A Founding Member of OFSAA Passes at 99 Years of Age
School Sport Canada is sad to announce one of it’s and OFSAA’s founding members has passed away. Helen Gurney died October 28, 2017 at the age of 99. She can best be described as a pioneer and a true builder of women’s sport in Ontario. Her obituary and funeral arrangements can be found by clicking here.
Windsor-Essex Sports Hall of Fame Inductee 1985
Helen Gurney was a legendary basketball coach and a founding member of the Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association (OFSAA). She officiated women’s basketball at the international level.
Gurney was born in Whitby, Ontario on October 16, 1918.
In a remarkable coaching career that spanned from 1944 to ’58, Gurney’s Forster Spartans won eight WSSA Girls Basketball Championships and six runner-up medals. Gurney’s teams also won eight Girls Volleyball titles (two Senior and six Junior), seven Overall Track and Field Championships, and 16 Divisional track titles.
As an official, Gurney participated in women’s basketball for 22 years. She refereed international-level games between 1943 and ’65 and edited the Women’s Basketball Rule Book from ’62 to ’67.
Gurney was also heavily involved with the administrative side of sport. She was a founding member of OFSAA in 1951 and continued to belong to the organization until ’77. She was a board member of the Canadian Federation of Provincial School Athletic Associations. In ’80, Gurney became the first woman to receive the Honour Award from that organization.
From 1945 to ’53, Gurney served as President of the Ontario Physical Education Section of the Ontario Education Association.
Gurney was the Canadian representative to the American Physical Education Association. Her publications concerning the history of girls’ sports in Ontario and the history of the Canadian Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation were well received.
Amongst Gurney’s many honours and awards, a 1977 Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Medal stands out.
Ontario Government honours Helen Gurney
2013 Helen Gurney, Sport Builder Award
After graduating from the University of Toronto in the early 1940s, Gurney began a teaching career in physical education which helped launch her into several leadership roles with a variety of provincial and national organizations. At the time, sports were male-dominated, yet Gurney quickly became known as a respected educator, coach and basketball official. She inspired many young women to participate in sports and worked tirelessly to provide them with fair and equitable athletic opportunities. Gurney takes pride in women’s sports and the progress she has witnessed during her career. She published two books to record this: “A Century of Progress – A History of High School Sport”, and “A Century to Remember – 1893-1993: The Story of Women’s Sports at the University of Toronto”. She has been a mentor for young women, teachers, and coaches and has always encouraged them to strive for excellence.
In 1951, Gurney was on the founding Board of the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) and the only female member of that group. Later, as a Ministry representative to OFSAA, she continued to advocate for strong athletic school programs, more women in leadership positions, and fair and equitable competition for all student-athletes. Throughout her career Helen Gurney has been a true friend to sport and her efforts have built and strengthened many organizations and programs. Helen is a very deserving recipient of the Sport Builder Award.
Helen Gurney – In Memoriam
OFSAA, Monday, October, 30, 2017
“A Tribute to a True Friend of School Sport”
Helen Gurney 1918 – 2017
It is with sadness that OFSAA announces the passing of Helen Gurney, the only female member of the founding Board of OFSAA, and a true friend and supporter of school sport throughout her 99 years. As a Ministry representative to OFSAA for over 25 years, she advocated for strong athletic school programs, more women in leadership positions, and fair and equitable competition for all student-athletes.
When Helen began her teaching career in the 1940s, sport was mainly male-dominated. ‘Gurney’ quickly became known as a respected educator, coach and basketball official. She inspired many young women to participate in sports and worked tirelessly to provide them with fair and equitable athletic opportunities. However, Helen’s efforts to build and improve sport programs extended to both males and females. Many of you may have met Helen at the Ontario Athletic Leadership Camp where she was director and made sure the student-athletes received instruction and guidance from the top physical education teachers in the province. Helen believed good role models were necessary to encourage the young leaders of the future and she herself certainly led by example.
In recent years the many organizations in which Helen played key roles in the building of their groups and programs, have recognized her contribution with their top awards. She was inducted into the Windsor and Essex County Sports Hall of Fame, and the University of Toronto Sports Hall of Fame, Builders’ Division. She received the CAAWS “Historical Award”, and the Honour Awards of the Canadian Federation of Provincial School Athletic Associations and the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation. The YWCA recognized Helen’s work by bestowing their “Women of Distinction” award on her in the sport category. Helen was honoured with both the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilee Award (OFSAA’s nominee). She promoted growth within these groups with her generous financial support for scholarship programs and program development.
Gurney took pride in women’s sports and the progress she witnessed during her career. She published two books to record this: “A Century of Progress – A History of High School Sport”, and “A Century to Remember – 1893-1993: The Story of Women’s Sports at the University of Toronto”.
Many of you may not have had the privilege of knowing Helen, but the teaching and coaching environment is a better place today because of her efforts. The world of sport has lost a good friend, and a mentor for young women, teachers, and coaches. School sport and OFSAA thank Helen for her many contributions, and she will indeed be missed. Our thoughts are with her family at this time.
A ‘Celebration of Helen’s Life’ will be held on Friday, November 3rd at 11:00 a.m. at the R.S. Kane Funeral Home at 6150 Yonge Street (at Steeles Ave.)
(Thank you to Diana Rankin for this tribute to Helen’s career and contributions)
