Demonstrating superior athletic abilities, Helen's amateur athletic career at the local level spanned over five decades and saw involvement in a wide variety of sports.

Growing up in Fort William, Helen first demonstrated her outstanding athletic abilities while active with high school athletics during the 1920s. In track and field she competed in the broad jump, high jump and relay events at the district level. An accomplished basketball player in high school, Helen went on to play for the Fort William YMCA Girl's Basketball team. It was while playing for the 'Y' team that Helen was offered the opportunity to try out for the World Champion Edmonton Grads, by their coach Percy Page, an offer which she declined, preferring to stay in her hometown.

Helen was involved in other sports during the 1920s and 30s, including hockey with the Fort William WMCA of the Thunder Bay Ladies' Hockey Association and with numerous city and intercity baseball leagues.

Helen's outstanding abilities as an individual athlete were well demonstrated in the sport of swimming where she won three City of Fort William championship titles and won the one-mile Loon Lake race 5 years in a row.

An avid curler for over 30 years, Helen's involvement was both as a participant and builder. She skipped her rinks to victory at numerous bonspiels in Winnipeg, Wawatosa, Duluth and throughout northwestern Ontario. In 1951 she skipped her rink to a perfect record at the Lakehead Women's Bonspiel. Involved in the formation of the Northwestern Ontario Ladies Curling Association, she helped build the sport amongst high school girls and was Chairperson for many bonspiels. In 1987 she became the first female recipient of the Sun Life Grand Prix of Curling Honour Award for her contributions to the sport.

Inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, September 17, 1988