In 1959 Pat Ball entered the world of figure skating by designing and making costumes for the Winnipeg Figure Skating Club. For the next 35 years, Pat would continue having a ‘Ball’ designing and making the sport of figure skating bigger and better in Manitoba.

In 1961, Ball made the move from the sewing room to the boardroom by becoming a member of the WFSC’s executive. Before the 60’s were over, Ball found herself in several boardrooms on both the provincial and national level. She became an executive member of the Manitoba Section of the Canadian Figure Skating Association, a CFSA judge and a national skating test committee member. In 1969, Ball had the honour of being named Chairperson of the inaugural Manitoba Figure Skating Championships.

The 70’s brought more boardrooms for Ball. Though she was the Vice Chairperson of the CFSA National Skating Test Committee, Ball still managed to find time to organize a week-long leadership training session of amateur instructors at Gimli. In 1975, Ball was appointed Chairperson of the provincial program while becoming a board member of the CFSA. She managed to juggle these two prestigious positions for the next four years. Then Ball chaired the National Figure Skating Committee at the Canada Games in Brandon.

In the 80’s, Ball became a member of the Manitoba Sports Federation Board. Ball was also nominated as MSF volunteer of the year, and she was inducted into the CFSA ‘Honour Society’.

Pat Ball was nominated for the Premier’s Volunteer Services Award in 1992 and, as the historical coordinator for figure skating in Manitoba, is attempting to write the history of figure skating in Manitoba.