Aline Arbour Taylor, nee Cyr (1911 – 2005)

Aline Beadoin was six years old when she travelled from Montreal with her younger brother, Brod, and recently widowed mother to Kirkman Creek on the Yukon River. Kirkman Creek was less grand than her uncle had promised, and after a few months they began their trip back to Montreal. Aline's mother became ill in Whitehorse while trying to buy tickets on the Princess Sofia's last voyage. They remained in Whitehorse and Aline's mother married Antoine (Tony) Cyr in 1918.¹⁾

Aline entered grade 1 at the Lambert Street School and quickly learned English. She grew up in the historic Cyr House on Steele Street helping to raise Brod and five new brothers and sisters. Aline graduated in 1930 and went to Victoria to train as a nurse but returned home after contracting rheumatic fever. She married Bill Taylor in 1935 at the Old Log Church and they remained together until Bill died in 1998. A favorite time in their life was spent at Champagne where Bill ran the T&D post. They skied in the mornings before trading started in the afternoons.²⁾

In 1937, the Taylors acquired land at the edge of town at 5th and Main, cut their own logs and built the historic Taylor House following Aline's design. They had a camp at Miner's Creek, and built a series of cabins at Dub Lake, Marsh Lake, and finally Tagish where they spent much of their retirement boating and relaxing.³⁾

Aline was a quiet volunteer with the IODE, the Library and was Brown Owl for the Whitehorse Brownies. Skating, skiing and curling were the couple’s favorite activities and Aline several times represented the Yukon in curling playdowns. She is remembered as an avid reader, home redecorator, and was a painter and crocheter and loved to travel. She left daughter Marilyn and son Vincent, brothers Laurant and Paul Cyr and sister Lil Newton.⁴⁾