A future public school in the city’s northwest has been named after former Canadian diplomat Ken Taylor, fondly remembered as a hero for his role in sheltering six U.S. citizens during the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis in Tehran.
Taylor, who was born and raised in Calgary, was best known as Canada’s ambassador to Iran during that historic event, known as the Canadian Caper. Taylor and his wife were instrumental in shielding six American diplomats who evaded capture and arranged for their safe return to the United States.
The event also inspired the famous 2012 film Argo, directed and produced by Ben Affleck, winning three Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing.
Taylor graduated from Crescent Heights High School and then went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Toronto, followed by an MBA at the University of California, Berkeley.
Taylor served in the Canadian Foreign Service from 1959 to 1984 and then became Canada’s Consul-General in New York. He also served as Chancellor of the University of Toronto from 1988 to 2004. Taylor was a member of numerous corporate boards and the recipient of many Canadian and US honours including the Order of Canada (Officer) and the US Congressional Gold Medal.
Kenneth D. Taylor School is located in Evanston, for students in Kindergarten to Grade 3, and will open this fall.
