Janet Catherine Martin (née Learmonth)

With sadness we announce the death of Janet Catherine Martin (née Learmonth) on August 21, 2026.
Lovingly remembered by her sons Robert (Danica Robertson) and Alan (Moya Crangle); grandchildren, Lachlan, Lauren, Seth and Wyatt; and numerous relatives and friends scattered around the globe.
Born in Edmonton, Alberta in 1938, Janet trained as a teacher before turning her back on conformity and convention, leaving Canada in the 1960s. Early in her career she had formative experiences teaching at the progressive Rising Hill Comprehensive Secondary School in one of the poorest and toughest working-class areas of London, and later at the Tabora Girls School in Tanzania during the early days of its Independence.
Following her marriage to her late husband Philip, she moved to Southern Africa, teaching literature at the University of Witwatersrand and the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. She supported the Black Sash, a non-violent human rights organization founded by white women to oppose apartheid. After a nearly 20-year absence, she and Philipreturned to Canada in 1981, opening the doors of opportunity for her sons.
Janet will be remembered for her love of literature, her quirky sense of humour, all the colours of green, her fierce and principled belief in racial equality, her generosity and her loyal friendship to people from all walks of life. She was a champion of post-colonial African authors, making them a staple on her course reading lists. One of her enduring legacies will be the material difference she made in people’s lives, quietly providing critical support and encouragement when they most needed it.
She remained engaged with the African continent, supporting anti-apartheid causes throughout the 1980s, serving on the boards of Unitarian Service Committee (USC) and Volunteer Services Overseas (VSO), as well as working with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to provide pre-departure training for Canadians being sent abroad. She was an active member of Saint Martin’s Anglican church in Westboro, singing in the choir, and forging a close circle of friends.
Janet was a cancer survivor who beat the odds on numerous occasions, but in her latter years Alzheimer’s stripped away her vibrancy. Despite her health challenges, she remained positive to the end.
The family would like to thank the palliative team at Bruyère Health’s Saint-Vincent Hospital for their care and professionalism during Janet’s last days.
Friends and family are invited to gather on Friday September 25, 2026 in the Sacred Space of the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Ave. Ottawa, after 2pm. Memorial Service will begin at 3pm followed by a reception.
Those interested in making a legacy donation in Janet’s name are encouraged to donate to Help Lesotho.