Born in Toronto, Ontario, Bowden won championships in every division of Canadian figure skating.

Bowden and Dafoe captured four Canadian titles (1952, 1953, 1954, 1955) and two world championships (1954, 1955).

They won the silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, where Bowden was Canada's flag bearer in the opening ceremonies.

Norris and his partner were the first pair skaters to do the twist lift, throw jump, ‘leap of faith’ and overhead lasso.

[1] Outside skating, Bowden graduated with an MBA and worked in the life insurance industry.