Judy LaMarsh

The Honourable Judy LaMarsh PC OC QC
LaMarsh, c. 1964
Secretary of State for Canada
In office December 18, 1965 – April 9, 1968
Prime Minister	Lester B. Pearson
Preceded by	Maurice Lamontagne
Succeeded by	John Joseph Connolly (Acting)
Minister of National Health and Welfare
In office April 22, 1963 – December 17, 1965
Prime Minister	Lester B. Pearson
Preceded by	Jay Monteith
Succeeded by	Allan MacEachen
Minister of Amateur Sport
In office April 22, 1963 – December 17, 1965
Prime Minister	Lester B. Pearson
Preceded by	Jay Monteith
Succeeded by	Allan MacEachen
Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls
In office October 31, 1960 – June 24, 1968
Preceded by	William Houck
Succeeded by	Joe Greene
Personal details
Born	Julia Verlyn LaMarsh (1924-12-20)December 20, 1924 Chatham, Ontario, Canada
Died	October 27, 1980(1980-10-27) (aged 55) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Resting place	Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Liberal
Alma mater	University of Toronto Osgoode Hall Law School
Occupation	Barrister broadcaster politician writer
Military service
Allegiance	Canada
Branch/service	Canadian Women's Army Corps
Years of service	1943–1945
Rank	Intelligence officer

Julia Verlyn LaMarsh PC OC QC (December 20, 1924 – October 27, 1980) was a Canadian politician, lawyer, author and broadcaster. In 1963, she was only the second woman ever 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. She died a few days short of the 20th anniversary of her first political election victory, in 1980.