Judy LaMarsh

Who was Judy LaMarsh?

Julia Verlyn LaMarsh (December 20, 1924 – October 27, 1980) was a Canadian politician, lawyer, author and broadcaster. LaMarsh was born in Chatham, Ontario. Of French and English descent, she was raised in Niagara Falls. Although she trained as a teacher, she never taught school. In high school, she was a member of Alpha Chapter, Theta Kappa Sigma Sorority in Niagara Falls. In 1963, she became the second woman to serve as a federal Cabinet minister. Under Prime Minister Lester Pearson's minority governments of the middle and late 1960s, she helped push through the legislation that created the Canada Pension Plan and Medicare. As Secretary of State, she was in charge of Canada's Centennial celebrations in 1967. After leaving politics in 1968, she wrote three books, and had her own radio show on CBC Radio.

She was stricken with pancreatic cancer in 1979 and was given the Order of Canada at her hospital bed.

Historical significance

She died a few days short of the 20th anniversary of her first political election victory, in 1980.