TROPHY

Description: WOOD BASE IS OVAL SHAPED WITH CHERRY WOOD STAIN. ONE SIDE OF BASE HAS BRASS PLATE ENGRAVED WITH "HELEN BENNETT". TOP OF BASE ALSO HAS BRASS PLATE, ENGRAVED WITH "1962 KIT DINGLE TROPHY PRESENTED BY ARTS & LETTERS CLUB OF CALGARY BEST CHARACTER ACTRESS". ALSO ON TOP OF BASE IS GOLD COLOURED PLASTIC FIGURE. FIGURE IS FEMALE WITH WINGS AND ARMS UPSTRETCHED HOLDING A WREATH. BOTTOM OF TROPHY HAS 6 GREEN FELT CIRCLES AND LABEL. LABEL READS "ELLERT'S TROPHIES LTD 2705 B CENTRE ST. N. CALGARY, ALTA. T2E 2V5 PH. 230-1709".

History: BELONGED TO DONOR'S AUNT HELEN JANE (JAMES) BENNETT; BORN JUNE 15, 1909, PASSED JANUARY 28, 2003. HELEN JAMES WAS BORN IN TABER, ALBERTA, BUT SHE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN LETHBRIDGE. AFTER RECEIVING HER TEACHER'S CERTIFICATE, SHE TAUGHT IN RURAL SCHOOLS. IN 1929 SHE TOOK A POSITION WITH THE LETHBRIDGE SCHOOL DISTRICT. ABOUT 1950 SHE OBTAINED A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE WITH GREAT DISTINCTION IN MATHEMATICS. SHE TAUGHT HIGH SCHOOL MATHEMATICS AND THE DRAMA OPTION UNTIL HER RETIREMENT IN JUNE OF 1969. ON JULY 3, 1961 SHE MARRIED FRANK JAMES BENNETT, A FORMER CITY FIREMAN (DONOR'S PATERNAL UNCLE). FROM THE 1930S UNTIL 1965 SHE WAS VERY ACTIVE IN THE LETHBRIDGE PLAYGOERS. FROM 1954 TO 1965 SHE PARTICIPATED IN TEN PRODUCTIONS AS A LEAD CHARACTER ACTRESS, PORTRAYING STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS. THE EXCELLENCE OF HER ACTING WAS FORMALLY RECOGNIZED BY ADJUDICATOR DAVID GARDNER IN 1962 WHEN HE AWARDED HER 'BEST CHARACTER ACTRESS' FOR HER PORTRAYAL OF LOTTIE LACEY IN 'THE DARK AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS', JUDGED BEST PERFORMANCE AT PROVINCIAL ALBERTA FEST AND THEN PERFORMED AT THE DOMINION DRAMA FESTIVAL IN WINNIPEG. FROM 1958-1988 SHE GAVE FAITHFUL AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO ST. AUGUSTINE'S SANCTUARY GUILD.