By Pepper Parr
January 19th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Joan Little left us earlier this month, on the 13th of January.
Joan Little: September 7th, 1933 – Tuesday, January 13th, 2026
We first met each other at the media table that used to be set up in the Council Chamber during the Goldring era.
She was a columnist with the Hamilton Spectator and I was the sole staff member of the Burlington Gazette.
Joan had more than 20 years of media experience and knew where all the bones were buried. She was an honest, compassionate voice.
Before becoming a columnist for the Spec, Joan was a member of Burlington and Halton councils for 15 fun years. in those dats it was a 17 member Council that often sat until well after midnight.
She also served on Conservation Halton and the Niagara Escarpment Commission.
She was the campaign manager for Walter Mulkawich when he was first elected as Mayor.
From 1997 on, she enjoyed being a regular freelance columnist for the Hamilton Spectator on Burlington issues.
Joan lived a full life.
There was an occasion when she met a gentleman who lived in the same building. A relationship developed. Joan began to wear some make-up and there was a ‘giddy-up’ in her step.
Any mention of the changes that were taking place in her life at the time brought a smile to her face. One morning, the new friend knocked on her door with a copy of the Spectator in hand asking Joan, in as she put it, a challenging manner, about the content of the column. He didn’t like what she had written. Joan delivered some choice words. The gentleman moved out of the building shortly after.
I had to stand across the street from the flag poles and salute a colleague and a good friend.
I was in touch with Joan two days before she passed to talk about doing an article on her experiences as a columnist.
She told me at the time that she was going to have to move into accommodations that could provide the care she needed. Joan found that her eyesight was failing, making it very difficult to continue as a writer.
We would often have lunch – I would bring along the “fully loaded” hamburgers she loved and spend several hours talking about the changes that were taking place in our lives.
During one conversation, there was a point at which Joan couldn’t remember something that was said at a Council meeting. She slipped into the spare room she used as an office and burrowed through the filing cabinet that held every document from every council meeting she covered.
Hopefully, we can talk to the family about saving those documents.
When she was really active as a columnist, we would exchange thoughts; with her deep background she was able to put events in perspective.
Media today is not what it was when Joan Little began to write her very popular column. She knew and spoke frequently with all of the senior people at City Hall. In the past four to five years, Joan found it difficult to get through to people – the city had created a communications team that became a barrier.
Joan also had serious run-ins with Mayor Meed Ward, who took complaints to the Spectator editorial people. That sort of thing didn’t take place before the pandemic.
The role and standing of the reporting media have changed over the last decade or so.
Joan, with total respect and considerable courage, reported what she saw and believed. She was attacked by special interests; but she held her ground and the City was better for it.
Rest in Peace my friend.
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I never met Joan but read her articles and felt wiser for it every time. Rest in peace Joan
As I heard that Joan was gone, I was immediately saddened and teary. I did not know about any reasons, and no rumours, so it was out of the blue for me. I was just totally shocked. I give my deep regrets to all her family and friends
I only got to know Joan personally in recent Term years development issues. I saw especially her grit in having to put up with Editorial Board censorship when Mayor Meed Ward went after her to the Spec Editorial Board, for saying some one sentence truth in one of her columns about a rumoured Councilor conflict. She was ordered by power to exonerate the Councilor. She carried on as she always had and did.
I was looking forward to more collaboration in the upcoming election.
Anyways, I do not want to negatively sully my little personal witness to her Obituary. Everyone that I know, that knew her, knows very well what a classy, honourable lady she was.
She too knew that the present day Burlington City Hall is a useless place for truth and openness to delegations. Go away is the answer, especially if you show up frequently.
Joan did the best she could to tell the missing truth and insightful information.
Joan Little ……… ah yes !
A Lady that spoke up for Burlington and called the “problems” as she saw them arise..Joan will be very much missed. Is there anyone that could take her place ?
Jack Arno
Aldershot Lions Club
Joan was always such an advocate for Burlington and will always be remembered as being very frank and honest in her articles. I will miss reading her many publications.
My condolences to all of her family and friends.
Joan Little’s passing is a true loss for our community. I first met her while delegating on a development that threatened to encroach on her lifestyle – a moment that sparked thoughtful dialogue and shaped the conversations that followed.
Looking back on her life, I continue to marvel at the depth and impact of her contributions. As a city councillor, she served with integrity and care for the people she represented. Later, as a freelance writer for The Spectator, she strengthened our democracy by giving voice to issues that mattered – especially at a time when thoughtful, independent journalism is needed more than ever.
Joan’s legacy lives on in the community she helped shape and the conversations she helped elevate. My sincere condolences to her family and all who were touched by her work and her spirit.
R.I.P Joan …..Your words of wisdom and guidance will be sorly missed.
I regularly read her columns and admire her. She was a voice for Burlington and very devoted to its welfare!
I was very saddened when I found out that Joan had passed.
Whenever we spoke it was like a breath of fresh air. As the article said she told it like it was.
She will be missed.
Thanks for the remembrances of Joan, Pepper. She indeed was a classy and classic lady. During my delegating years I never handed in my delegation electronically to Council ahead of delivering live, as requested. I always brought a paper copy of it for Joan though before the meeting began. I told Council that I felt they would pay more attention to my delegation if they didn’t already know what I was going to say. Don’t know if that ever worked or not.
Regardless, a quick chat with Joan before or after the meeting was always enjoyable. I loved her experienced take on things and always looked forward to her columns in the Spec. She and her columns will be sorely missed in this time of media disappearance and increasing dismissal of citizen opinions at City Council.