As a table tennis prodigy, Julie Barton had a career full of firsts for both Nova Scotia and Canada. These firsts started in 1985 when she won the Junior National Championships in the under 13 category. In 1987 she became the first Nova Scotian and the youngest player ever to make the national team, representing Canada at the World Championships at the age of 14.

In 1988, at 15 years old, Barton became the Canadian Women’s Singles Champion, making her the youngest competitor in history to hold both the Junior and Senior Canadian Singles Titles.

Over her 10-year career she represented Canada at the Worlds three times, won seven national championships (in senior, junior, singles, and doubles competition) and won two bronze medals at the 1991 Pan Am games.