• A long-time faculty member who had a profound effect on the training of hundreds of physical education students and an early advocate of adapted physical education.
• Excelled in swimming, sailing, and golf; won the 1973 Canadian Ladies Senior Golf Championship.
• Made an enduring contribution to the field of adapted physical education, where she provided leadership to the Special Olympics movement and undertook extensive research in play programs for mentally challenged children.
• Received the R. Tait McKenzie Award of Honour in 1971 from the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation for distinguished service to the profession.

Dr. Patricia Austin made an outstanding contribution to the development of physical education and sport in Canada. As a coach and a physical educator, she conveyed a love of the profession to her students while at the same time demanding high standards of achievement from them.

Dr. Austin began her student days at the University of Toronto. Here, her leadership in physical education and athletics flowered. Upon graduation, she was awarded the Ema Scott Naismith Gold Medal. In 1974, she received her Ph.D. from Michigan State University and was recognized for her meritorious service to physical education. That year she was honored with achievement awards by both the Provinces of Alberta and Ontario.

Throughout her life, Pat Austin was an avid athlete who excelled in sailing, swimming, and golf and in 1973, she won the Canadian Ladies Senior Golf Championship.
In addition to Pat Austin's outstanding teaching ability and dedication to athletics and physical education, she devoted a great deal of her time and effort to community services. Perhaps her most enduring contribution was in the field of adapted physical education where she provided leadership in the Special Olympics movement as well as research in play programs for mentally handicapped children.

The Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation awarded her the R. Tait McKenzie Honor Award in 1971 for distinguished service to the profession.