10 Facts About Ellen Burka

Ellen Burka was a Canadian-Dutch figure skater and coach.

Ellen Burka became a member of the Order of Canada in 1978 and was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.

Ellen Burka learned German and English at home and Dutch and French in school.

Ellen Burka gave culinary advice at Gemmeker's home and it was the commander's female companion who made sure Ellen Burka was not sent to Sobibor but to Theresienstadt instead.

Ellen Burka raised her two daughters, Petra and Astra, in the Anglican Church and told them of her background when they were in their late teens.

Ellen Burka was Dutch National Champion in 1946 and 1947 before becoming a coach in Toronto.

Ellen Burka coached her daughter, Petra Burka to a bronze medal for Canada at the 1964 Olympics and to the gold at the 1965 World Championships.

In 1978, Ellen Burka was made Member of the Order of Canada "For elevating skating to an art form and for imaginative choreography on the ice".

Ellen Burka was inducted into the Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Fame, the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame and the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Ellen Burka taught at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club and at The Granite Club in Toronto, Ontario.