Janice Adelaide Tait (ne Johnson)
August 5, 1929 – December 25, 2025
Mother to Ruth, Alison (Jim) and Catherine (Roger); grandmother to Jesse, Sean (Brittany), Eric (Pam), Max, Nicola (Daniel) and Beatrice; great-grandmother to Ruby, Liam, Ayla, Nora, Archer and Oscar “Ozzy”; aunt to Leslie, Heather, Hilary and Sarah.
Janice Tait was born in Brantford Ontario, grew up at 55 Dufferin with her dear sister, Carol, and parents David and Connie Johnson. She attended University College at University of Toronto and there met her husband of 23 years, Richard Tait.
The two embarked on the life of diplomats with their three daughters living in Greece, Switzerland, Vietnam and the UK. Together they explored the world, sailed many seas, skied many mountains and shared a love of discovery.
Home in Ottawa, Janice was a determined public servant at the Department of Environment and Transport Canada and proudly advanced groundbreaking transportation policy for people living with disabilities. Always curious and relentlessly energetic, Janice pursued a career in teaching, earned a Masters of Education from OISE and ultimately became a psychotherapist. Her passions ranged from white-water canoeing to feminism to Buddhism to bridge. Her love of travel persisted right into her eighties, when Janice headed to India for six months to live and volunteer at a children’s orphanage in Hyderabad. Never a settled spirit, she returned to Canada to write three books. Her voracious appetite for learning, for poetry, for reflective thinking and politics continued right up until her last days with many new friends at her senior’s residence in Ottawa. Janice could be a demanding friend – always seeking deeper connection - and she was worth the work.
Her whip-sharp tongue, her bright blue eyes and many ideas signaled an ever-engaged mind and heart.
Sympathy Messages
A beautiful tribute to Janice - prose worthy of such an accomplished, erudite woman.
May my support warm your heart
- Tammy Davies , on
December 30, 2025
Janice often had something wise to say. My favourite slogan was "SLOW DOWN".
💖💖💖
- Hil Morris♡, on
December 30, 2025
I knew Janice primarily through the Unitarian congregation in Ottawa and in visits to Buddhist gatherings that we made together over the years. This beautiful obituary records her wide interests and accomplishments- three independent, strong, creative daughters and their families among them.
Janice had much experienced in the worldly realms and often helped me, see around the corner on things. But it was in the silence of a meditation hall or in our conversation driving home together after a dhamma event where I felt I knew and loved her beautiful heart and mind the most. As her beloved Ram Das taught, in this life we are just walking each other home - that was Janice's gift to me.
Homage to the Awakened Mind which has gone over to the other shore (of suffering).
Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha
May my support warm your heart
- Colleen Glass, on
December 30, 2025
Janice sounds like she was an amazing and energetic woman, I’m sorry I never got to meet her. Her pursuits in education, raising a family, traveling, volunteering and community involvement speak volumes. You will miss her immensely.
- Elisabeth de Snaijer, on
December 30, 2025
Dear Alison, Ruth and Catherine,
Sending you warm wishes. I met your mum briefly; she definitely made an impression and I was moved to read her memoirs, and very glad I did. She led a meaningful life it seems and there's a lot to be said for that, particularly given the constraints of her era; amazing.
What a lovely tribute written here,
Hugs,
Rosemary
- Rosemary Leach, on
January 3, 2026
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