Honourable colleagues, I rise today to pay tribute to Joan Dillon, local hero, champion of children and youth, promoter of racial harmony, educator, lover of poetry and dear friend.

“Bloom where you are planted” is an adage that this tenacious woman lived by, and Joan was firmly planted in the northeastern Nova Scotian community of Antigonish. Hailing from Northern England, migrating to Canada as a child and then making her way to our community, Joan left an indelible mark on everyone who met her — everyone she helped to bloom.

Joan was inducted into the Afrikan Canadian Heritage and Friendship Centre in Guysborough, recipient of the Order of Nova Scotia, the Canada 125 medal, the Silver Acorn Award for Scouting, an honorary X Ring and an honorary doctorate from St. Francis Xavier University.

Now, why did Joan win all of these awards? It was for her volunteer work with young people, her creative leadership in education, community building and in what today we would refer to as “reconciliation.”

Anne Marie Paul of Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation said:

Joan loved everybody she met. Love had no borders or colours to her and she treated us all equally. She had the biggest heart of gold.

Joan Dillon was best known as the heart and soul of X-Project, a student-based society established in 1965. Joan was instrumental in bringing together thousands of students, community members, parents, elders and youth in the X-Project circle.

For decades, busloads of StFX students headed to the Mi’kmaw communities of Paqtnkek and Pictou Landing, and the African Nova Scotian communities of Lincolnville, Sunnyville and Upper Big Tracadie to work with kids on homework and enjoy sports and recreation. Kids from these communities were welcomed to campus for leadership and varsity sports events.

Anne Marie Paul met Joan when she was five years old and began taking part in X-Project activities. Today Anne Marie serves on the band council and as an X-Project volunteer.

There is even a street in Paqtnkek named for Joan Dillon.

Reverend Elaine Walcott of Lincolnville said, “A lot of us never left Guysborough County until we went on an X-Project trip with Joan Dillon. The lens by which we saw the world outside our communities was by way of Joan . . . .” She continued, “She encouraged people to pursue their dreams and celebrate the gifts they had.”

StFX education professor Dr. Lisa Lunney Borden extolled Joan’s foresight in understanding that X-Project would be a way for students to get out of the campus bubble and go into communities to learn.

Joan Dillon was even orchestrating things from her bed in the nursing home where she recently passed away. It was at her bedside that we plotted ways to further inspire and educate community members by bringing in Wab Kinew, Senator Murray Sinclair, and Buffy Sainte-Marie.

Joan Dillon was one of those people you never said no to. She was someone who, by her example, made all of us want to be better versions of ourselves.

Joan had a real fondness for my grandson Jack and he for her.

In closing, I will just say the farewell greeting that she taught Jack: Pip pip, cheerio, Joan!

You have left our world a better place.