Mother, sister, daughter, leader, teacher, innovator, friend, accomplished pianist. Born March 23, 1956, in North Vancouver, B.C. Died Dec. 21 in Ottawa of metastatic breast cancer, aged 53.
Joan Atkinson was a mentor to many public servants, first in the immigration program then more widely within the senior ranks of the public service. Often bursting into song, she could bring a management meeting to a swift close with a rendition of "Oh what a beautiful mornin', oh what a beautiful day" or "I could have danced all night" - a subtle hint that things were dragging.
The third of four children of Bob and Gussie Faulkner, Joan was raised in North Vancouver. She graduated from the University of British Columbia with honours in political science. In 1979, she joined the Canadian Foreign Service in immigration and served in Milan, Port of Spain, Los Angeles and London.
Joan always loved to sing and perform. She and two friends staged elaborate productions while growing up, and she continued her singing career throughout high school. Her acting career reached its pinnacle at the Canadian high commission in London in the early nineties, when she appeared as a witch in a pantomime spoof of The Wizard of Oz. To have known Joan is to know that no one could "cackle" like she could. Life at the office was never the same after she returned to Canada in 1997.
As an assistant deputy minister, Joan was instrumental in developing the 2002 Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. She also developed the talent management approach used today for deputy and assistant deputy ministers in Canada's public service. Over the years, Joan brought her experience and intellect to her work at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Privy Council Office, Indian and Northern Affairs and the Treasury Board.
The mother of triplets - Emily, Claire and Kaitlin - Joan bore more than her share of trials. Following a heart and lung transplant, Kaitlin died in 1993 at the age of 3. Joan later discovered that Claire, her "warm and funny" daughter, was also afflicted with pulmonary hypertension; she died at 14. Joan set up a library and an endowment fund in memory of her daughters to support the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, a credit to her sense of purpose and community.
Throughout these ordeals and during her own 14-year battle with breast cancer, Joan always made time to support her "talented and sensitive" daughter Emily. She always gave a sympathetic ear to friends who had received their own cancer diagnosis or who were navigating the ups and downs of life.
Joan was a role model. We remember her for her laughter, her songs, her joie de vivre. We remember her even more for her courage, her warmth, her thoughtfulness and the difference she made in our lives.
By Claudette Deschênes, Joan's friend.