Although Joan had a love for animals from an early age, her connection to the BC SPCA began in the mid-nineties when she adopted her beloved collie, Maggie, from their Vancouver Animal Centre. Maggie became her loyal companion for many happy years, and through her, Joan’s bond with the BC SPCA deepened. She became a regular donor, later welcoming two cats, Stanley and Darcy, into her home and heart.
After retiring from her career as a Lab Technologist at the Cancer Control Agency in the late nineties, Joan and Maggie moved to Gabriola Island. There, Joan pursued her passion for pottery and quickly gained recognition for her artistry and craftsmanship. But even as her pottery grew in popularity and demand kept her very busy, Joan still managed to find time to volunteer in the cat room at the Nanaimo BC SPCA Animal Centre, offering comfort and care to many animals awaiting their forever homes.
When the Nanaimo branch began fundraising for its new Westwood Road facility, Joan was pleased to contribute and was delighted to see the shelter come to life. She was very impressed with the new facility and would drop in from time to time to visit the cat rooms, always feeling proud she had played a part in its creation.
Joan passed away in May of 2024, leaving a generous bequest to the BC SPCA, with a portion designated to support the new Vancouver Island Animal Behaviour Centre in Cowichan.
“It is thanks to the kind dedication of supporters and volunteers like Joan that more than 40,000 homeless animals were helped over the years that we operated in the previous very small centre in Nanaimo.
Without that support, we may never have found our way into the wonderful facility that our animals and volunteers enjoy now.
I am so happy that Joan was with us long enough to see the dream of a new facility made real, and I’m sure in some way she watches over the cats still.”
– Leon Davis, Senior Manager BC SPCA Islands and Coastal Region