Audrey Joy Finlay CM ( Joy)

Joy was born in 1932 in Davidson, Saskatchewan, the oldest of 4 children, Arthur (Lorraine), Lois Rheault (Brent) and Ray (Anne) Barton, born of Leonard and Marie Barton. Joy lost her father when she was 10, and grew up in various rural prairie school houses where Marie taught. Joy learned to make do with very little, and to find inventive solutions to any and all problems. Always with a spark of mischievous optimism, she would turn adversity on its ear. It became a game - a challenge- to see how well, and how beautifully, a problem could be turned into an opportunity, preferably with a sprig of nature thrown in for good measure. This quiet, determined optimism and love of the simplest details in life and in nature stayed with her and nourished her for life.

Joy obtained a degree in social work from Brandon College (now Brandon University) in Manitoba, where she met Cam. For their wedding in 1955 she remade her high school grad dress into a stylish 50s wedding dress. Joy had a compassionate spirit, often understanding others’ worries and anticipating their needs even before they were articulated. This served her well as a social worker, where she provided strength and support to many young women. She then turned that empowering, compassionate approach to her family. She and Cam had three children: Brett Finlay (Jane), Warren Finlay (Susan Fenske) and Rhonda Johnson (Blake). The three children are deeply grateful for Joy’s lifelong gifts to them of curiosity, determination, optimism, and always seeing the inspiration and beauty in nature.

In the early 1970s, Joy embarked on what became a lifelong passion- outdoor education. Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Joy became a teacher, and then a teacher’s teacher, inspiring thousands of elementary school children and their teachers to go outside and experience for themselves the awe and beauty of science and nature. Joy truly celebrated every dandelion, every snowflake, every snowshoe hare track. Each had a back story, which she nudged the children to discover for themselves. She wrote the seminal ‘Winter Here and Now’ for teachers on how to teach the science curriculum outside. She started and ran the Teacherage, a resource centre for teachers, and she was a sought after presenter to teachers on using the outdoors to teach science. She obtained her masters in outdoor education from the University of Alberta, where she taught, and was named Ms Chatelaine in 1976.

She and Cam wrote a weekly nature column for the Edmonton Journal, sharing their love of the outdoor spaces and its flora and fauna with a loyal following of like-minded Edmontonians.

She lent her diplomatic and innovative way of thinking to many natural history non profits in Alberta, BC and across Canada, culminating in leading a cross Canada campaign in 1987 to celebrate 100 years of wildlife conservation in Canada. She was presented with a plaque for her work on wildlife conservation by Prince Philip, and received the Order of Canada, along with numerous other awards, honours, and accolades for her work on wildlife conservation.

In the 1990s she and Cam retired to Victoria, BC, where she delved into understanding the nuances and details of the rich botany of Vancouver Island. She and her dear hiking friends hiked and picnicked every peak and valley and nook in between at any and every chance they got. When not hiking or checking out the latest flora and fauna, she was immersed in pottery. Joy loved the creative process, and developed many innovative techniques in textures, and glazes. Her style honoured the textures of the natural world, incorporating the beautiful symmetry of many types of leaves and bark into her work, and earning her accolades and awards at local shows. She cherished the dear friends and colleagues she met and worked with in the pottery world.

She was a dear ‘Grammy’ to 7 grandchildren- Jessica (Matt), Liam (Christina), Chris (Emily), Paul (Lauren), Jenise (Chris), Cassia (Braiden) and Annika (Alex); and one great grandson Quinn (Jessica and Matt). She shared with them the gooey glory of creating with pottery, of camping out and listening for her beloved tree frogs, and of exploring any and everywhere for the hidden treasures of nature.

She and Cam had a wide range of friends and colleagues, and Joy was a gracious, unflappable host, for parties of 2 to 100, always ready with home-made baking and tea, served stylishly on pottery with a splash of red or yellow, her two favourite colours.

Cam is forever grateful for such a loving, supportive life partner. She believed in him and encouraged him to pursue his passion, ornithology, and a career in parks and recreation. She was his sounding board for everything, and his companion in all adventures, big and small. He will miss her every minute of every day, but he knows she will be with him, in his heart, always, as the love of his life.

A heartfelt thank you to the staff at the Heights at Mt View. They honoured and nurtured Joy’s spark, and the family is grateful for their compassionate care.

Joy lived her life fully- bringing her namesake joy to so many. While Cam and the whole family are deeply saddened by her passing, we are comforted in knowing that she lived every moment, investigated every bit of nature, and savoured every bit of beauty that she came into contact with. We will honour her by staying curious, by respecting Nature, and by celebrating the beautiful little details of life.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary in Victoria, BC, www.swanlake.bc.ca, (250) 479-0211. Funds raised will go to further supporting the hands on, outdoor education and stewardship programming done at Swan Lake for nature lovers of all ages.