Joyce Elaine Lahure

Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband Allan, daughter Stephanie, sons Quentin, Christopher (Daisy), William, and Jason, grandchildren Logan, Curtis and Joshua, sister Helen, brothers George and Darryl, mother-in-law Evelyn, sister in-law Marlene (Camille) as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, their families and many friends.

She was predeceased by her parents, Campbell and Daisy Tait, sister Doris, brothers Terry, Wayne and Orville, father in law George, brother-in-law Bill Peebles, and niece Monica Peebles.

Joyce was born on the Mistawasis Reserve in Saskatchewan and spent her early years on the Ahtahkakoop First Nation. She attended a residential school for 6 years and spoke of the positive aspects of that experience for herself.

After school, she moved to Ottawa to work for the Department of Indian Affairs, then relocated to Churchill, Manitoba where she met Allan in 1975. They were married in 1977 and lived in Churchill. After spending a brief period in Winnipeg, they moved back North. They eventually settled in Baker Lake, Nunavut (previously NWT) where they raised their family while establishing the BLCS Ltd network of companies.

Joyce had many interests. She loved to travel, visiting the Dominican Republic, Las Vegas several times, and spending many memorable holidays in Hawaii. She was so pleased when Christopher and Daisy chose to get married there. A trip to in Scotland in 2010 introduced her to many relatives who immediately fell in love with her. She loved music, photography, writing, and reading. She was always very generous with friends, family and her community.

Joyce was very active in the community serving on the Municipal Council, the district school board and organizing Sunday school and faith-based programs. She served as Justice of the Peace for approximately 20 years refusing to accept any remuneration for her services. She was passionate about many social issues; she participated in many working groups and on initiatives at the community and territorial level. She will be remembered for her efforts and advocacy in promoting opportunities for youth education and training in Nunavut, and poverty reduction. She worked on suicide prevention projects as well as alcohol, drug and tobacco committees such as the Tunganiq Addictions Project. She contributed several articles on these issues to the Native & Inuit Resource Magazine. She was proud to be selected to represent the hamlet of Baker Lake on a trade mission to Finland in 2013 with Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd.

In 2012, Allan and Joyce travelled to Yellowknife to attend the Frozen Globe awards ceremony. Their company, Baker Lake Contracting & Supplies Ltd. was recognized with two awards; Nunavut Entrepreneur of the Year and Northern Entrepreneur of the Year.

Joyce was a woman of faith, delivering her ministries locally, on Facebook, and travelling to many conferences in Canada and the United States.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at St. Boniface CancerCare and at Riverview Health Centre for the compassionate and loving care. Special thanks to the Red River College Nursing students and to Dr. Dhali Dhaliwal for his outstanding ability to relate to his patients.

A celebration of Joyce’s life will be held on Friday November 13, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Interment to follow.

If friends desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

If we live, we live for the Lord;

and if we die , we die for the Lord.

So, whether we live or die,

we belong to the Lord.- Romans 14:8

This scripture was posted by Joyce on Facebook on August 10, 2015