Making skating for everyone.

“Skating for everyone” is our vision for the future of our sport. It’s at the core of our Strategic Plan and it’s the reason we champion equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) in everything we do. We strive to create a safe and welcoming environment for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, Indigeneity, religion, class, size, ability, gender identity, gender expression, or sexuality. We are committed to providing strong and positive leadership that models fair and respectful behaviour.

Our Initiatives

During the 2022-2026 quadrennial cycle, the EDIA Operating Committee has outlined key initiatives to ensure that inclusion becomes an integral part of our everyday practices.

Community Constellations is a program designed to address barriers to exposure to figure skating in Canada. This program removes financial barriers facing systemically marginalized groups and provides the opportunity to attend live figure skating events and experience the magic of the sport first-hand. In addition to an event ticket, participants receive transportation to and from the venue and onsite food vouchers, with opportunities for family and inter-generational attendance.

Since its inception in 2022, Skate Canada has partnered with organizations such as KidsUpFront, Temple Community Association, New Canadian Friendship Centre, Winnipeg Boldness Project, Winnipeg Newcomer Sport Academy, Indigenous Sport Physical Activity and Recreation Council, and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation to help distribute more than 700 tickets to figure skating events to underserved individuals and families, including newcomers, refugees, and Indigenous Canadians.

Skate Canada’s Community of Practice brings together individuals who share a common interest and commitment to specific diversity and inclusion topics. Held virtually on a quarterly basis, this shared and intimate environment fosters a safe space for participants to learn, discuss, and share their experiences, guiding Skate Canada’s EDIA efforts. Previous Communities of Practice have addressed:

  • Responsible and ethical music selection, choreography, and costumes;
  • Truth and Reconciliation in sports;
  • Accessibility, accommodation, and adaptive skating.

If you are interested in submitting a topic for discussion, please email Patricia-Ann Que.

This data collection project allows us to measure the impact of our initiatives and to further identify what needs to be done going forward. This will also provide insights that will allow us to make changes, as appropriate, to better retain diverse participants.

Now in its second year, the program aims to encourage greater participation in skating leadership roles by those who self-identify as Indigenous, Black, or racialized persons, or as members of other under-represented groups. The program pairs mentees with experienced mentors and addresses common barriers for diversity in sport, including:

  • Lack of representation, role models, and mentors from diverse backgrounds;
  • Financial barriers;
  • Lack of on-going mentorship support throughout the training period and after.

The cornerstone for a transformative and respectful conversation towards reconciliation is to form relationships and to learn to ‘Work in Good Ways’ with Canada’s First Nations. In the past few years, our organization has been actively learning through the following:

  • Worked in partnership with Konwatsi’tsá:wi Meloche on Indigenous programming at the 2024 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, including providing Indigenous Awareness Training for coaches and officials;
  • Under the guidance of Clifford Mushquash, conducted two sessions of the KAIROS Blanket Exercise for attendees of the 2024 Ice Summit;
  • Hosted multiple Indigenous workshops and education sessions for Skate Canada National Office staff, including a sharing circle with Clayton Sandy, a respected member of the Sioux Valley Dakota First Nation.

Resources