Canada’s NextGen Skaters Return to Courchevel, France as  Junior Grand Prix Continues 

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada’s junior skaters are heading back to Courchevel, France for the second stop on this year’s Junior Grand Prix circuit. As the circuit continues, Canada’s top junior skaters will compete against the world for a coveted spot at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final. Skate Canada will have four entries, for a total of six skaters, competing at the event. There will be one entry in men, one entry in women, and two entries in ice dance. This event is scheduled to take place from August 25-28, 2021.  

Wesley Chiu, 16, Richmond, B.C., is the only Canadian in the men’s discipline. Chiu won silver in junior at the 2020 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Wesley is coached by Keegan Murphy and Eileen Murphy in Richmond, B.C.  

Kaiya Ruiter, 15, Calgary, Alta., is the only Canadian in the women’s discipline. Ruiter recently brought home a silver medal at the Junior Grand Prix in Courchevel, France. Ruiter also won gold in junior at the 2020 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. She also won gold in junior at the 2020 Bavarian Open. She is coached by Scott Davis and Jeff Langdon in Calgary, Alta.  

Miku Makita, 18, Anmore, B.C., and Tyler Gunara, 19, Burnaby, B.C., are one of two ice dance teams representing Canada at this event. This team recently brought home a silver medal at the Junior Grand Prix in Courchevel, France. The team finished fifth at the 2020 Youth Winter Olympic Games. They are coached by Aaron Lowe and Megan Wing in Burnaby, B.C. 

Chaima Ben Khelifa, 16, Laval, Que., and Everest Zhu, 18, Contestogo, Ont., are the second entry in the ice dance discipline at this event. This is their first Junior Grand Prix event. They are coached by Shawn Winter and Elise Hamel in Pierrefonds, Que.  

André Bourgeois, Skate Canada NextGen Director and Danielle Williams of Langley, B.C., will be the Canadian team leaders at the event. Physiotherapist Shirley Kushner of Westmount, Que., will be the Canadian team medical staff on site. Lorna Schroder of Georgetown, Ont., and Limin Jao of Toronto, Ont., will be the team officials at the event.  

For more information, please visit www.isu.org.  

 CANADIAN ENTRIES AT ISU JGP #2 – COURCHEVEL, FRANCE 

Men 

Wesley Chiu (16) / Richmond,B.C. / Connaught FSC Richmond / Coached by Keegan Murphy and Eileen Murphy 

Women 

Kaiya Ruiter (15) / Calgary, Alta. / The Glencoe Club / Coached by Scott Davis and Jeff Langdon 

Ice Dance 

Miku Makita (18) and Tyler Gunara (19) / Anmore, B.C. and Burnaby, B.C. / Inlet Skate Club of Port Moody / Coached by Aaron Lowe and Megan Wing 

Chaima Ben Khelifa (16) and Everest Zhu (18) / Laval QC. and  Contestogo,Ont. / CPA Laval and Club de Patinage Des-Deux-Rives / Coached by Shawn Winter and Elise Hame