Judy Thomson's love of the arts, passion for sharing and dedication to community are being honoured as foundational and far-reaching.

A Professor Emeritus at Georgian College, Judy Thomson was a well-recognized leader and volunteer whose legacy serves as a foundation for the future of the local arts scene and an inspiration for its development.

The Tom Thomson Art Gallery shares news of her passing:

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It is with great sadness that we share that Judy Thomson passed away with her loving family present at home on November 1, 2022. She was 82. She is survived by her sister Jane of Sault Ste. Marie / Scarborough and predeceased by her husband Ken Thomson earlier this year.

Judy was born in Hamilton, Ontario to Thelma Mary (McKay) and Leonard Richard Shaw. She married Ken Thomson in 1964 in Port Credit and moved to Owen Sound in 1970. The family grew with children Kevin, Andrew and Catherine, and grandchildren Aiden, Charlotte, Winter, and Jasper.

Known by many as the Art History guru of Owen Sound, Judy was a committed champion for the arts in the community. A long-time volunteer with the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, she was the chair of the gallery’s expansion committee in 1988, a member of the women’s gallery committee and conducted hundreds of tours. Judy was instrumental in the founding of the Canadian Centre of the Arts at Owen Sound [CCAOS] and the Sweetwater Music Festival now in its 19th year. She was recognized as the Citizen of the Year by the Owen Sound City Council and received the Citizen’s Contribution to the Arts Award from the Grey Bruce Arts Council.

Judy was a Professor throughout her 19 years at Georgian College and in her final year was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus. A long-time Canadian Federation of University Women’s club member, she was named a CFUW Notable Woman as part of the club's 100-year celebrations in 2019. With the Bluewater Association of Lifelong learning (BALL), Judy delivered many lecture series on the arts and other topics. She also served on the Grey Bruce Regional Hospital Foundation Board. She loved researching and writing, offering her skilled eye on projects ranging from PhD theses and university essays to cookbooks, art catalogues and life memoirs.

After her retirement, Ken and Judy travelled widely. Of special note is a year in China where they taught English at a secondary school in a suburb of Beijing. In order to complete their round-the-world adventure, they took the Trans-Siberian railway through Manchuria, SIberia to Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Judy was passionate about art and the importance of art education. Whether it was giving a captivating lecture or quietly behind-the-scenes writing exhibition labels, she used her energy and talent to help people experience artworks to their fullest. A wonderful supporter of the Gallery for more than 50 years, her passing is a great loss to the cultural community.

David Huff, Curator of Collections – Tom Thomson Art Gallery

A memorial service for Judy will be held Saturday, Nov. 12, at 11:00 a.m. at the Brian E. Wood Funeral Home, officiated by The Venerable Suzanne Craven, followed by a reception at the same location. We hope you will plan to attend, and perhaps offer a memory of Judy. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Judy's name.

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Ken and Judy Thomson in a 2019 photo by Denis Langlois of the Owen Sound Sun Times