Joan Ann Huzar

February 28, 1946 - August 07, 2025

Joan succumbed to cancer on August 7, 2025, in Victoria Hospice.
Born in Toronto, February 28, 1946, to Denison (Denny) Harle Featherstonhaugh and Margaret Ann (Ann) Wilson, Joan grew up in Richmond Hill, Ontario. She attended St. Clement's School in Toronto, Glendon College at York University, where she met her future husband Bill, and the University of Toronto. A supreme athlete and swimmer, Joan was inducted into the York University Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.
Graduating with honours History and a Bachelor of Library Science, Joan began teaching in Richmond Hill shortly after her marriage to Bill on July 11, 1970.
Joan and Bill moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario in 1975 after accepting teaching jobs. Joan retired from teaching in 1977 with the birth of daughter Alice and, two years later, son Peter.
The family moved to Goderich, Ontario in 1987, and Joan lived there until a final move to Victoria, BC, in 2003, where she lived in Oak Bay before moving to Colwood.
Joan was never really a stay-at-home mom. She was introduced to the consumer movement by a neighbour, and eventually became President of the Ontario Branch of the Consumers Association of Canada and national Vice-President.
In 1995, Joan and a group of likeminded colleagues founded the Consumers Council of Canada in which she played a leadership role as President for seven years. As a leading consumer rights advocate she held executive positions on the Ontario New Home Warranty Program (now Tarion), the National Fire and Building Code Commission (12 years) and as a consumer representative for the Canadian Standards Association (20+ years).
Upon arriving in Victoria in 2003, a friend drew Joan into what is now the Gallery Associates, a volunteer fundraising committee of the Board of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. She served two terms as Associates President, three years as Associates Treasurer and convened four consecutive Art Gallery House Tours.
Joan was also a proud member of the IODE (formerly Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire) Maple Leaf Branch (Goderich) where she was Regent, and the Garry Oak Branch in Victoria.
Involvement in church was always part of her life. First at St. Luke's Cathedral (Sault Ste Marie), St. George's (Goderich), and finally at St. John the Divine (Victoria) where she served as People's Warden, Greeter, Finance Committee Chair and pie maker extraordinaire.
Joan is survived by her husband Bill, daughter Alice, son Peter, and god-daughter Amanda MacKenzie (Jason) of Victoria, and brother David (Dale) of Ottawa.
A memorial service will be held The Church of St. John the Divine, 1611 Quadra Street, Victoria Saturday September 6, 2025, followed by a reception at the Bauman Centre 925 Balmoral Road.
Her ashes will be interred with her parents and ancestors in the family cemetery, St. John on the Humber, Toronto.
Donations appreciated in Joan's name to the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation, or the Boiler Replacement Fund at St. John the Divine in lieu of flowers.