At six years old, Maya Isabelle began CanSkate where she fell in love with the sport, sparking her dream of competing at the national level. For Maya, being on the ice feels like freedom, even in the face of unexpected challenges. Through storytelling in her performances, she aims to express her identity and inspire others, proving that sometimes, the journey speaks louder than the results themselves. 

This season she hoped to represent Skate Ontario at the 2025 Skate Canada National Championships – a milestone that she has been working towards throughout her skating career. She was determined to become the first Black skater in recent years to compete at nationals in the women’s competition.  But just thirty minutes before her short program at the 2025 Skate Canada Challenge, a qualifying event for nationals, her plans took an expected turn when she developed a stomach flu. 

Despite the setback, Maya refused to give up. She skated both programs, pushing through even when forced to leave the ice during her free program due to illness, resulting in a five-point deduction. Still, she got back on the ice and finished her program. “I knew at this point that I wasn’t going to qualify [for nationals] but I still wanted to try my best” she said. One source of her motivation and perseverance was the powerful story behind her free program. 

Her free skate is set to music from Harriet, a film which follows the life of anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman. Maya drew inspiration from the soundtrack’s song ‘Stand Up’ which includes Tubman’s final words: “I go to prepare a place for you.” This quote resonated with Maya, driving her to share it with others. “It’s important for me to tell a story. By choosing movies and songs that I can relate to, it is easier to tell the story” she explained.  

Maya has incorporated Black history into her programs as a way to share her identity with the audience. “I have something different, and I want to share it” she said. Growing up competitive skating, she noticed the lack of skaters who looked like her. She remembers the first time she saw Vanessa James, exclaiming “you look just like me!”  

Moments like this have fueled her to strive to be a role model for younger Black skaters through encouragement, support and cheering each other on.  While she admits that this responsibility can feel overwhelming at times, using her performances to tell stories of Black history is one way she hopes to inspire others. Skating to ‘Stand Up’ has made Maya want to ‘prepare a place’ for the next generation of Black skaters.  

Next season, Maya plans to debut a new free program set to music from the Netflix movie “The Six Triple Eight,” a story about an all-black, all-female battalion in World War Two. By sharing stories of Black history through skating, Maya not only stays motivated and driven towards her goals but also makes a unique impact on the sport- paving the way for the next generation of skaters to see themselves on the ice.