(May 25, 2004)

Barbara Graham, one of Skate Canada's Hall of Fame members and Canadian skating legend, passed away in Edmonton May 8th.

Barbara was a former Canadian Junior Pairs Champion and was a world level judge. From 1972 to 1991 she was the Technical Director for the then Canadian Figure Skating Association and was responsible for developing the sport in Canada. She established the Skate Development and Athlete Monitoring Programs and held national seminars for judges and coaches.

There are very few people in the figure skating world that have not been touched by Barbara's influence.

Barbara Graham and Brian Orser, 1988 Olympics

Following her retirement from the Canadian Figure Skating Association Barbara travelled overseas and from 1996-1999 she was the State Coaching Director for the Ice Skating Association of Queensland, Australia. She returned to Canada in 1999 and settled in Edmonton where she was the Skating Development Specialist for Alberta. She was inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame in 2003.

Donations can be made in Barbara's name to either the Barbara Graham Bursary at the Alberta/NWT-Nunavut Section, 11759 Groat Road, Edmonton, Alberta T5M 3K6 or the Skate Canada Athlete Trust in memory of Barbara Graham.