IRENE SPENCE

Building a successful dairy farm with her husband David in North Elmsley Township, Irene was a community builder and is widely regarded as a strong advocate for agriculture in Lanark County. 

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Irene was a tireless supporter of the Lanark Milk Producers and the Lanark County Federation of Agriculture, acting as President in 1978-79, and the Regional Director of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture in 1980 to 1982.  She was the first woman to be honoured as Ontario’s Farmer of the Year in 1986, and was invited to sit on the Crop Insurance Commission of Ontario. Irene was widely recognized as a successful leader and pathfinder in the male dominated culture of her time.

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Upon retiring from farming, Irene focused on the need to document the past and became the co-founder of Archives Lanark in 2002.  She wrote many books on local history including “North Elmsley Township, Doorway to the Past” in 2016.

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Irene received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and was also awarded Senior of the Year in 2012 for Drummond North Elmsley.

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Irene was a dynamic individual, bringing her great style, flair and dedication to many causes. The hat she never took off and fit so perfectly was that of a loving mother to her family. Irene passed away in 2020.