Judy LaMarsh

Judy LaMarsh, born on December twentieth, nineteen twenty-four, was a trailblazing Canadian politician, lawyer, author, and broadcaster. She made history in nineteen sixty-three by becoming the second woman to serve as a federal Cabinet minister in Canada. During her tenure under Prime Minister Lester Pearson's minority governments in the mid to late nineteen sixties, LaMarsh played a pivotal role in the introduction of significant legislation, including the Canada Pension Plan and Medicare.

In addition to her legislative achievements, LaMarsh was appointed Secretary of State, where she oversaw Canada's Centennial celebrations in nineteen sixty-seven. Her contributions to Canadian society extended beyond politics; after leaving the political arena in nineteen sixty-eight, she turned her talents to writing, authoring three books, and hosting her own radio show on CBC Radio.

Tragically, LaMarsh was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in nineteen seventy-nine. Despite her illness, she was honored with the Order of Canada while in her hospital bed, a testament to her enduring legacy. She passed away just days shy of the twentieth anniversary of her first political election victory in nineteen eighty.