Joe Guenette 1958-2025

Joe was always a glass half full kind of guy.  He was full of life, even when life wasn’t so great to him.  He loved Toastmasters and wanted to get out as much as he could, and give back to the clubs he supported.  I first met Joe when he co-chaired, along with Sylvan Houde, the D21 Spring 2013 District Conference on Vancouver Island.  They teamed up as Laurel and Hardy and it was truly a fun filled event.  

That was only 4 years after Joe joined Cowichan Toastmasters, back on October 1^st, 2009.  In that first year, Joe achieved a respectable 2 education awards (CC, CL), followed by 2 more advanced levels (ACB, ALB) the next year.  By year 3, he added began to appreciate the value to the club with achieving education awards and he received another CL, an ACS and a LDREXC award, plus he co-chaired the spring conference.  In his 4th year he achieved 2 more CLs, an ACG, ALS, and he became a DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster).  He achieved 9 education awards in year 5, 12 in year 6, 8 in year 7 and in his 8^th year he served as Club Growth Director with me as Program Quality Director and Carol Carter as District Director.

Along with his District responsibilities he managed to complete 2 CLs and completed 3 levels in Effective Coaching, plus the Pathways Mentor program, all in the new Pathways program; proving that he was an early adopter and that you can teach an old dog new tricks.  The next year he completed that path and 4 other legacy education awards.  During the COVID year he started and completed all 5 levels of the Engaging Humor path and got halfway through the Visionary Communications path before taking a break.

Joe was a passionate man, not just about Toastmasters, but he did struggle with watching out for his own health.  He gave us a few scares while he served as Club Growth Director, but he took his role seriously and eventually started taking care of himself. 

While I am saddened by his “sudden death” it wasn’t a big surprise.  He died while getting ready to board his very first cruise, out of Vancouver.  I know he was loved and he lived a full life, putting his very soul into all he did.  He will be remembered.

Shawn Gold