Cobourg entrepreneur and former Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Kim Rudd has passed away at the age of 66, following a lengthy battle with ovarian cancer.
The Northumberland-Peterborough South Federal Liberal Association shared an announcement of Rudd’s passing on Wednesday (March 13).
According to her daughter, Rudd entered Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre in Cobourg on Friday. She passed away on Tuesday surrounded by her family.
Rudd began her entrepreneurial career in 1985 as a stay-at-home mom when she and a friend opened Cook’s Day School, a not-for-profit organization that eventually grew to employ 35 workers and nurture 170 children, to address a lack of child care in the community.
In 1992, she became president and owner of Willis College’s Cobourg campus, a private career college, for which she was recognized with the 2011 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award.
“I’ve been an advocate for entrepreneurship my whole life and we have a major problem with unemployment,” Rudd said at the time. “We need to be more creative in the area of job creation and I want to be part of a government and a movement that makes it happen.”
VIDEO: Kim Rudd – 2011 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards
Rudd entered politics when she ran for the Liberals in the 2015 federal election, becoming the first MP of the then-new Northumberland-Peterborough South riding.
She was appointed parliamentary secretary to the natural resources minister, served as chair of the parliamentary health research caucus, and was a member of the federal standing committees of both finance and natural resources. After she was defeated in the 2019 federal election by Conservative Philip Lawrence, Rudd became a consultant for the Canadian Nuclear Association.
During her career, Rudd served as president of the Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce and chair of the Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee of Northumberland. She was also involved in many local charitable organizations, including as a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Cobourg, and was actively involved with local sports groups, including baseball and hockey.
Outside of Northumberland County, Rudd served as vice-chair of the Ontario Training Completion Assurance Fund Secretariat, vice-president of the Association of Career Colleges, and was the founding executive director of the Association of Private Colleges.
Rudd is survived by her husband Tom Rudd, her daughter Alison Rudd and her wife Kathy Johnson, her daughter Stefanie Rudd and her husband Ziyad Sidawi, and grandchildren Morgan Johnson, Avery Koehn, Hobie Johnson-Rudd and his wife Ridhi Sharma, and Amira Sidawi.
On Wednesday afternoon, Cobourg mayor Lucas Cleveland issued a statement on Rudd’s passing.
“Kim Rudd was a respected entrepreneur and committed volunteer who will be missed,” Cleveland said, outlining her accomplishments as an entrepreneur and MP, including her work on five housing projects in Northumberland County and her support of the Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre.
“Ms. Rudd was an advocate for Cobourg and Northumberland County, a committed volunteer and a trusted and valued mentor. On behalf of all council and staff, we would like to thank her for all that she did for our community and its residents.”
While flags across all municipal buildings are currently lowered in honour of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, they will remain lowered until after Mulroney’s funeral on March 23 in honour of Rudd.
Northumberland County deputy warden and Port Hope mayor Olena Hankivsky also issued a statement on Rudd’s passing on Wednesday afternoon.
“Kim was not only a distinguished public servant but also a remarkable community member whose passionate voice for women, and whose contributions to her community, extended far beyond the political arena,” Hankivsky said in part. “Her commitment and dedication to so many important causes, both within politics and in our community, will leave a lasting legacy.”
Along with the Town of Cobourg, flags at Northumberland County buildings will remain lowered as a mark of respect for both Rudd and Mulroney.
On Wednesday night, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also issued a statement on the passing of Rudd.
“Kim was a thoughtful and tireless advocate for Canadians,” Trudeau said in part. “When we spoke last week, I was inspired by the optimism she felt toward our country. Kim truly believed in Canada and in Canadians — and her generosity left a positive impact on thousands.”
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I offer my deepest condolences to her family and friends. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, warmth, and remarkable strength.”
Today, we mourn the passing of former Member of Parliament, Kim Rudd. A thoughtful and tireless advocate for her community and rural Canadians, her generosity left a positive impact on thousands. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement on her passing: https://t.co/Q3UYUEf86U
— CanadianPM (@CanadianPM) March 14, 2024
This story has been updated to include a statement from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
