A pioneer of Canadian banking, Shirley Giles, née Gib, has died at age 95. Mrs. Giles was the first woman appointed a bank manager in Canada. She was offered that position — and took it on the spot — by the Bank of Nova Scotia in 1961. She worked for Scotiabank for 43 years and enjoyed telling the story of how she thought she was merely being asked her opinion when the bank’s assistant general manager called her into his office. When asked if she wanted the position, Giles promptly said “I’ll take it.” Shirley Giles lived with her husband, the late Alan Campbell Giles, on Broadway Ave. in Leaside for more than 35 years. She was proud of her role. In a 2015 interview she said: “I never made a bad loan and I was a darn good lender.” A service will be held in the York Funeral Centre, 160 Beecroft Road, Saturday, September 16 at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow. Condolences, photographs and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com. Obituary
