The final curtain has been drawn, and Juliana has left the stage. With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Juliana Mary Saxton (née Gianelli); professor, teacher, actor, director, orator. For decades she taught theatre and drama in education at the University of Victoria; in her final weeks, the students whose lives she’d changed came to pay their respects—and the chair beside her bed was never empty.
She appeared on stage and screen with the Straw Hat Players, the Shaw Festival, and the CBC; those lucky enough to see her know she was a wonderful actress—sometimes sparkling, sometimes grand. She produced and directed shows for the Alumnae Theatre and UVic, and adapted and produced The Women of Margaret Laurence, which toured almost a thousand schools and theatres across two continents.
Along with her writing partners Norah Morgan and Carole Miller, she published more than half a dozen books, among them Asking Better Questions, Applied Drama, and Into the Story. She was fierce and curious about her work, and continued writing until the week of her death. Her insights into the importance of drama in education and citizenship have never—never—been more urgent.
Juliana was a person of great pride and dignity. She was sharp, she was fun; her smile and laugh were like a firecracker. She was capable of immense warmth and tenderness. She could be totally infuriating. We loved and love her so much more than can be said.
She lives on in Chris, Nadine, and Alexander; in Joanna, Greg, and Sydney; in her extended family of Aileen, Bob, Allan, Jeffrey and David; of Shelagh, Michael, and Rachel; of Matthew, Leslie, and William; of Liz, and Hazeley; in her adopted Morgans and Gardner-Sonmors, and in the dear friends too numerous to list.
Juliana is dead. Her life was extraordinary; our loss is profound.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations via e-transfer to the Victoria Visual Arts Legacy Society: vvalsinfo@gmail.com.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Theresa Watts (nee Nugent)
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Dani Lyndersay Forty-five years ago, when I first went to Victoria for my Master’s, I was blessed to become Juliana’s graduate assistant. I learnt so much from her. I have shared her unique techniques and strategies for teaching drama and theatre to my many students, first in Nigeria and then in Trinidad and Tobago. My deepest condolences to her family and many friends and colleagues. Juliana, you will NEVER be forgotten; rest in glorious peace and light!
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Kathleen Warren I have just become aware of Juliana’s death and I extend my sympathy to to her family and friends. I knew her through her work in Drama and Education. I visited her in Victoria and shared our shared interest in the field.
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Eva Göksel My heartfelt condolences to family and friends alike.
Juliana was kind and supportive, as well as all-around awe-inspiring.
Thank you for your many kind words to me, Juliana.
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Mark Leiren-Young A force of nature to the end – who inspired so many people. It was life-changing to have her as a teacher, even more so to have her as a friend. To her family, thank you for sharing her with us. Her memory is a blessing.
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Caroline, Betty, Joe & Zach Borkovic Our deepest condolences to Juliana’s family and friends. For our family, she was not only the most wonderful of neighbours, she was a true, kind and beautiful soul and dear friend! We will miss the afternoon teas and chats. Most of all we will miss Juliana’s love and warmth! Into paradise… may the angels lead you!
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Robyn Ewing and David Smith Sending our deepest condolences to all Juliana’s family at such a sad and difficult time. Juliana was such a wonderful and generous friend and mentor to so many of us. We will all miss her greatly. Her vision, wisdom, compassion, deep knowledge and understanding, expertise as an artist and educator was profound and she leaves a lasting legacy. With deep gratitude and much love, Juliana.
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Michelle Tremblay Juliana’s family and all of her extended family,
My condolences to all, Juliana was very special, I had a chance to study with her, she was very generous, kind and a great teacher.
I was always so happy to see her in the community ,
She is in our heart,
Blessings .
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Claire Wootten Dear Nadine, Chris and Alexander,
Please accept my sincere condolences for this profound loss. I had the pleasure of meeting Juliana a number of years ago when she was visiting YorkU. What an astonishing spirit!
Sending love and light.
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Trudy Pauluth-Penner There are no words that justly express the profound impact Juliana has had on our lives personally and professionally. The curtain may be drawn but this extraordinary woman lives on in each of us. We will gently carry her in our hearts. Her presence with every step, her legacy lives on… Forever grateful to have been a part of her life. Wishing you, her treasured family, strength and love during this time of immense loss and grief. Juliana leaves a legacy like none other. We have been blessed.
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David Riley Julianna had a profound impact on my teaching career during my leave to pursue studies in drama in education at UVic. Her voice will be with me always, even in these retirement years. RIP Julianna.
David Riley
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Margo Regan O'Flaherty Rest in peace, dear Juliana.
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Wendy Everson Adored your enthusiasm Julianna! Always enjoyed when we met. Will remember you always as a dignified sparkly lady. Sending sincere condolences to the family.
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Barnaby Southgate Beautiful lady. Top-flight human. Glad to have seen her this summer one more time in Ontario. Love to all, Barnaby S.
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Jo Beth Gonzalez I am so very sorry. Julianna was a firebrand member of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education and keen observations relating to the field lifted us all.
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Patricia Minnes I saw Judy’s -as I used to call her- obituary this morning in the Globe. Bless her heart.
She was part of my life when I was much younger. She was my councillor at Tanamakoon and of course the drama teacher there. A few years later, she and her husband lived in St. Catharines where my husband and I also lived.
To me she was elegance personified. My condolences and love to all of her family. Patsi now/Minnes, then/Dawson.
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Linda Laidlaw Juliana was a teacher, mentor, co-author (ABQ) and a friend. Her impact on her many students over the years was—and continues to be—profound. She was generous with her time, support and critical advice for her academic offspring. She set us off into the world a little wiser and more skilled than we may have been without her influence. She was landlady extraordinaire to a few of us who temporarily wound up in her basement on our academic journeys. Her absence in the world leaves a tremendous gap, but also many memories and stories. Condolences to all those friends and family who are missing her.
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Renée and Larry O'Farrell We remember Juliana as teacher, mentor, and director especially from her time at Queen’s University. She was a passionate advocate for quality drama and theatre education. She has left a space in the world that will never be filled. Our condolences to her family and friends.
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Patricia Zimmer I am filled with sorrow at news of this loss and send my heartfelt condolences to Juliana’s family and friends. Juliana’s amazing intellect, artistry and wisdom in our shared field of theatre and education have been profoundly important. Her contributions to our work are legendary. I myself have learned so much from her and my own work has been greatly influenced by hers. She will truly be missed!
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Monica Prendergast Juliana was my mentor for 25 years. We published two books together, including our Applied Theatre textbook, now out in its third edition. She was a force of nature and her impact on my work will be felt for many years to come. RIP dear Juliana.
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Belarie Zatzman Juliana Saxton was a magnificent force and her contributions to Drama in Eduction immense. May you find comfort in knowing that she will be remembered here at home in Canada, as well as by the international community, with great respect and admiration. My sincere condolences to you.
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Gillian Calder, UVic Law Juliana was a gem of a colleague, fierce and fabulous. I am grateful to have been in her orbit and grown with her counsel. Love to all her family, friends and former students. One of a kind. xo
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Barb Whittington Working alongside Juliana as a sister Orator and a member of the caucus was inspiring. She was encouraging as I began & when I asked for ‘notes’ she would oblige. I loved her feisty nature, and even more than that, her humour and critical perspective on the role of the university. As faculty, our responsibility to connect teaching, learning, research & writing to the larger community was paramount. I am fortunate she was there.
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Jackie Briggs Joanna, Greg and Sydney.
My deepest condolences to you all.
Your Mother will always be a shining star ⭐️!
All my love to you all. Rest peaceful dear Juliana.
Jackie xo
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Phil Bolton Sending my heartfelt condolences to Joanna, Greg and Sydney. Juliana will be missed by so many people. She was such an interesting person. Once again sorry for your loss.
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Stig A. Eriksson, Bergen, Norway Dear Juliana,
As mentor, colleague, and friend, I appreciate so much what I have learned from you – even though geographical distance did not allow for so many encounters. Your contribution to the drama education field lives on!
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Anne Woodcox Sending our heartfelt condolences to you Joanna. Your mother was a beautiful woman. Rayvand Anne Woodcox
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Forsythe family It is so special when you can be with a parent at the end of their life. You can be proud that you shared her final hours.
Hugs to you and Sydney. You can support each other in your loss.
Talk soon
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Norris McCauley Joanna please accept our heartfelt condolences to you and all of your family. Norris and Lil
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Leslie Hogya To Juliana’s family and friends,
She was a true magical force of great impact. The world will not see her like again. Her loss is profound as she was.
sending Light to all,
Leslie Hogya
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Jackie Ulrich Chris, Nadine, Alexander and Alex. Our deepest condolences. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Much love and hugs, Jackie, Rob and family. Blessings
I have only just heard of the passing of Juliana. I was fortunate to have been a student of this remarkable woman. Her standards were high but so was her passion for theatre in education and her students. I owe my theatre teaching career to her. She was one in a million and I feel so blessed that I was a student of hers. My condolences to her family and friends. Juliana’s spirit lives on in all the lives she touched.