Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

When the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation received a generous bequest from Vincent Helton’s estate, his son Allan shared the heartfelt reason behind it—Vincent wished to honour his late wife, Joyce Helton, a proud graduate of the Royal Alexandra Hospital School of Nursing.

Joyce’s passion for nursing was lifelong. A leader from the start, she was a student council member and valedictorian of the Class of 1947. She cherished her time at the Alex, regularly returning for alumni teas and reunions. She was particularly proud of her specialized pediatric training in Montreal, where she earned top marks.

During her time at the hospital, Joyce met Vincent, an Agriculture student at the University of Alberta. Their love story began on a skating date, followed by many evenings cheering on the as season ticket holders.

They married in 1951, and in July 1954, they welcomed their first son, David, during which time Joyce shifted from nursing to managing their growing household. Vincent’s career advancements led to frequent moves—first to Grande Prairie, where their second son, Allan, was born in May 1956, followed by relocations to Saskatoon and then North Vancouver, where they welcomed their third son, Jeffrey, in June 1959.

In 1962, the family settled in Vernon, B.C., embracing a new chapter as the Okanagan Valley became a cherished home. Summers were spent at Kalamalka Lake, and winters were filled with hockey games for their three sons. It was in Vernon that Joyce earned her driver’s license and confidently navigated their 1963 Pontiac, shuttling her boys and their friends to practices and staying ahead of her time at ‘Keep Fit’ classes before they became popular.

By 1967, Vincent’s Agriculture degree was a springboard to a transition into the irrigation industry, leading to another move—this time settling in Vancouver, which culminated in the creation of a successful family business in fountain and underwater lighting. Joyce played an essential role handling bookkeeping and administration while Vincent managed engineering and installations.

Their work took them across Canada and the United States, and whenever they were asked why they were headed to an unfamiliar city, Joyce’s adventurous spirit shone through as she would reply, “We’ve never been there!”

After winding down their business in the late 1990s, they embraced retirement with travels across Europe and North America. Eventually, they settled into a quieter life near family in Victoria. Joyce passed peacefully in October 2020, leaving behind a legacy of warmth, dedication, and love.

Through this gift, her memory continues to uplift the place where her journey began.