Barb's lacrosse career started with 2 years of box lacrosse, switching to playing field lacrosse in 1978. Barb would have an amazing career in field lacrosse as a player coach and builder of the sport. She is one of the reasons that Ontario has such a strong women’s field lacrosse program. As a player she was on Team Canada’s Women first medalist team (1982 bronze) in International World Championship play and a silver medal recipient in Canadian National Championships in 1983, 85,87,99, 89, and 1990-93 with bronze medals in 1984 and 1986. As a builder her roles included National Team Coaching accomplishments as assistant coach in the 1989 World Cup, and Head Coach 1990-93 taking fourth place at the 1983 World Cup. Her early building endeavors included Women’s Lacrosse Course Conductor from 1990-95 and facilitated lacrosse coaching certification courses Level 1 (community Development) and Level 2 (Competitive Introduction). In 2000 Barb founded the Oshawa Lady Blue Knights Lacrosse Club and continued as Executive Director for 24 years. The organization has become the largest and most successful women’s field lacrosse organization in Canada with over 500 girls playing House League and Rep. The Rep teams have won 57 Provincial Championships. In addition, Boyes has been instrumental in the development of the sport throughout high schools in Durham. She was inducted into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1999 was presented with the International Federation of the Women’s Field Lacrosse Association Recognition Award in 2007 and the Roots of the Game Award in 2000. In 2022 Lacrosse Canada awarded Barb the Lester B. Pearson Award for outstanding contributions in sportsmanship and leadership in lacrosse.
