The countdown is on to the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

OTTAWA, ON:  In January 2014, the spotlight will be on skating in Ottawa as the Canadian Tire Centre hosts the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships from January 9-15, 2014. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, Olympic silver medalist Elizabeth Manley, and representatives from Skate Canada will officially start the countdown to this significant event on Monday, December 16 at the Rink of Dreams from 12:00 – 12:30 (ET).

The championships will feature approximately 250 of Canada’s best figure skaters in senior, junior and novice as they vie for spots on the national team, international assignments and will act as the final step in the 2014 Olympic qualification process. On Sunday, January 12 at the conclusion of the senior events, Skate Canada will nominate the 17 member Olympic figure skating team to the Canadian Olympic Committee for selection to represent Canada at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

To mark the occasion, Mayor Jim Watson will be participating in his first skating lesson. Olympic silver medalist and certified Skate Canada coach Elizabeth Manley will be leading the lesson with the help of coaches and skaters from the Gloucester Skating Club.

Though Mayor Watson has had some informal training on the ice, he’s never had an official lesson to learn the fundamentals. To get the Mayor gliding with ease, he will be taking a CanSkate lesson.

CanSkate is Skate Canada’s learn-to-skate program and is designed for beginners of all ages. It provides the skills needed to develop strong basic skating skills and prepares skaters for virtually every ice sport.

Fans can buy their tickets for the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships online at www.capitaltickets.ca, by phone at 1.877.788.FANS (3267) or 613.599.FANS (3267), or in person at the Canadian Tire Centre box office.