Over the next four weeks, the Varsity Blues will be highlighting some of the many women who have shaped intercollegiate athletics at the University of Toronto in honour of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day.
Over the past 100 years University of Toronto women have captured countless intercollegiate titles, fought and won hard battles for women’s equality, informed the coaching world, and made it to the top of the Olympic podium. As International Women’s Day celebrates its centennial, we celebrate the bold and brave women who have made U of T intercollegiate athletics what it is today.
Today we highlight two outstanding women in Helen Gurney and Abby Hoffman.
Helen Gurney:
Gurney competed in intercollegiate and intramural basketball and swimming, and was active for many years in coaching and officiating. She was editor of the first Canadian women's basketball rulebook, an intercollegiate basketball official from 1946-55, and chairperson of the 1967 conference of women's athletics directors which led to the formation of the Canadian Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Union.
Gurney was Director of the Ontario Student Leadership Centre from 1960-77, was the only female member on the founding Board of Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association (OFSAA) and was the first female board member of the Canadian Federation of Provincial School Athletic Associations (1967-77). Gurney's extensive volunteer involvement with the Varsity athletics program includes membership on the Varsity Arena Restoration Fund Committee (1980-81), the Women's T-Holders' Association Board of Directors (1866-69 and 1983-present) and the Athletics Council (from 1984).
Abby Hoffman:
An outstanding middle-distance runner for more than 15 years, Hoffman won eight Canadian championships in 800m and held national record in 800m from 1962-75, held the Canadian record in 440yds from 1963-76 and represented Canada internationally from 1962-76. She is among Varsity's most honoured and successful international competitors: Olympic Games (1964-68-72-76): finalist in 800m in 1968 and 1972; Pan-American Games (1963-67-71-75): bronze in 800m in 1967, gold in 800m in 1971, silver in 800m in 1975, bronze in 1500m in 1975; World University Games (1965-67-71): silver in 800m in 1967, bronze in 800m in 1965 and she was Chef de Mission for Team Canada in 1967 and 1971; Commonwealth Games (1966-70): gold in 880 yds in 1966; Maccabiah Games (1969): gold in 400m & 800m in 1969. She set the Commonwealth record in 800m during 1972 Olympics.
In addition to her competitive success, Hoffman has been a leader in the efforts to gain recognition for women's high performance athletics at the university, national and international levels. During the late 1960s, she was active in the campaign to gain admission for women to Hart House and was for many years the only female runner in an all-male track club. She was the first woman elected to the executive of Canadian Olympic Association and served for several years as Director General of Sport Canada. Some of her outstanding honours include the Ontario Award of Merit (1975), City of Toronto Civic Award of Merit (1976) and Order of Canada (1982).
