Dr. Helen Belyea was an award-winning geologist who studied at Dalhousie University and earned her Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 1939. She became a teacher, and later served in the Canadian Navy. In 1945, Dr. Belyea was hired as a technologist by the Canadian Geological Survey and was promoted to geologist in 1947. After oil was struck at Leduc, Alberta, she was one of two geologists sent in 1950 to monitor the discovery. Dr. Belyea received many awards for her work. She was given the Barlow Memorial Award from the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and was granted honorary doctorates from two universities. In 1976 she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. Dr. Belyea died in 1986.
Sources: Despite the Odds pg. 33-34 from Canadian Women: Risktakers & Changemakers Women Inventors Project ((416)243-0668)
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