Joy Johnston. Classification talk

Joy is used to giving talks but  is usually accompanied  by a power point presentation about such subjects as Accident prevention, early return to work or blood and body fluid control, but never about herself!

She began her career as a public Health Nurse, she is a graduate of the University of BC school of Nursing Public Health program.

 She worked for the City of Vancouver in schools and baby clinics and also on the Queen Charlotte Islands organising the same activities but in more unique circumstances.

She then became interested in Occupational Health, specialising in Health Care Facilities.

This involves the health and safety of workers, like accident prevention, Claims management, biological monitoring, infection control and Employee Assistance.

She eventually took a position as Corporate Manager of all the Employee Health Services at the multi hospital site of Shaugnessy, Childrens , Grace and UBC site hospitals. She stayed in this administrative position until Shaugnessy closed when she started her own  consulting business and has been doing that ever since. Her final contract will end this year.

Concurrently with her professional career she has had a career as a budding entrepreneur, starting when she visited her daughter who was studying Mandarin in China. She started importing silk from China, manufacturing silk lounge wear, has also brought in silk quilts and blankets, and has also showcased and sold smoked salmon from BC in cedar boxes with First Nations carvings These endeavours were very educational and quite exciting but not lucrative and she advises, if you want to make money don't quit your day job!

Joy has 4 grown children and several grandchildren with whom she is very involved.

A great passion, aside from her family, has been travel. She has travelled to many places in groups and with friends and family, but some very enriching trips has been as a sole traveler. She has traveled alone to such places as Asia, India, Djibuti and on a converted research vessel to Antarctica. Over 10 years ago she climbed Kilimanjaro but today prefers simpler hiking. She has a kayak and loves to paddle.

She has read a great deal about, and is very impressed with Rotary. She is delighted to be a part of Arbutus Rotary and has a goal of doing some international work.