Lavery, Mary

Mary Lavery (1936-2014), a graduate from the Wellesley School of Nursing in Toronto, was a dedicated local historian and volunteer with an interest in preserving local history and heritage in Peterborough. She served on several committees but is best known for her involvement with the Peterborough Historical Society, where she was president for three years. She also helped to organize Doors Open Peterborough and further involved herself with the community by serving two terms as a trustee for the Peterborough Board of Education and as a member of the Peterborough Architectural Advisory Committee. Her most significant historical achievement is co-authoring the highly regarded local history book entitled Up the Burleigh Road, and Beyond (2005) with her husband Doug, covering the history of Burleigh and Apsley. The city of Peterborough granted her the Peterborough Betterment Award twice, in 2007 and 2009 and she also received the Award of Merit from the Ontario Heritage Trust.

Mary Lavery was very active in the local historical and heritage community, and served several years as the president of the Peterborough Historical Society. She and Doug were the authors of the highly regarded local history of Burleigh and Apsley, Up the Burleigh Road, and beyond (2005)."