Joan Stevenson

Joan Catherine Stevenson was born in 1937 in Nanaimo, British Columbia, and has lived in various parts of BC. Following a three-year stint in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a recreation specialist, she joined the federal government's Corrections Services. She was later appointed as the first woman classifications and counselling officer in a men's prison. Joan married Kyle Stevenson, a parole officer later appointed to the National Parole Board. After a period in Victoria, they moved to...See more

Joan Catherine Stevenson was born in 1937 in Nanaimo, British Columbia, and has lived in various parts of BC. Following a three-year stint in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a recreation specialist, she joined the federal government's Corrections Services. She was later appointed as the first woman classifications and counselling officer in a men's prison. Joan married Kyle Stevenson, a parole officer later appointed to the National Parole Board. After a period in Victoria, they moved to Gabriola Island when Kyle retired. Naturally artistic, Joan has always been interested in wildlife and always had cats and dogs with her. After making framed pictures and wall hangings of animals in felt in the late 1960s, Joan seized on the idea of making realistic wildlife animals in synthetic fur. She sought out the photos she wanted of the animals she intended to make, and checked out the details in libraries and other sources. In Victoria and on Gabriola Island she prodcuced well over 100 animals, covering over 50 species. Most went to stores such as the Snowgoose in Ottawa, which could not get enough of her work. Others were commissioned by clients in Canada, the US, and abroad, to great acclaim. Joan also made reproductions of clients' pets. Her realistic creations were featured in the April 1997 edition of the international magazine "Teddy Bear and Friends." But in 1998 she suffered a major stroke that sadlyl ended her work. Joan's hope is that her book will encourage others to achieve what she did. See less