Mr Taber was the founder of the emerging companies group at leading Canadian firm Osler Hoskin & Harcourt, one of Bay Street’s ‘Seven Sisters’ firms. His wife Jacquie Gardner was also formerly a corporate lawyer at Osler before moving in-house to one of Canada’s largest mutual funds Altamira Investment Services, where she served as general counsel before leaving to care for the couple’s two sons, Scott and Andrew. The family of four all perished in the house fire at their vacation cottage in Ontario, which reportedly broke out around 4am on Christmas Eve.

Osler released a statement on Boxing Day in response to the tragedy, describing Mr Taber as an early visionary of Canada’s technology sector who ‘loved bringing together entrepreneurs and investors.’ It said: ‘Today the industry practice that he and his partners (and also his best friends) built at Osler is among one of our most important business lines. But is the man we will miss the most.’ The firm also described Ms Gardner as an ‘exceptionally talented corporate lawyer’ who had most recently dedicated her talents to raising ‘two amazing sons.’

Sources: Osler; Above the Law