Gertrude Phinney was born on January 18, 1909 in Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia. In 1927 at the Maritime Track and Field Championships she won an astounding five titles and single handily won the track meet for her team with a total of 28 points. At this meet, she set records in two sprinting events, one hurdle event, and one broad jumping event.

Later that same year she set two Maritime Indoor Sprint records. She was also a member of the 1927 Dalhousie Ladies Basketball team that was a Canadian Finalist. In 1928, Phinney surpassed her 1927 Maritime Championship Meet by winning six titles and setting four records. She won the National 220-Yard Title and she tied the World 60-Yard Record. This meet was the qualifying meet for the Olympic games. Also in this year she was the Canadian 220-Yard Champion.

In 1929, she won seven maritime titles and set one record. At the Dominion Track and Field meet in Montreal she won a gold medal in standing broad jump and silver medals in the 60-yard, 100-yard, and 220-yard relay. She was picked for the Olympic team but her father would not allow her to compete because he thought the events were too strenuous for women. Some of the women that Gertrude had beaten on her way to establishing Canadian Records came back from the Olympics with medals.

Phinney was the Halifax Chronicle Trophy winner in 1927, 1928, and 1929 for having the highest overall aggregate in the Maritime Track and Field Championships. In 1982, she was the recipient of the Dalhousie Award and is an Original Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame Inductee.