Journey of Friendship: Eric Radford composes free program music for friend and fellow world champion Patrick Chan

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The music, aptly titled “A Journey”, was as sudden as it was uplifting for Patrick Chan, a spellbinding piece of wonder composed by one world champion for another.

Barely a month has passed since friends and national team stablemates Patrick Chan and Eric Radford returned from a casual night out in St. John’s, Newfoundland, during the Skate Canada Ice Summit. Radford, a polished musician and the two-time defending world pair champion with Meagan Duhamel, sat down at a piano in the hotel lobby and, without warning, began playing.

A photo posted by Eric Radford (@ericradford85) on

The moments that followed turned out to be awakening of sorts for Chan, the three-time world champion who had been searching, without luck, for the perfect free program music.

Until then.

“I immediately tuned in to what he was playing,” says Chan. “I couldn’t believe how beautiful the piece was, and I asked if he wrote it. He said yes, it was his.”

“I told him to keep playing. I was like ‘Oh my God.’ It was exactly what I was looking for. Complete strangers were coming over to listen to him play. It was amazing.”

“Right there I asked him if he could send me a couple of pieces to possibly consider for a program.”

Within days, Chan says, Radford sent five pieces of music for Chan to listen to. Unable to contain his excitement, he forwarded the pieces to coach Kathy Johnson, refusing to tell her who had composed the music. He just wanted Johnson to listen.

She did and, like Chan, fell in love with the music.

“Kathy loved it. We went from there and we’ve kind of built it to where we are now. It’s been amazing.

“It’s almost choreographed itself.”

Not that it needs to, since Chan is once again teamed up with world-renowned choreographer David Wilson, one of the best in the business.

“It’s challenging after such a short off-season to get back in the rink, try to focus and get creative,” says Chan. “I find this process can sometimes be challenging, so to work with David, who very nurturing as an individual, makes it fun and creative. He is just amazing to work with.”

Chan will perform the program at Skate Canada International, his first ISU Grand Prix assignment of the year. Duhamel and Radford will also defend their titles at the event in Mississauga, Ont. this October.

Previously, Radford had composed “Tribute” in honour of his longtime coach Paul Wirtz, who passed away in 2006.  Duhamel and Radford skated to the music for their short program during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics season.

When working on the final product for Chan, Radford went back in the studio and merged two pieces of music together – one strings-based and the other solely piano.

“When I originally watched Patrick skate to the music (on video), what made me smile most was how David captured the more intricate things,” says Radford. “David’s originality as a choreographer, and Patrick’s skating ability, make them the ultimate team.”

“Our friendship has really blossomed over the past couple of years, especially since the Sochi Olympics,” says Radford of his bond with Chan.

“When I found out Patrick was going to skate to my music, it was like winning a world championship of my own. I hope he is able to find a calmness, something special, within the music.”

It is a season like no other for Chan, who goes in search of a ninth Canadian – and fourth world – title. Returning to competition last season after a year hiatus, Chan is determined not to put any added pressure on himself as a new season dawns.  The goal, as always, will be to finish atop the podium, but Chan isn’t going to focus as much on the results as he his on his growth as a skater, a performer and a person.

“For me, it’s all about the process and growing as an individual, when it comes to movement,” he adds. “This program, and Eric’s piece, is making me grow as a skater, to express in different ways that nobody will ever understand. It’s very much for personal gain, a selfish gain, which is good.

“I don’t think I’ve given myself enough years to do that. I think I’ve spent a lot of years trying to please everyone that’s watching.”

For Chan, there is something different about this season.

It’s about the music and the journey, not necessarily where, or even if, he finishes on the podium.

“This is just another season to me,” Chan admits. “When the music plays and I’m on the ice by myself, that’s when the magic happens. I don’t want to make a big deal.

“It’s just another competition that I’m going to give my best and hopefully affect people’s lives in a positive way.”

Remembering David Dore

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A childhood battle with polio brought David Dore to the rink.

A love for figure skating kept him there for the next 63 years.

Mr. Dore – competitive skater, official, volunteer and world-renowned figure skating visionary –  passed away April 8th in Ottawa at the age of 75.

Confined to a wheelchair at 12 as he struggled with polio, Dore was advised to take up skating as a form of therapy as he learned to walk again.

Three days after he began, Dore was out of the wheelchair and on his feet – and he never looked back.

Eventually, Dore would become a respected official, judging in seven world championships and the 1984 Olympic Winter Games, and named the youngest President of the Canadian Figure Skating Association, now known as Skate Canada.  In 2002, Dore was elected 1st Vice President of the International Skating Union (ISU), becoming the first Canadian to serve in that role.

Dore has been bestowed with several honours, including Member of the Olympic Order, Honoured Member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, recipient of three Governor General Awards and induction into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame.

The timeless impact David Dore had on skating will never be forgotten.

In recent weeks, Skate Canada launched the David Dore Mentorship Fund, to honour his vision and lifelong love of figure skating. In his own words, Paul Dore, David Dore’s son, pays an emotional tribute to his father:

Usually, the Skate Canada Hall of Fame ceremony occurs during the National Skating Championships. In 2008, when my father was inducted, he requested that the ceremony happen during the Skate ACGM. Close to his heart is the nuts and bolts of operating a successful organization, from grassroots programs all the way to the elite level. My father wanted to not only celebrate his Hall of Fame achievement with his family and peers, but also shine a light on the people at all levels that make an organization like Skate Canada work.

During my own career, I’ve always had a secret weapon. As I moved into management positions, I routinely called and continue to call my father asking for his thoughts. Much of his influence has been absorbed by watching him work and the many successes throughout his career, but also, bearing witness to how he treats people with respect and appreciation. He knows that in order to host a competition like the 2001 World Figure Skating Championships, it is the contribution of many individuals working collectively that creates a successful event, including thousands of volunteers. I have had a front row seat to see how people are inspired by his commitment and in turn, feel as though they have a personal and meaningful contribution to the overall event.

When my father retired from Skate Canada in 2002, I remember a story told by a colleague about when he started working at the organization. They sat in the stands at the 1993 Canadian Championships. Kurt Browning was on the comeback trail and about to reveal his legendary Casablanca program. Elvis Stojko was the challenger and right behind Browning in the world standings. Copps Coliseum was packed with almost 20,000 people and the warm-up was a chaotic scream-fest of the crowd cheering at every jump Browning and Stojko landed. The colleague remembered the obvious excitement coming from my father, because perhaps his favourite moment during an event, after all that goes into organizing a National or World Championship, is being in the audience as a spectator who has a profound love of the sport. This is also evident in the fact that he has always been actively involved with the development of the sport of figure skating, especially around creating programs for athletes such as the Skate Canada Athlete’s Trust and the International Skating Union’s Youth Seminars.

As a national medalist, world and Olympic judge, Skate Canada President, Skate Canada Director General and the Vice President of the International Skating Union, my father has direct experience at all the levels that make our sport work. The David Dore Fund is about helping those at the club level gain valuable experience with professionals at the national office and encourage them to bring this knowledge back to their local skaters, coaches, boards and communities. As a coach myself, I understand how important this kind of experience is to the people that volunteer their time to build successful skating clubs. When my father laced up his first pair of skates, the sport became his life’s work. The David Dore Fund aims to provide support for clubs so they can in turn create environments where people of all ages can discover the sport of figure skating.

To honour of Mr. David Dore, please consider a donation to the David Dore Mentorship Fund.

 

 

Skate Canada celebrates our volunteer officials on National Officials Day!

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Skate Canada officials are passionate. They’re dedicated.

And they’re volunteers.

Today, as the Canadian sporting community celebrates National Officials Day, we honour Skate Canada’s devoted and accomplished officials who give so much to our sport from the grassroots to the Olympic level.

“On behalf of Skate Canada, I would like to take a moment to thank all our officials for the infinite dedication and passion they have for our sport,” said Skate Canada President Leanna Caron, also an active official. “Officials have a tremendous impact on the development of our athletes both on and off the ice contributing to their development as individuals.

“Officials selflessly devote their time and expertise providing feedback to skaters as they pursue their goals and ambitions while approaching their officiating task respecting all elements of fair play.  They are truly an important part of skating in Canada.”

Officials are truly the backbone for our sport. Judges, referees, data specialists, evaluators, technical specialists and controllers give their time to support the participation of all skaters in various ways, including test days, competitions, monitoring sessions, workshops and educational seminars.

“I encourage Canadians to take a moment and thank all Skate Canada officials for their hard work and dedication as volunteers,” says Karen Howard, Chair of Skate Canada’s Officials Assignment & Promotion Committee. “These dedicated individuals give back to our sport by doing something they love, and play a significant role in figure skating right across the country.”

“At the heart of any successful organization are the people,” says André-Marc Allain, Chair of the Skate Canada Officials Development Committee. “Our officials continue to dedicate countless hours ‎to support the development of skating in Canada, be it at the community/grass root level or on the national/international stage. What is further admirable is that a very large majority of these officials also spend numerous hours off ice perfecting and honing their skills to an even greater degree by participating in a number of educational and learning seminars. These officials are truly committed to giving their most optimal performance whether at a test day, at a monitoring session or at a competition for the benefit of all skaters.”

Thank You Volunteers.

For more information on Skate Canada officials, or if you want to get involved in becoming an official, please contact your Skate Canada section office or  visit the Skate Canada Officials page.

 

MEET CANADA’S WORLD TEAM: PAIRS

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Meagan / Eric Radford

Meagan Duhamel / Eric Radford

The reigning five-time Canadian champions and defending world champions don’t rest on their laurels. With creativity, unique elements and dazzling death spirals, Meagan and Eric continue to raise the bar and arrive in Boston looking to defend the world crown they won last spring. Training in Montreal under Bruno Marcotte and Richard Gauthier, Meagan and Eric enjoyed a perfect run that began in the fall of 2014 before coming to an end with silver at the Grand Prix Final in December.

FUN FACT: Eric loves music almost as much as he loves skating. He composed Tribute in 2006 after Paul Wirtz, his coach at the time, passed away from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Meagan and Eric skated to Tribute in their short program in 2013-14.

Meagan was a former singles skater and won the Canadian junior women’s championship in 2004.

Lubov Ilyushechkina / Dylan Moscovitch

Lubov Ilyushechkina / Dylan Moscovitch

In just their second year together, Lubov and Dylan claimed their second straight Canadian championships medal with a bronze in Halifax. Dylan’s raw power and Lubov’s jaw-dropping flexibility are catalysts for unique lifts and creative tricks that have quickly made them crowd favourites.  In the future, Dylan says he would like to study business at the University of Toronto, while Lubov has an interest in economics and law.

FUN FACT: In her own words, Lubov is “obsessed with cheese.” Dylan is an accomplished martial artist, and a certified Krav Maga instructor.

Kirsten Moore-Towers / Michael Marinaro

Kirsten Moore-Towers / Michael Marinaro

Following a frightening fall in their short program at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, Kirsten and Michael recovered in their free to finish in fourth spot. As part of the national team in 2015-16, they earned their first Grand Prix medal together with a bronze at Skate Canada International. A photo of 4’11 Moore-Towers and Boston Bruins 6’9 defenceman Zdeno Chara went viral during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games.

FUN FACT: Michael is often told he looks like Craig Buntin; Kirsten can recite the alphabet – in sign language.

MEET CANADA’S WORLD TEAM: LADIES

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Alaine Chartrand

Alaine Chartrand 

A year ago, Alaine came achingly close to her first national title, finishing less than two points behind Gabrielle Daleman. In 2016, she turned the tables, edging Daleman in Halifax for the Canadian championship. Alaine spends most of her week training in her hometown of Prescott, Ont. before travelling to the Toronto area to train on weekends. The travelling has paid off, as the powerful jumper can now add Canadian champion to her growing resume. Although she says she was too young to remember, Alaine has been told she landed her first axel when she was just six years old.

“I don’t know if my mindset is any different,” Alaine says of attending her first worlds as Canadian champion. “I definitely gained a lot of confidence from my performances at nationals. I know I can do two clean programs in one competition and that’s one thing I’ve struggled with in the past.”

FUN FACT: On long skating trips, Alaine often rides in the family RV. In her younger years, Alaine’s father racked up more than 500,000 km on his six-seat pickup truck.

Gabrielle Daleman

Gabrielle Daleman

After what she referred to as an “extremely disappointing” short program at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, Gabrielle bounced back in a big way in the free to win silver, coming up just short in her bid for a second straight national title. At just 16 years of age, Gabrielle was the youngest member of the entire Canadian Olympic Team at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. A former gymnast, “Gabby”, uses her lightning speed as the springboard for her powerful jumps.

FUN FACT: Gabby always has to have her special travel companion with her when she is on the road: her purple blanket.

MEET CANADA’S WORLD TEAM: ICE DANCE

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Kaitlyn Weaver / Andrew Poje

Kaitlyn Weaver / Andrew Poje

In January, Kaitlyn and Andrew captured their second straight national title at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships and will look to ride that momentum right into Boston. The two-time world medallists were riding a perfect season a year ago before settling for bronze at worlds. In 2014, they took silver at the world championships, missing gold by less than a point.

Kaitlyn and Andrew are ambassadors for Right to Play, an international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world

DID YOU KNOW: Kaitlyn and Andrew are both taking classes at the University of Waterloo – Kaitlyn is studying public relations and media, and Andrew is focused on biomedical science.

Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier

Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier

Always entertaining, artistic crowd pleasers, Piper and Paul notched their fourth Canadian podium finish, and second straight silver, at the Canadian championships in January. Together since 2011, Piper and Paul display a high level of artistry in their programs and despite facing injury issues in recent seasons, remain crowd favourites with creative lifts and extraordinary performance ability. Away from the rink, Piper is immersed in the fashion world, and does much of the outfit design for their programs. One day, she hopes to launch her own line of sports clothing.

FUN FACT: Piper was an extra in a Simple Plan music video; Paul, meanwhile, admits he is “really bad” at parking cars.

Elisabeth Paradis/Francois-Xavier Oullette

Élisabeth Paradis / François-Xavier Ouellette 

Slowly making their way up the ice dance ranks, the Quebec tandem had their unofficial coming out party in January with a bronze at the Canadian championships.  After their moving free program to Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water, Tessa Virtue called it “one of the highlights of the season” for her.  Displaying profound emotion and elegance in their programs, Elisabeth and François-Xavier seem destined to only get better as they continue to train under former Olympians and two-time ice dance world silver medallists Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon.

DID YOU KNOW: Élisabeth plays the tenor saxophone in her spare time while François likes to do heavy lifting by renovating houses.

MEET CANADA’S WORLD TEAM: MEN

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Patrick Chan

Patrick Chan

Call him skating’s version of the GR8 Eight. Making his comeback after a one-year- hiatus, Patrick didn’t miss a step, claiming his eighth Canadian championship in Halifax two months ago. Patrick joins Brian Orser with eight national titles, one behind Montgomery Wilson, and heads to Boston in search of his fourth world title. He was simply dominant in the free program at the Four Continents championship in February, roaring back from fifth spot to take gold, and marked his return to the competitive scene with a win at Skate Canada International in October.

DID YOU KNOW: In the summer of 2015, Patrick launched his own ice wine named, not surprisingly, “On Ice.” Looking to the future, the eight-time Canadian champion – who is fluent in English, French and Cantonese – plans to pursue a B.A. in Economics, Business and International Language.

FUN FACT: Prior to his comeback, Patrick took up skydiving after Joannie Rochette, an accomplished skydiver herself, talked him into it. “I was very scared,” says Patrick with a laugh. “I contemplated life, but it was worth it.”

Nam Nguyen

Nam Nguyen

OK, so his title defense at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships didn’t go as planned, as Nam ended up fourth. But don’t be surprised if the youngster bounces back in Boston. It’s only been a year since Nam was in ninth spot after the short program at the world figure skating championships before laying down a near-flawless free to rocket up to fifth.

Canadian silver medallist Liam Firus pulled out of worlds with an injury, so the 2014 world junior champion gets his chance to make up for his disappointment in Halifax.

Long before stealing the show at the 2011 Canadian junior championships in Victoria, B.C., Nam was on a fast-track to stardom. During the figure skating gala at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, men’s gold medallist Evan Lysacek introduced the then-11-year-old, who went on to dazzle the capacity crowd at Pacific Coliseum.

DID YOU KNOW: In Japan, Nam and reigning Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu – who both train under Brian Orser at Toronto’s Cricket Club – are known as the “Cricket Brothers.”

FUN FACT: Nam claims to be able to put 21 marshmallows in his mouth at once.

Elvis Stojko and young Skate Canada skaters set for TV movie debut in “Ice Girls”

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Elvis Stojko’s leading role in Ice Girls is a classic case of life imitating art.

The three-time world champion makes his movie debut in Ice Girls, playing a rink manager and – you guessed it – former figure skater named Mercury who takes a young, new-to-town skater under his wing.

Ice Girls, which also stars Natasha Henstridge (The Whole Nine Yards) and young Canadian skaters Michaela Du Toit and Taylor Hunsley, debuts on Family Channel on Friday, March 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Filmed in Sudbury, Ont., the movie’s plot revolves around the strong bond formed between aspiring figure skating star Mattie Dane (Du Toit) and Mercury (Stojko).

Mattie injures herself in a fall during a competition and struggles to regain her confidence after her skating dreams are shattered. Things take a turn for the worse when her mother loses her job and the family is forced to move to a small northern Ontario city, where Mattie struggles to find her place in unfamiliar surroundings.

As she tries to fit in, Mattie finds escape at the local arena, but another talented skater (Hunsley) and her overly-competitive mother (Henstridge) remind the newcomer there isn’t room at the top for both of them. Seeing the potential in the skater, Mercury begins to mentor Mattie, much like in real life when Stojko works with young Skate Canada athletes.

“It really was an awesome experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” says Stojko. “The character fit well with my personality. There are so many aspects within Mercury that are already in my life. It felt comfortable because, in some ways, it was like walking in my own shoes.”

While Ice Girls marks his maiden movie role, this isn’t Stojko’s first acting gig. In his Broadway debut a couple of years ago, Stojko played smooth-talking, manipulative lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago: The Musical.

“This is the direction I’ve wanted to go for a long time,” says Stojko of his acting career. “I love acting and working with guys like (acting coach) Brad Milne. It’s been building these last couple of years for me, so hopefully I can keep that momentum going for the next project. I’ll just keep working and honing my craft.”

Both Du Toit, and Hunsley have compiled impressive skating resumes early in their careers.

Hunsley, the 2009 Canadian juvenile women’s champion, also finished tenth at the 2015 Skate Canada Challenge to qualify for the 2015 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Du Toit, who skates out of the Richmond Hill Skating Club but represents South Africa internationally, competed in the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in February and was pre-novice silver medallist at 2013 Skate Canada Challenge.

In her first leading role, Du Toit admits she was nervous starring with Stojko as shooting began, but the two connected with their roles almost immediately. Even when the cameras weren’t rolling, Stojko took some to work with Du Toit on technical elements for upcoming real-life competitions.

“It was just amazing working with the entire cast, and especially Elvis,” says Du Toit. “I was so excited when I heard he was in movie. On set he was just a great mentor. He is just an amazing person.”

Olympic and world ice dance champion Tessa Virtue, who recently announced with partner Scott Moir that they will return to the competitive ranks next season, also has a cameo in the movie.

Scenes were shot at three Sudbury arenas – Walden, Cambrian and Countryside. Young skaters from seven local skating clubs were brought in as extras.

“The skaters were so thrilled to be involved in the movie,” says Lisa Burton, a coach with the Chelmsford Skating Club. “It was an extremely positive experience for all of them, and the crew and everyone associated with the film were great. It was quite special for all of them.”

Sudbury was the city where a young Stojko first made his mark on the Canadian skating scene by finishing second to Kurt Browning at the 1990 Canadian championships. It was an early look at the greatness that would follow, as Stojko would go on to win three world titles between 1994 and 1997.

“Every time I go to Sudbury, it always brings back memories,” says Stojko. “ I have lots of memories from up there. The community was so supportive, and it was a lot of fun to be back.”

Du Toit says the story is one of perseverance, dedication and friendship and epitomizes the strength of the human spirit as her character battles back from odds so stacked against her.

“There are a lot of life lessons in the movie”, says Du Toit. “It’s about not giving up on your dreams no matter how hard things get.

“It may look kind of cloudy right now, but if you persevere, you will get there.”

Photos courtesy Family Channel

Skate Canada Coach Yvan Desjardins realizes goal with NCCP Level 5 certification

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Don’t try telling Yvan Desjardins that 13 is an unlucky number.

A highly-respected coach at École Excellence Rosemère in Montreal, Desjardins, working with legendary coach Manon Perron in Skate Canada’s High Performance Mentorship Program, recently joined elite status by becoming the 13th Skate Canada coach to achieve the lofty Level 5 certification with the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP).

Level 5 is the pinnacle of the NCCP and highest status a coach can receive.

“It was definitely one of my goals,” said Desjardins of the Level 5 distinction. “I didn’t know when I would finish, but I wanted to get my Level 5.”

Skate Canada’s High Performance Mentorship Program provides professional development opportunities to a select group of coaches working with targeted athletes, including one-on-one mentoring to help coaches prepare their athletes for the competitive journey ahead.

A former national team member and world junior competitor, Desjardins originally received Level 4 certification while attending the University of Montreal more than a decade and a half ago. Plans for full Level 5 certifications were put on hold when Desjardins and his wife welcomed two children into the world. Coaching took a back seat to fatherhood.

Desjardins, who has been coaching for more than two decades, joined the High Performance Mentorship Program in 2014. Working side-by-side with Perron, Desjardins achieved his Level 5 status last August and was officially presented with his certificate of achievement during the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in Halifax this past January.

“It wasn’t about the actual level,” says Desjardins. “I was not looking for recognition. I wanted to be the best coach I can. I learned a lot in the program, and improved as a coach. Programs like this open your mind and allow you to see what other coaches are doing with their training.

“Working with Manon has been great. She reassures me that I’ve been doing the right things, and that means a lot coming from her. She also has a lot of contacts that have helped, as well. We all need mentors, in skating, as an organization and in life. You have to have that balance.

“That’s what Skate Canada is doing with the High Performance Coach Mentorship Program, and that is a very good thing.”

Desjardins has developed a special bond with all his athletes, including 2015 national junior champion Nicolas Nadeau. Later this month, Desjardins and Nadeau will head to Hungary for the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.

“Nicolas’ father said to me ‘you spend more time with my son than I do, and I really appreciate what you are doing for him’”, says Desjardins, who also coaches Joseph Phan, the 2016 junior men’s champion.

“It’s a special relationship coaches have with their athletes, and those relationships develop each year. And it’s not just about the skating,” adds Desjardins.

“I want to push my athletes to be the best, on the ice and in life.”

Embracing winter: Best places to skate in Canada, Part 4

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For the first time since 2001, it is now legal to skate on the pond in Toronto’s High Park. There are red flags, however – and we mean that literally. City workers test the ice daily. If it deemed unsafe, a red flag is planted. Officials say the ice is safe to skate on only five or ten days during a cold winter.

OK, so you can’t exactly get here by streetcar, but the Whiteway is right up there with Banff and Grouse Mountain when it comes to skating with a view. And it’s got some length – at 29.8 kilometres around the lake, Guinness recently declared the Whiteway is the longest naturally-frozen skating trail in the world. A path six metres wide is cleared for skaters, and if you’re in shape – or Clara Hughes – you can do the trek in a couple of hours.

Located in the Ontario Muskokas, this used to be cottage country’s best-kept skating secret. Not anymore. Thousands turn out annually to glide majestically through a 1.3 kilometre maze of trees and natural beauty that has been dubbed a “fairy-tale ice trail.

Embracing winter: Best places to skate in Canada, Part 3

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Listed in no particular order, here is the third of a four-part series on where to get your skate on. Be sure to check back each day through Friday, and don’t forget to share your memories with us the Skate Canada Facebook page:

If you think skating in downtown Toronto, Nathan Phillips Square is probably the first rink that comes to mind. We’re heading a little further south to the Natrel Rink at Toronto’s Harbourfront if you want you went a less-crowded, more scenic place to hit the ice. You’re right on the shores of Lake Ontario, giving you a postcard view of the breathtaking Toronto skyline. And plus, where else can you get your boogie on Saturday nights while skating?

Honourable mention: The Evergreen Brick Works, Nathan Phillips Square, Markham Civic Centre. And this place.

If you are wondering why Banff makes the list, we’re guessing you’ve never been there. There’s skating with a view, then there’s the rink at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, surrounded by ice sculptures, mountains and a whole lot of wonder. It takes breathtaking to another level. Even CNN Travel says so.

Honourable mention: Bow River, Fairmont Banff Springs, Jasper National Park

Probably on everyone’s short list of skating havens. And why not? You can step on to the ice right in the shadows of the Parliament Buildings, and away you go. And go. And go, for 7.8 kilometres right to Dows Lake. The unnaturally warm winter had shut down the Rideau – and with it, put a damper on the world-famous Winterlude – but once the temperature drops and the ground freezes, make sure this is on your bucket list. As unique a skating experience as you will find in the country.

Embracing winter: Best places to skate in Canada, Part 2

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We’re Canadian.

Skating is tightly woven into our social fabric and a part of who we are. Childhood reflections often include memories of that tentative first step onto a frozen lake or pond, and seeing your own breath in the morning chill of a stunning winter landscape.

It’s a love affair as unconditional as it is timeless.

In Canada, we own the ice and as Valentine’s Day approaches, we are celebrating our love of skating by unveiling the best locations across our beautiful country to go for a glide.

We want you to share your skating memories with us. It could be a public rink right in the heart of a booming metropolis, or a little strip of paradise tucked away deep in nature that no one outside of your family has ever seen. Share a few words and a photo on Skate Canada’s Facebook or Twitter pages, and tell us where you love to skate.

Listed in no particular order, here is the first of a four-part series on where to get your skate on. Be sure to check back each day through Friday, and don’t forget to share your memories with us:

Nestled on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River in downtown Saskatoon, the outdoor rink at Cameco Meewasin was voted best in Canada in 2007. The price is right. Not only is the skating free, but you can borrow a pair of skates at no charge. There is a warm-up area and cozy fire pit to ward off frostbite. Beware though, they shut the place down when the weather reaches minus-31 C. Hey, its Canada…that’s t-shirt weather.

Not a rink by definition, but Parc Lafontaine features splendid frozen paths winding through a postcard landscape. You’ll have to dish out a couple of bucks if you want rent skates or a locker, but the skating won’t cost you a dime. Looking for a game of shinny? Grab your stick and jump on one of the adjoining outdoor hockey rinks. After you burn off those calories, you can pack them right back on: Montreal’s best poutine is just a block away.

Honourable Mention: Beaver Lake, Bonsecours Basin

Winnipeg has a wide range of outdoor skating options, with close to 10 kilometres of skating on the Assiniboine and Red Rivers. It may take you a few days to thaw out when winter is at its most unforgiving, but The Forks – a must-see for those visiting Winnipeg any time of year – offers several rinks and skating trails to help shake the winter blahs.