Mary Rose Thacker-Temple began skating at the tender age of 3 and by 4 years old was already performing in ice shows. At 13 years of age, Mary became the skating champion of the Winnipeg Winter Club and then burst into the national scene winning in the Canadian Junior Championship as a 14 year-old. By 1939, Mary won the first of her three Canadian Figure Skating Championships, repeated in 1941 and 1942.  In 1939 and 1941, she won the North American Figure Skating Championship titles. She was selected as Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1939 and 1941.

The Second World War dashed her Olympic goals and when she retired from her competitive career she performed in ice shows across Canada. Mary operated a rink and skating club for several years in Washington and later in British Columbia. In 1952, she was appointed as the professional of the Victoria Figure Skating Club and moved her school there. Mary took great pride in helping to develop a number of young skaters who went on to their own championship and professional journeys.