Helen Ruth Katherine Peters (1942-2026) was a loving spouse, sister, aunt and cherished family member, friend and colleague. 

 

Helen was a dedicated and accomplished scholar holding multiple degrees from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador and obtained a D.Phil. in English from Oxford University. Her thesis won the British Academy’s Rose Mary Crawshay Prize in 1981 (a prestigious literary award established in 1888 that recognizes the contributions of female scholars in the field of English literature).  She joined the faculty of Memorial University in 1984 and retired in 2004. 

 

Throughout her career, Helen operated with unwavering dedication and commitment to documenting and sharing the extraordinary cultural depth of Newfoundland and Labrador’s artistic community, including serving as a member of the board of the Newfoundland Quarterly, a council member with Arts NL, producing an edition of The Plays of CODCO, and convening a workshop for the International Federation for Theatre Research, which resulted in a special publication of the journal Theatre Research International. In 1996, she also edited and published a collection of Newfoundland and Labrador plays, Stars in the Sky Morning.  Helen followed the vision of her uncle Dr. George Story: that the past is alive in a living language evolving over time.  

 

The Helen R.K. Peters Community Builder Fund continues Helen’s dedication to supporting artists and arts groups in Newfoundland and Labrador with a focus on expanding access for individuals and groups to engage in arts and culture creation and performance. This includes awarding the annual Helen R.K. Peters Community Builder Award through Arts NL. 

 

Donating to This Fund

The Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (CFNL) is a registered charity (BN: 853376531RR0001). You can donate by:

• credit card using the form below,
• sending a cheque to CFNL’s Office, or,
• E-transferring your donation to info@cfnl.ca – ensure you include the fund’s name, your name, and your address to receive a tax receipt. 

Click here for a comprehensive list of donation types CFNL can accept. 

For US Donors – CFNL can accept and provide tax receipts for US Donors through its membership in the Community Foundations of Canada. Contact us at info@cfnl.ca or (709)753-9899 to learn more. The form below is only for Canadian Tax Receipts.