Before we got together, Joel's son Aaron had described his dad to me as 'your typical Canadian' - kind, friendly, and generous. So you can imagine how unprepared I was when I finally met Joel, because even for a Canadian, Joel was in a league of his own when it came to these qualities. And never more so than when it came to his family. Joel never hesitated to help Aaron and I, insisting he wanted to feel useful in his retirement. Whether my bag needed its zipper fixed, or our cat urgently needed to be driven to the vet, we could count on Joel for aid. Whenever I called him, I looked forward to him greeting me with an 'Alyna! So good to hear from you!' that was so enthusiastic it never failed to cheer me up. Joel loved involving us in Jewish holiday traditions. His Passover celebration was particularly famous; he put his own personal spin on each step of the Seder, in a way that both respected the tradition and made it fun and accessible for the non-Jewish. Even the quietest attendees were happily singing along by the end of his exuberant rendition of 'Dayenu' as he strummed away on his guitar. Joel found joy in places you wouldn't have thought possible. 'My God! What a wonderful [insert everyday object or food item]' was a common expression, often followed by his signature laugh (which was unmistakeable even at great distances). He instilled in you an appreciation for the little things in life and the value of seeing the good in people and things. Seeing the tributes of his family and friends on this page, I am reminded how lucky I am to have had the opportunity to know Joel. A truly one-of-a-kind individual, I will be forever grateful for the way he and Anna raised Aaron and Flip - they have both inherited many of Joel's best traits - and for the way he always made me feel I was part of the family. My own father passed away 12 years ago, but I'll always be grateful that thanks to Joel, it hasn't been 12 years since I've had a dad. Thanks for everything, Joel. We all love and miss you.