Judy Larmour

 

Judy Larmour is a research historian, heritage consultant, and writer. She has a BA in history and a Higher Diploma in Education from Trinity College, Dublin, and an MA in Canadian History from the University of Alberta.

 

She has been involved with research and interpretive planning for many heritage and museum projects in Alberta, including the Provincial Historic Site at Dunvegan, the Reynolds-Alberta Museum, the restored NWMP Detachment Building in Canmore, and the Heritage Prairie Grain Elevator Project at the Provincial Museum of Alberta.

 

Judy’s publications include Making Hay While the Sun Shone: Haying in Alberta before 1955 and How to do Oral History, and she is co-author of Stop the Car! Discovering Central Alberta featured on CBC’s Daybreak Alberta.

 

She is a regular contributor to Legacy magazine.

 

By Bob Baker, on the occasion of the presentation of the Honorary Membership in 2005 to Judy Larmour: 

 

Mr. President, honoured guests and fellow colleagues:

 

It is a great pleasure to stand before this assembly this afternoon. Actually, as I have indicated many times before, it is a great pleasure at my status in life to stand anywhere on any afternoon. But, this afternoon is a special celebration—the provincial centennial—and I'd say it's an extra special year.

 

In the late 1990s, the Historical and Biographical Committee was charged with the mandate of producing a book which would capture a history of surveying in Alberta. Early in the Committee's deliberations, an index and the content of the proposed chapters was struck followed by a title for the publication, The History of Surveying in Alberta, this was later modified to Laying Down the Lines.

 

In order to produce a book of this calibre, it demanded a fair good bunch of special attention. It was recognized at the early stage that we would need some special help, namely in the area of conducting interviews, researching and gathering archival information in order to publish a book that would be worthy of the Association's name. After much searching, the Committee found that special help in the name of one person, Judy Lamour, who filled the role of project coordinator, consultant, researcher and finally, as author.

 

This was a major undertaking by Judy as it involved familiarizing the Committee with interviewing techniques, researching historical records and organizing and coordinating the storage of historical artifacts. Judy's research ability was exercised to the fullest, sometimes going over and beyond what was expected of her. The guidance and direction provided to the Committee during the compilation, the writing and printing of the book is immeasurable. Without a doubt, Judy Larmour has more first hand information and knowledge of the Association's beginnings and its members from grass roots to the present.

 

On behalf of the Association, I say thank you for your dedication and support in making Laying Down the Lines a book of reality which we are proud of.

 

Ms. Larmour addressed the luncheon as follows:

 

Thank you very much, Bob. Needless to say, I am completely taken aback and very surprised. I would just like to say how much I have enjoyed working for your Association. It has truly been a wonderful experience. I am deeply honoured by this presentation and simply delighted. Thank you all very much.