Celebrations planned for the 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in Ottawa

OTTAWA, ON: This week Skate Canada will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in its birthplace of Ottawa, Ont. The event will take place from January 9-15, 2014 at Canadian Tire Centre with additional festivities around the city that will also be open to the public.

CANADIAN TIRE CENTRE
Over 250 athletes in senior, junior and novice will vie for Canadian titles and the opportunity to represent Canada internationally. The event will act as the final step in the 2014 Olympic qualification process.

OLYMPIC ANNOUNCEMENT
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 (COC) for selection to represent Canada at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

CANADA SKATES
To celebrate this rare historic milestone, Skate Canada presents a mini-ice show “CANADA SKATES! 100 YEARS OF CHAMPIONS” with daily performances from January 10-12 at Ottawa City Hall’s Rink of Dreams. Admission is free!

Choreographed by Olympic bronze medalist, World and Canadian Champion, Jeffrey Buttle, and performed by top-level skaters primarily from the Ottawa area, the 10-minute show will guide viewers through an artistic representation of the century-long development of the sport in Canada. The show depicts how Canada’s love for skating began in the early 20th century and has progressed to the artistic and athletic modern competition.

Schedule

FREE SKATING LESSONS
If you want to learn-to-skate or brush up on your skills, Skate Canada will have coaches and skaters from Ottawa area skating clubs on hand at the Rink of Dreams to interact and provide personal instruction.

Schedule

LIVE VIEWING
Watch coverage of the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships on the Skate Canada big screen set up at the Rink of Dreams. Canada’s best and brightest will be competing for national titles and a spot in Sochi.

TICKETS
Fans can purchase 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.