Karen (Walker) Kost
Growing up in Peterborough, Karen was a good all round athlete. At 14, she played in the Peterborough Women’s Basketball League and competed with the Peterborough Juniors at the 1970 Ontario Winter Games. Her career took her to Calgary where she followed her passion for sport and became involved in hockey and softball. In 1979 she turned her love of hockey from playing to officiating, achieving level five (5) certification and is currently the only female in Canada to attain this level. For 34 years she officiated at all levels of hockey (female and male). She worked the 1992 and 1994 IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championships; the 1996 IIHF European Women’s Hockey Championships and was an invitee to the 1996 Pre-Olympic Officiating Training Camp in Canillo, Andorra. From 1986-2000, Karen officiated (9) Esso and (2) CIS National Women’s Hockey Championships (8 gold medal games) as well as numerous Pre-Olympic exhibition games between Canada and the USA. She was a provincial female development coordinator; a national supervisor; a member of the Hockey Alberta Referee’s Council; and served as an instructor with Hockey Canada’s National Certification Program. Her skills and ability transcended any gender barriers that may have existed. A Hockey Canada official described her “as an elite official, sincere and dedicated”. Karen has been recognized for her outstanding contribution to the development of hockey: 2008-2009 Hockey Alberta Outstanding Contribution Award; 2008-2009 Hockey Alberta Referees Council Outstanding Dedication and Commitment Award; 2009-2010 Hockey Alberta Development Award; 2012 Hockey Canada – Female Hockey Breakthrough Award for outstanding contribution to advancing female hockey. She is an accomplished individual who is a Kenner Hall of Honour and Fleming College Premier award winner; has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering; is a senior partner with ONPA Architects, Edmonton, Alberta; and manages to play over 100 rounds of golf a year with friends and as a regular competitor on the Alberta Golf Tour.
***In 2023, Karen Kost was recognized for her 34 years of contribution to hockey, and thereby inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.
Click on the icon below to watch her induction profile.
Karen Kost Induction
Year Inducted:
2016
Status:
Active
Growing up in Peterborough, Karen was a good all round athlete. At 14, she played in the Peterborough Women’s Basketball League and competed with the Peterborough Juniors at the 1970 Ontario Winter Games. Her career took her to Calgary where she followed her passion for sport and became involved in hockey and softball. In 1979 she turned her love of hockey from playing to officiating, achieving level five (5) certification and is currently the only female in Canada to attain this level. For 34 years she officiated at all levels of hockey (female and male). She worked the 1992 and 1994 IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championships; the 1996 IIHF European Women’s Hockey Championships and was an invitee to the 1996 Pre-Olympic Officiating Training Camp in Canillo, Andorra. From 1986-2000, Karen officiated (9) Esso and (2) CIS National Women’s Hockey Championships (8 gold medal games) as well as numerous Pre-Olympic exhibition games between Canada and the USA. She was a provincial female development coordinator; a national supervisor; a member of the Hockey Alberta Referee’s Council; and served as an instructor with Hockey Canada’s National Certification Program. Her skills and ability transcended any gender barriers that may have existed. A Hockey Canada official described her “as an elite official, sincere and dedicated”. Karen has been recognized for her outstanding contribution to the development of hockey: 2008-2009 Hockey Alberta Outstanding Contribution Award; 2008-2009 Hockey Alberta Referees Council Outstanding Dedication and Commitment Award; 2009-2010 Hockey Alberta Development Award; 2012 Hockey Canada – Female Hockey Breakthrough Award for outstanding contribution to advancing female hockey. She is an accomplished individual who is a Kenner Hall of Honour and Fleming College Premier award winner; has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering; is a senior partner with ONPA Architects, Edmonton, Alberta; and manages to play over 100 rounds of golf a year with friends and as a regular competitor on the Alberta Golf Tour.
***In 2023, Karen Kost was recognized for her 34 years of contribution to hockey, and thereby inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.
Click on the icon below to watch her induction profile.
Karen Kost Induction