Dr. LaBarge was born in Ottawa, Ontario and earned a Bachelor of Commerce, a Master of Science and a Master of Public Health from Queen's University, and a Ph.D. in Marketing at the University of Oregon. Her work experience includes: Corel Corporation, Proctor & Gamble, Raid the North Adventure Racing, Hill & Knowlton and High Road Communications, and the University of Montana.
Her research examines topics including health promotion and health systems, food insecurity and waste, charitable giving and non-profit marketing, as well as how vulnerable populations (such as older adults) cope with and overcome vulnerability in the marketplace. She is a frequent speaker on these topics to practitioner groups and media outlets including CBC Radio and Television, the Globe & Mail, the National Post, CTV, Global TV, Huffington Post, and other news outlets across Canada. Her published research has appeared in journals including Frontiers in Public Health, Journal of Medical Internet Research, Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, Journal of Consumer Affairs, and the Journal of the Association of Consumer Research, among others.
She has worked with many community organizations as a board member and strategic advisor and is currently serving as a Board Member for the Community Foundation of Kingston & Area.