Joan Elaine Andersen
August 26, 1949 - November 9, 2022
On a blue-sky day, Joan passed away, with MAiD, surrounded by family who loved her dearly.
Joan was born in Nokomis, Saskatchewan and grew up in nearby Govan. Joan attended the University of Saskatchewan. While there, Joan played competitive curling that culminated in winning the 1970 Canadian Ladies Curling Association Championship. The team was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1989.
Joan moved to Vancouver, where she began a successful career in journalism, which spanned 35 years with CBC. During this time, she worked as a reporter, host of the morning show, and radio producer, senior producer for The National in Toronto and Bureau Chief in Washington, DC. She returned to Vancouver, where she was Director of Radio and Director of Programming from 1999-2009.
Joan believed positive change happens in communities. She coordinated sponsorship of Syrian Kurdish refugee families, served on the Vancouver Public Library Board for 13 years and sat on many community boards.
Joan was the glue holding friends together as she would gather people for special occasions, a swim, a picnic, a walk or a bike ride. With Allen, she travelled the world bird watching. Combined with her work travel, she visited over 35 countries.
Joan will be deeply missed by Allen and his daughters, Megan (Tim) and Sarah (Christiaan) and their children Mackenzie (Liam), Sophie and Ben; her sister Lorraine (Lars) and their children Mitchell (Valerie), Dionne and Taylor and their children, Nathan, Nikita, Emma, Madison and Liliana. Joan was predeceased by her parents, Alice (Swanson) and Herluf Andersen.
A heartfelt thank you to the amazing staff at BC Cancer. The family is dedicating a park bench in Joan’s memory.
If you would like to contribute, please contact:megan.tardif1@gmail.com.
-Obituary
