Leanne Larmondin, who served the Anglican Church of Canada’s communications department for 15 years, most recently as editor of the Anglican Journal, on May 7 announced her resignation, effective June 13.
Noting that she was 23 when she arrived at Church House as staff writer for the Journal, she said, “at this point, I feel like I’ve accomplished enough that I want to move on and see what’s next in my life.” She said she expects to pursue media work in newspapers, magazines or the Internet.
Vianney (Sam) Carriere, director of the Communications and Information Resources department, said, “Leanne’s service to the church and to the communications department has been exemplary … she will leave an impressive legacy. Leanne took the Journal to the ‘next level’ and her contributions will be with us for a long, long time.”
The church’s national, editorially-independent newspaper won many awards during Ms. Larmondin’s five-year tenure, including 17 in 2008 from two North American church press associations.
“I hope that people will appreciate what they have in a newspaper that is free to communicate to the constituency about what is really happening at the church – the good, the bad, the hopeful, the less-than-hopeful – just an honest picture,” she said.
Asked to cite highlights of her work, she mentioned the intensity of national General Synod gatherings, particularly the 2007 event, where Journal staff for the first time produced a daily paper for delegates. She has also enjoyed expanding the Journal’s Web site and experimenting with different story formats to “keep the newspaper fresh, so it’s not just columns of type.”
Before she was named editor of the Journal, Ms. Larmondin worked for five years as the church’s Web manager, where she helped launch and develop the www.anglican.ca Web site, and five years as staff writer for the Journal.
Ms. Larmondin earned a journalism degree from Carleton University and has served in executive positions with the Canadian Church Press and Associated Church Press organizations. She lives near Toronto with her husband and two daughters.