Elizabeth Goudie

Elizabeth Goudie née Blake (born April 20, 1902, Mud Lake, Labrador – d. June 10, 1982 Happy Valley, Labrador) was a Canadian writer. Her sole work, Woman of Labrador (ISBN 0-88778-116-0) was published in 1973.

Life

Elizabeth Goudie was born April 20, 1902, at Mud Lake, Labrador, the daughter of Sarah Michelin and Joseph Blake. At 18 she married Jim Goudie, a trapper, with whom she had nine children, one of whom, Joe, served as member of the House of Assembly for Naskaupi (1975–85) and held several portfolios in the administrations of Frank Moores and Brian Peckford.

In 1963 her husband died and Elizabeth began to reminisce about her life and decided to write it out, finishing on June 1971.

David Zimmerly, an anthropological researcher from Memorial University, stationed in Happy Valley, heard of Goudie's memoirs and went to talk to her. He volunteered to help her edit the memoirs for publication and spent much time during the next two years working with her. The book was finally published by Peter Martin Associates of Ottawa in July 1973.

The original manuscript is archived in the Newfoundland and Labrador Room of the library of Memorial University.

Trivia

Goudie's great aunt, Lydia Campbell, wrote the book Sketches of Labrador Life. (ISBN 1-894294-27-0)

Honours

In 1975, in recognition of her life and work, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Memorial University. In 1980 the provincial government building in Happy Valley-Goose Bay was named after her.

A song Woman Of Labrador was written by Andy Vine in 2005.

A play, "Woman of Labrador; The Elizabeth Goudie Story", starring Sherry Smith, was made from her book.