She was born in the Netherlands to figure skater Ellen Burka and artist Jan Burka. Her family moved to Canada in 1951. She was the Canadian senior ladies' champion from 1964-1966. She won bronze at the 1964 Olympic championships and was the world champion in 1965. She became the first woman to land a triple Salchow jump at the 1962 Canadian Championships. She was named Canada's Outstanding Athlete of the Year in 1964 and Canada's Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year in 1964 and 1965. She was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1965.