Joan (Champ) Brewerton

November 30, 1954  – July 13, 2026

 

Born in Longlac, Ontario to parents Jim and Mary Perkins, Joan’s love of story-telling started at an early age. She pored over every edition of Life Magazine that found its way into her home. Her dream as a young child, was to become a photographer for Life. Her parent’s indulged her passion and gifted her a brand-new Brownie camera on her eighth birthday. She was soon tramping all over town shooting what ever caught her eye. Unfortunately, the high cost of film and developing soon put her photography career on hold.

In 1964 Joan’s father Jim (a forester) accepted a promotion into senior management with Kimberly-Clark and moved the family to Redding California where she spent five glorious years. She recalled that one of her fondest memories from her time in California was marching in the Pasadena Rose Bowl Parade.

Dissatisfied with his job at the pulp mill in California, Jim accepted a new position with Prince Albert Pulpwood, the company that supplied wood to the new Saskatchewan pulp mill.  One bright sunny day in 1969, they loaded up their car and bade farewell to California.

The move to Prince Albert was tough on fourteen-year-old Joan but she eventually adapted and made many meaningful friendships.

Joan went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Saskatchewan.

Joan married in 1980 and that union produced her two amazing daughters, Emily and Laura who became, and remained the center of her universe.

As a mature student, she went back to the U of S, and this time earned her Master’s degree in Western Canadian History. That degree led to a long tenure at the Western Development Museum. Her work included research, exhibit creation, and finally five years as the Chief Executive Officer of the organization. Her proudest achievement during her time with the Museum was her extensive contribution to the creation of the Winning the Prairie Gamble exhibit at all four WDM’s.

She retired in 2016 in order to marry the love of her life, Gordon Brewerton, and join him in St. John’s, NL.

Joan was always passionate about her community, and spent many years deeply involved in organizations such as the Saskatoon Library Board and Citizens against a Downtown Casino in Saskatoon, along with quietly helping many in need.

Joan was a prolific writer, creating the blog Rail and Main – focusing on the history and stories behind Saskatchewan’s small-town hotels. She also wrote the Passages and Shattered Lives series for the Prince Albert Daily Herald. She was a frequent contributor to many Western Canadian magazines, and won several Saskatchewan Newspaper Association awards for best arts/history column.

Her favourite activities included spending time at the lake, time with friends and family, road trips, exploring old buildings, and discovering what lay just around the next bend in the road.

After a lengthy illness that she battled courageously, Joan spent almost three weeks at the Rose Garden Hospice in Prince Albert, before passing away in the arms of her husband, surrounded by family, friends, and her beloved cat Boo. The staff at Rose Garden provided dignity and comfort and she was so very grateful to be there. Our family wishes to extend our deepest thanks to the staff of Rose Garden for the exceptional care they provided to Joan.

Joan was predeceased by her father Jim. Joan is survived by her husband, Gordon; daughters Emily Hurd (Paul), and Laura Antymniuk (Joel); granddaughters Ruby and Rose Hurd; grandsons Arthur and Louis Antymniuk; mother, Mary Perkins; sister, Julie Thorpe (Bill); nephews and niece John, Leah and Colin; her Perkins cousins; and many special friends who made the trek from across the country to come and say goodbye.

As per Joan’s wishes, there will be no formal service, but instead she requests that you love each other and treat everyone with kindness.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Joan may be made to the Rose Garden Hospice in Prince Albert (https://www.rosegardenhospice.ca/), or the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon (https://wdm.ca/visit/saskatoon/).

Family and friends may leave online condolences at https://grays.ca

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Gray’s Funeral Chapel,
Lisa Bos-Atchison, Funeral Director.    306-922-4729

• Date : 2026-07-13
• Location : Prince Albert, SK