Elaine Silburn

Elaine Silburn was born and raised on a farm in Victoria, British Columbia, where she was involved in the family’s livestock which then led her to a lifelong love of dogs. For the next 60 years Silburn worked as a judge for both the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the International Canine Federation (FCI). With the AKC she served for 12 years on their board of directors and was key in the establishment of the AKC Museum of the Dog. Outside of the world of dogs Silburn worked as a high-fashion model and a news writer in mainland China, owned and operated a Chinese restaurant, and worked with multiple organisations in the Seattle area.

Silburn was also a talented track and field athlete who represented Canada at the 1948 London Olympics. She competed in the long jump and high jump, finishing 17th and 19th, respectively. She was named as an alternative in the 4 × 100 metres relay in London but did not run in the heats or the final, where the Canadian team went on to win the bronze medal. Two years later at the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland she won bronze in the 220-110-220-110 yards relay (with Eleanor McKenzie, Pat Jones, and the non-Olympian Gerry Bemister). Silburn also finished fifth in the long jump and ran in the heats of the 220 yards. Her granddaughter Katrina Young competed at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a diver.

Personal Bests: HJ – 1.549 (1948); LJ – 5.60 (1950).