "a person or persons that, through their efforts...have contributed to improving the quality of life for the people of Kirkland Lake." Her many contributions began with chairperson of Harmony House, a 28 day live-in program for people recovering from substance dependency. She belonged to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 87 and the Legion Auxiliary, volunteered for the Kirkland Lake Food Bank and canvassed for the Canadian Cancer Society and the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal. MaryAnn Taylor worked on the Santa Claus Express and raised money for the Sno-drifters. Hours were spent helping the palliative care unit and visiting the seniors at Extendicare. She often collaborated closely with friend and fellow volunteer Kaarine Evans. She was devoutly involved with the Horticultural Society.
She also helped organize the Miss Kirkland Lake Carnival Queen Pageant. She felt that town pageants played a key role in the development of the young participants.
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MaryAnn Taylor hated having to go to Timmins to have someone groom her dogs so she took a course in dog grooming and started her own dog grooming business. She opened up MaryAnn's Dog House and Wicker World. This successful venture grew into MaryAnn's, a store that carried not only wicker furniture and accessories but also women's clothing.MaryAnn was a woman who took life's lemons and turned them into lemonade. In 1998 this beautiful lady faced her own battle with cancer in the same way by revitalizing the Kirkland Lake Chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society. She chaired the Daffodil Campaign each year even as she was losing the battle to overcome the disease herself. Sadly she lost this battle on October 24th, 2001. Such heroic behavior makes this lady one of the giants of the Kirkland Lake community.
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