Today, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), along with Mr. Bruce Fanjoy, Member of Parliament for Carleton, on behalf of the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, officially welcomed Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Judy LaMarsh into its fleet, the first time an additional large vessel has joined the Great Lakes region in over thirty years. Based in Prescott, Ontario, the vessel will carry out icebreaking and buoy tending operations across the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River in Ontario and Quebec.
The CCG's Great Lakes coverage extends along the Canada-United States border, from the St. Lawrence River to the western point of Lake Superior - approximately 2,400 kilometers. With most of Canada's population living in the Great Lakes basin, it is a top priority for the CCG to keep these waters safe and open for all who use them.
The CCGS Judy LaMarsh was purchased in 2021 and underwent conversion and refit work at Newdock St. John's Dockyard Limited, in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, from 2023 to 2025, prior to joining the CCG fleet. This work included refurbishment of the vessel's propulsion, communication, and navigation systems, as well as upgrades to workspaces and accommodation facilities, and the installation of a new buoy crane.
The vessel is named after the Honourable Judy LaMarsh, one of the first women to serve as a federal Cabinet Minister. She was instrumental in the development of innovative federal programs, including Medicare and the Canada Pension Plan. While serving as Canada's Secretary of State (1965-1968), the Honourable Judy LaMarsh helped to establish the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada. She was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1980.
This vessel was acquired under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Government of Canada's long-term plan to renew its federal maritime fleets, revitalize Canada's marine industry, and create sustainable jobs to maximize economic benefits across the country.
