Joshua Raj Kotaro Yoneda

1994 - 2022

Joshua Yoneda, our warrior of the light, was born on October 29, 1994, to Navy Sahota and the late Dr. Ross Yoneda. Joshua was an apple face to his dad, a rock to his mom and sister, and a gem to all. After a valiant battle with cancer, Joshua passed away on May 16, 2022. He was an extraordinary human being, and his will to live and fight was incredible. An intelligent, brave, and inspiring soul, who was wise beyond his years and lived his life with grace - Joshua was our Sikh-samurai warrior, and we will honour him forever.

Joshua had a great love for chess, penguins, and travel. He spent hours perfecting his chess game and dreamed of visiting the penguins in Antarctica one day. A few years back, Joshua travelled to India and Japan, and was able to get a glimpse of these historical places that gave him his heritage. Joshua was also an incredible classical piano player, a black belt in Taekwondo, a lifeguard, and a volunteer for St. John's Ambulance. More recently, Joshua began his journey to seek enlightenment through meditation, a practice that reinforced his already formidable resolve, and helped him remain serene in the face of life's most difficult battle.

Joshua graduated from Thompson Rivers University with a major in Cellular Molecular Microbial Biology. He then went on to complete his Master's degree in Microbial Genetics at the University of Regina. After successfully defending his thesis on antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Joshua was accepted into the Southern Medical Program at the University of British Columbia. During this time, Joshua became fascinated with specialties such as Neurology, Internal Medicine, and Family Medicine.After spending a year at Royal Inland Hospital, he experienced the immense gratification that came with forming patient relationships in Family Practice, which is something his father spoke about often. Next week, Joshua will be graduating from UBC School of Medicine, and his sister Marissa will accept the medical degree on his behalf.

Joshua was a loving brother, an extraordinary son, a cherished grandson, a beloved nephew, and a trusted friend. He leaves behind his mother Navy and his sister Marissa, who will build on his legacy with the help of his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many close friends. Joshua's impact was vast and profound, and his values of kindness, empathy, grace, and love will live on in all those whose lives he touched.