British Columbia Dental Hygienists' Association

 Jo graduated from the University of Oregon dental hygiene program in 1947. While there she met a dental student by the name of Claude Gardner and in 1948 they were married and moved to Vancouver, BC, where Claude set up his dental practice. In 1951, their only child Janice was born. In this same year, the profession of dental hygiene was officially recognized in BC and Jo became the second registrant. And so begins the story of Jo’s career in dental hygiene which would span more than five decades....

 While Janice was growing up, Jo worked one day a week in clinical dental hygiene in Vancouver and also participated in many “road trips” to Claude’s satellite practice in Bella Coola. In 1968, the new Program of Dental Hygiene was established at UBC and Jo joined the teaching faculty, first on a part time basis and then full time until the program was discontinued in 1986. Jo’s main area of expertise was radiography and she had a great way of visualizing and explaining techniques that helped students to consistently produce good results. She was a down-to-earth person who would always see the practical, real-life side of dental issues and her bursts of laughter were refreshing and contagious. Jo’s passion for the dental hygiene profession was legendary and she was a natural mentor and role model for all of the students who passed through the UBC hallways, including daughter Janice who graduated in 1978. Jo would be proud to know that one of her granddaughters will be following the family’s career path when she enters the VCC dental hygiene program this fall.

 When it came to professional responsibility and involvement, Jo became an icon for dental hygiene. She was one of six members to attend the first BCDHA annual meeting in 1965 and in the same year became an active member of CDHA. From there, Jo went on to hold almost every association position at least once, including president at the local, provincial and national levels. Her longest tenure in one position...16 years....was as CDHA membership chair during which time the number of hygienists in Canada grew from 650 to 5700. One has to remember that this was before the days of computers and despite having to do everything manually, Jo never complained and somehow always got the job done. She was always willing to travel to fulfil association responsibilities and during her active years of service, she participated in all but three national conventions and board meetings. In the early 1980s, she served as the secretary/treasurer for the International Dental Hygiene Association. Jo’s continuous hard work and exemplary dedication to the profession were an inspiration for all and she received many recognitions including BCDHA Life Membership, CDHA Life Membership, Honorary UBC Alumnus and the CDHA Beyond the Call of Duty Award.

 Jo was a strong supporter of life-long learning and believed that no education was ever wasted. She was always reading, taking courses or attending lectures and conferences so it came as no surprise when she decided to go “back to school”. From 1993 to 1998 she commuted to UBC from Pender Harbour one to two times a week to study with people she herself had taught. At the age of 72, Jo realized a personal goal she had for more than 50 years when she received her Bachelor of Dental Science (Dental Hygiene) degree. Her friends and family were very proud of her and still marvel at the energy and stamina that it must have taken. After graduation Jo put her new knowledge to work by offering classes in dental care to a local seniors’ group.

 Other retirement activities included volunteering for the Reading Center, Bargain Barn, Pender Harbour Health Center Board, Emergency Social Services and Power Squadron. When at home, Jo spent a lot of time in the garden and loved her peonies, one of the few things that the deer didn’t eat. She also had a safe and secure spot for her lovely begonias. Jo would swim almost daily in the ocean during the summer months and was often heard saying that she had the best beach in Pender Harbour.