As a child, Joan roamed around on her own and in the company of others, always looking and being amazed by the variety of life that was to be found on her journeys.

She and her husband, Don, lived in Edmonton and the Northwest Territories before moving to Red Deer. She got involved with RDRN shortly after that and was drawn to work on the issues of the Dickson Dam, the creating of Waskasoo Park, and the Kerry Wood Nature Centre.

Joan also became interested in forestry issues and worked on a committee that produced a document that met with acclaim by the environmental community.

She became President of RDRN in 1995 and held that position for two years. During that time, she introduced information seminars for new Board members and was one of the first to start talking about getting focus groups started. It was at that time the Myrna Pearman approached the Board about publishing NatureScape Alberta, a project to which Joan gave full support.

She also helped out by serving on the Citizen’s Advisory Group on the Environment for the City of Red Deer, and after leaving the President’s Chair was frequently called on for advice and assistance.