Dr. Shira Taylor is a dedicated family physician who specializes in mind/body/spirit approaches to healing and wellness. She shares her expertise for medicine and holistic mental health care on her website, Heart Space (drshirataylor.ca).
In addition to her medical practice, Dr. Taylor has many other life passions that she likes to share with the world. With a love for photography since a young age, she has exhibited her social documentary work in 10 exhibits, including a solo photography exhibit, between 2001 and 2004. Dr. Taylor’s exceptional photography skills have earned her recognition, such as winning the Toronto Star Photography Competition in 2002. Photography remains a creative outlet that she loves to share with others through the Light on Life Photography Workshops.
Dr. Taylor’s interest in interfaith understanding dates back to her teenage years when she traveled and documented her experiences through photography in the Middle East. This journey ignited her curiosity about the reasons behind religious conflicts and inspired her to seek mutual understanding and respect among different faiths. Since 2018, she has been coordinating impactful multi-faith prayer services, including two noteworthy presentations at the Parliament of World Religions in 2018 and 2021. These services, titled “Peace is Here and Now: An Interfaith Worship Service” and “From Inner Presence to Compassion in Action,” aimed to foster harmony and compassion among diverse religious communities.
Complementing her dedication to medicine and interfaith understanding, Dr. Taylor has been actively involved in international humanitarian work. During her time as a medical student, she co-founded and co-directed the “Books With Wings” project, which shipped medical textbooks to libraries in Afghanistan that were devastated by war. Additionally, she served as the International Health Liaison to the Canadian Federation of Medical Students and contributed to the boards of various community not-for-profits and charitable organizations. Notably, Dr. Taylor has played a crucial role in supporting the establishment and fundraising efforts for Joy Village, a project initiated by her friend and spiritual mentor Father Charles Ogada in Nigeria. The impactful work carried out in Joy Village has garnered international recognition for its significant humanitarian impact.
Dr. Shira Taylor’s accomplishments and dedication in the realms of medicine, photography, interfaith understanding, and international humanitarian work truly exemplify her commitment to making a positive difference in the world.