Dawn Josephs

Vancouver Island-native Dawn Josephs was born in Duncan, British Columbia, the only daughter of Walter Walton Josephs, a draftsman, and his wife Phyllis Hanham. Her father was born in London, England, and her mother in Victoria. She grew up in Victoria and became active in athletics, basketball and gymnastics in her youth while she attended St. Margaret’s School.

A member of the Victoria YMCA’s Flying “Y” track team coached by Archie McKinnon and Bruce Humber, Josephs quickly found success, breaking provincial junior records (previously held by Elaine Silburn) in long (broad) jump and 50-yard dash. She was one of two Victoria residents selected to the 1952 Canadian Olympic track and field team, alongside Bob Hutchison. In Helsinki, she competed in both high jump and long jump events, making the finals in both, finishing 13th and 17th respectively. Josephs was also an alternate on the 4 × 100 metres relay team, but did not compete. Following the Olympics, she took third place in long jump at a track and field meet held in London in August of that same year. During her athletic career, Josephs worked as a junior draftsman (after her father) at the office of R. G. (Gil) Gilchrist in Victoria for the British Columbia Forest Service.

Josephs married Grant Macpherson, a chemical engineer, in April 1954 and retired from athletics soon thereafter. They eventually had four children and regularly moved across Canada in the ensuing years due to her husband’s work, living in the provinces of Québec, Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba before retiring back to British Columbia where she continues to reside in the Vancouver area. She was active in badminton and tennis into her early 80s, and competed provincially at the master’s level and at the British Columbia Senior Games.

Personal Bests: HJ – 1.524 (1950); LJ – 5.68 (1951).