In Celebration of

Joan Alice Leishman

January 17, 1958 -  August 3, 2025


It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Joan Alice Leishman on August 3, 2025, at the age of 67.

A beloved Mother, Grandmother, journalist, and friend, Joan leaves behind a legacy of integrity, compassion, fearlessness and boundless generosity.

Joan was a pioneering voice in Canadian journalism. Spending more than three decades with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), she brought her fearless, truth-seeking spirit to covering many of the time’s most profound stories including the Rwandan genocide and South Africa’s transition from apartheid, founded CBC Radio’s Africa bureau and acted as CBC’s Latin American bureau Chief. In later years, Joan extended her passion for justice and freedom of expression through her work with PEN Canada and Romero House. With these groups, she helped persecuted writers obtain refugee status, transition to a new life in Canada, and mentored them. In 2023, she was honored with the Marie-Ange Garrigue Award in recognition of her extraordinary human rights advocacy.

Above all, Joan cherished her role as a wife, Mother, and Grandmother. She is survived by her daughters, Thandiwe and Lauren Di Felice, and her four beloved grandchildren: Daniel, Dante, Logan and Hunter. Her love and commitment to her family was deep enduring. She will now be reunited with her late Husband Daniele “Danny” Di Felice.

Joan will be remembered for her fierce intellect, free spirit, love of nature and birds, and her deep commitment to living a life of justice and generosity. She is also mourned by her seven surviving siblings, cousins, as well as countless colleagues and friends across Canada and beyond.

Visitation will be held at Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor St. W., (east of Windermere) on Sunday, August 10th from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

A celebration of life service will follow on Monday, August 11th at 3:00 p.m. at the same location.


** This will be a celebration of life so please be advised that the dress code for both the viewing and the service is bright and celebratory colours. **


In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan’s memory may be made to Romero House.

Her voice may be quiet now, but the stories she told, the lives she touched, and the truths she championed will echo for generations

Guestbook 

(5 of 21)

Lauren (Neighbour)

Entered August 7, 2025

Joan was a wonderful neighbour for many years. We always enjoyed chit chatting with her, and she will be missed on our street. Our deepest condolences to her daughters Thandiwe & Lauren, her grandchildren, and her family and friends as they navigate this challenging time.

Bernie McNamee (Friend)

Entered August 7, 2025 from St. Catharines

Rest In Peace dear Joan. Your positive spirit and love gave inspiration to us all.

Keeble McFarlane (Former colleague)

Entered August 7, 2025 from Toronto

I recall meeting Joan for the first time, back in the early 1980s. I had just returned from a foreign assignment and as I came back to the newsroom someone introduced me to the newcomer, who was what we called a temp. It was not long before she made it to permanent staff and she quickly worked her way into the newsroom's mainstream. People who heard her strong on-air reporting may not believe that she was at first extremely nervous about speaking into a microphone. I recall a training session when she admitted this in an exercise where we all had to do a story to be critiqued by the rest of the class. But Joan soon overcame this shyness and went on to reports from all over the place as well as produce specials on some favourite topics. I did not get to work with her for as long as others,, as my retirement came just a few years after she joined us.
Sincerest condolences to her family and admirers.

Mary Anne Alton Lemm (friend)

Entered August 8, 2025 from Toronto

Our deepest sympathies to Lauren, Thandiwe, Liam and her delightful grandsons whom she adored. Joan was my friend from high school. We started our journalism careers as co-editors of the school newspaper. Not surprising, we both ended up at CBC. I was her biggest cheerleader and she was mine. I will miss her laugh, her hugs, her smile, our long deep discussions about world affairs during walks, hearing about her various volunteer projects which she cared about so passionately, finding out her latest book recommendation and of course I will miss hearing knowledge about birds which she shared enthusiastically. Every time spent with Joan was never enough. Much love to all of Joan's family and friends from Mary Anne, Sandy, Eric and Trevor.

Luciana Fi Felice (Danny and Joan's cousin, and Joan's roommate while she got her journalism degree.)

Entered August 8, 2025 from High Park Area

I met Joan when I was 21 and she was 20.
We were both studying at Ryerson.
We lived harmoniously together while we were in school.
We traveled together all over South America after we graduated. We traveled to Trinidad, to see Danny's Boys School where he taught Math for a few years. Then we travelled to Dutch Guyana , the Amazon and north east Brazil, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador.
She met my cousin Danny through me, and they fell in love and married. Joan became my cousin.
We saw each other at many family gatherings after that.
I have been to Joan's hometown and family farm, and was always amazed at her huge family and her rural roots, so different than mine.
Joan was an avid reader, and I was always impressed how quickly she could polished off her novels. She read countless books.
I can't begin to imagine how many books she's read.
When I first met her, I could hardly believe that she was told she'd never walk again, because of a spinal condition.
She was told she'd be in a wheelchair the rest of her life. Joan would have none of that. She took it upon herself to prove everyone wrong, as she started to take one step at a time from her wheelchair. By the time she made it to journalism school, she was walking, and managing back pain as best she could.
She didn't allow any limitations on her freedom and mobility, she was unstoppable.
Joan is a champion. She's a force of nature!
Let's take her example and run with it.
Rest in peace Joan, I'll always remember you.
Much Love Cousin Lucy

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