Hawkesbury resident Judith Anne LaRocque, whose distinguished career with the federal government included a decade of service as Secretary to the Governor General, passed away unexpectedly at her home on December 29, 2021, at the age of 65.

LaRocque was serving a three-year term as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum of Nature – a position she was reappointed to by Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault on December 14, 2020. At the time of her passing LaRocque was also serving on the boards of the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and the Hawkesbury General Hospital.

The long-time federal public servant was appointed as Secretary to the Governor General and Herald Chancellor of Canada from 1990 until 2000. LaRocque first worked with Governor General John Hnatyshyn until 1995 and then his replacement Roméo LeBlanc. As a diplomat, she represented Canada as Ambassador to the OECD in Paris from 2010 to 2015. This followed leadership roles at the Department of Canadian Heritage as Deputy Minister (2002-2010) and Associate Deputy Minister. LaRocque also served as Vice Chair of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and was named interim chair of the federal broadcast and telecom regulator in June of 2017. She maintained the role until current CRTC chair Ian Scott was appointed to the position by the federal government in September of 2017.

LaRocque’s distinguished career in the public service started with the Public Service Commission of Canada. She went on to progress through positions at: the Prime Minister’s Office; the Office of the Leader of the Opposition; the House of Commons; the Government House Leader; the President of the Queen’s Privy Council; the Minister of Justice and Attorney General; the Leader of the Government in the Senate and the Minister of State for Federal-Provincial Relations.

A graduate of Hawkesbury District High School, LaRocque received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Carleton University in 1979. She received a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from the same university in 1992, and went on to receive the designation of ICD. D. from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

LaRocque leaves behind her husband of 30 years, André Lavoie; her sister Suzanne Svadjian (Mego); her niece Méliné, and her nephews Matthew (Annike) and Arran (Victoria). She was also the great-aunt of Ellie and Angus. She was predeceased by her sister Louise LaRocque-Stuart and nephew Oak Stuart, as well as her parents, E.Olier LaRocque and Elizabeth Murray of Hawkesbury.

Funeral details were entrusted to Berthiaume Family Funeral Home at 416 McGill Street, Hawkesbury, Ontario (877) 632-8511. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Hawkesbury General Hospital Foundation would be appreciated.

Condolences may be conveyed by visiting www.salonfuneraireberthiaume.com .