Worlds Rewind: Montreal 1932

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As the countdown begins to the ISU World Figure Skating Championships ® 2020 in Montreal, Quebec, we look back at previous world championships staged in Canada. We begin the ten-part series with the 1932 world championships – also in Montreal.

Montreal, the wait is over.

Eighty-eight years after hosting the inaugural world figure skating championships on Canadian soil back in 1932, the historic city will once again welcome the world for the ISU World Figure Skating Championships ® 2020 March 16th to 22nd at the Centre Bell.

The top men’s, ladies’ and pairs skaters in the world made the trip to Canada for the world championships from February 17-20, 1932, with figures being held at the Montreal Winter Club and free skating taking place at the iconic Forum.

The 1932 world championships came on the heels of the Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, NY, and many of the athletes that competed at the Olympics boarded trains for the short ride north to Montreal. It turned out to be a worthwhile trip for Olympic gold medallists from Lake Placid – all would win gold again at the world championships.

In the men’s competition, Austria’s Karl Schäfer earned first-place votes from all judges in figures and free skating, cruising to his third of seven consecutive world titles. Toronto’s Montgomery Wilson earned Canada’s first men’s world championship medal with a silver, also a unanimous decision from all judges. Ernst Baier of Germany claimed bronze.

The 1932 world championships also marked the first time Japanese skaters competed in the event, with Kazuyoshi Oimatsu placing seventh and Ryoichi Obitani finishing eighth.

Norway’s Sonja Henie continued her domination of the ladies’ discipline in Montreal, winning her sixth of ten straight world titles. Fritzi Burger of Austria took silver and Canada’s Constance Wilson-Samuel from Toronto, the sister of Montgomery Wilson, won bronze.

Just days after winning gold at the Lake Placid Olympics, the husband/wife team of  Andrée Brunet and Pierre Brunet from France won pairs gold in Montreal, finishing ahead of Hungary’s Emília Rotter and László Szollás and Americans Beatrix Loughran and Sherwin Badger.

The Canadian sibling tandem of Wilson-Samuel and Wilson, who won medals for Canada in the men’s and ladies’ events, teamed up in the pairs event to place sixth.

As the 1932 world championships came to a close in Montreal, the event would not return to Canada for close to three decades, when Vancouver hosted worlds in 1960. Canada has hosted the world championships ten times, the last time in 2013 in London, Ontario.

And next March, Montreal will welcome the world again.

All-event tickets for the ISU World Figure Skating Championships ® 2020  are on sale now and can be purchased online at montreal2020.com, by phone at 1-855-310-2525 or in person at the Centre Bell Box Office.

Skate Canada advances Safe Sport portfolio with Trans Inclusion Policy

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada is proud to announce that it has enhanced its safe sport program with the addition of the Trans Inclusion Policy. Inclusion in sport is a fundamental value for Skate Canada and having more diverse participants will only strengthen the sport. The national policy was approved by the Skate Canada Board of Directors in 2018 and has officially been implemented across the entire membership.

“At Skate Canada we pride ourselves in being able to provide a safe and fun environment for all participants and the development of the Trans Inclusion Policy will ensure that all members in our community have an inclusive space to enjoy skating at every level,” said Leanna Caron, President, Skate Canada. “Skate Canada is committed to bringing our vision of inspiring all Canadians to embrace the joy of skating to life through investing in programs that seek to promote, celebrate, and recognize diversity.”

The Trans Inclusion Policy is to ensure that Skate Canada has a diverse and inclusive, barrier-free environment where every employee, board member, skater, official, coach, volunteer, and affiliate organizations of Skate Canada feels valued, respected and supported. As a result, the organization is fully committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment for all, regardless of any actual or perceived differences based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, language, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or disability.

“Skate Canada’s trans inclusion policy was developed with input from members of the LGBTQI2S community as well as inclusive sport advocates. Since adoption, specific rules have been addressed to ensure athletes have the right to participate in a sport they love free from discrimination and exclusionary regulations,” said Dr. William Bridel, Assistant Professor, University of Calgary. “I hope that other organizations will use the policy as a template for their own sport as we work toward barrier-free participation in Canadian sport. Thank you Skate Canada, for being a leader in LGBTQI2S inclusive policy and practices.”

In competitions under Skate Canada jurisdiction, athletes can participate in the gender category in which they identify. All identifications of gender identity by athletes are believed to be made in good faith and do not require further disclosure or documentation. The eligibility guidelines of the International Skating Union (ISU), and/or any major national or international Games organization regarding transgender athlete participation will supersede the eligibility guidelines as outlined in Skate Canada’s policy.

This policy is one part of Skate Canada’s LGBTQI2S inclusion strategy and part of the overall safe sport framework. This past year Skate Canada has continued to work to develop and advance safe sport practises across its community. This season several safe sport initiatives have been launched, including the creation of an incident management system, mandatory Respect in Sport training, Code of Ethics training for all coaches, and several education videos and presentations on various safe sport topics.

Skate Canada is dedicated to safe sport and creating an inclusive environment for all our members. This policy is an advancement in Skate Canada’s goal and commitment to be the leading safe sport organization in Canada and the world.

IT FELT LIKE WINNING THE OLYMPICS!

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Written by Paul Dore

Are you a member of the Skate Canada community and thinking about applying for the David Dore Mentorship Fund? Perhaps you are a judge, coach or a club administrator and a friend or colleague suggested you look into it? Maybe the application seems a bit daunting and you’re on the fence as to whether this is right for you?

We talked to Val Masek and asked him to reflect on his experiences as the 2018 David Dore Mentorship Fund recipient. The Fund is open to a wide range of Skate Canada members – skaters, coaches, volunteers, administrators – and the purpose is to provide an opportunity to an individual in order to develop leadership skills with the goal of enhancing Skate Canada’s leadership depth.

The recipient is someone who recognizes how instrumental my father was in building the sport of figure skating in Canada and understands that this legacy was built on hard work, risk-taking, commitment, passion, and dedication. Through many different positions, my father deeply appreciated the important roles that volunteers such as Val have in our sport.

Val’s application reminded me of the way my father might have written one: methodical, attention to detail, forward-thinking. He is the President of the Prince of Wales Skating Club in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and has been involved with the sport for years.

A major part of being a David Dore Mentorship Fund recipient is attending the Skate Canada Ice Summit, where you’ll have the opportunity to help facilitate a workshop, shadow a Skate Canada leader, and participate in many events over the course of the weekend.

Heading into last year’s Summit, Val was excited to share his experiences from the most eastern part of Canada and being welcomed into the larger Skate Canada family. “The opportunity from the David Dore Mentorship Fund magnified this exceptional experience beyond words,” Val said. “At the Summit, Skate Canada’s movement towards better engagement, more efficient governance, and overall excellency in our work as volunteers was truly exceptional.”

The opportunity of attending the Skate Canada Summit is one that has a huge impact on the recipient and their local skating community. It’s not just the individual that benefits from the vast institutional knowledge on hand at the Summit. In addition, they can pay it forward to their own local skating community. “My experiences left a deep impression about the strong community of Skate Canada,” Val said. “The Fund’s goals intertwined with the spirit of David Dore’s historical work were on display at the Summit. It felt like winning the Olympics itself!”

In addition to attending the Summit, the recipient is matched up with mentors who have specific expertise related to their goals. The recipient’s time at the Summit is maximized in order to provide the most amount of learning opportunities. “I had the privilege to meet with a number of great mentors and learn from their experiences,” Val said. “I also could share some of our often unique situations from the Newfoundland and Labrador section. Being a club leader of 1200 members requires a huge time sacrifice and challenge for any volunteer. Through my mentor, I was delighted to be encouraged in my attitude towards the introduction of new technologies to improve our training methods and club operations.”

To me, one of the best ways to learn is through storytelling and connecting with others through personal experiences. One of the presentations especially resonated with Val: “Dr. William Bridel delivered an emotionally powerful speech aimed at the wider inclusion and support of LGBTQI2S members in our programs. In such spirit, I invited Eric Radford and his partner Luis Fenero to conduct a skater development seminar with our kids.”

Val had some final thoughts about the benefits of the Fund and a message to those out there thinking of applying: “The Fund opened a door for our club to become recognized within the larger Skate Canada community. It allowed us to tap into the knowledge and broad experiences of Canada’s most successful clubs, volunteer leadership, and top athletes. I see my work as a piece of a larger picture guided by Mr. Dore’s principles of hard work, commitment, and dedication to community service. I am truly humbled and honoured to be a part of Mr. Dore’s legacy and I strongly recommend applying for the Fund.”

After reading Val’s inspiring words, apply today for the David Dore Mentorship Fund.

SKATING IS MORE THAN SPORT, IT’S COMMUNITY

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Written by Paul Dore

Skating is in my blood. Exactly thirty years ago, I laced up my first pair of skates. On that day, I fell and hit my head, resulting in a goose egg-sized bump above my left eye (wearing helmets was not yet enforced the way it is nowadays). I didn’t really feel the pain because all I was thinking about was the next time I could get out on the ice.

One fortunate element to our Canadian winters is the wide access to outdoor rinks. I live in Toronto and almost every city park has one. To this day, I still trek to my local rink, brave the cold, and step on to the ice. Getting exercise is a great by-product, but I’m also there for other reasons.

The rink is where I seek council from my father.

Many times, when I had to make a big decision, I’d call my dad. We’d bat things around, brainstorm my different options, and always come away with a plan. Those of you who knew my dad, knew he loved to plan things out. We wouldn’t always agree, but we respected each other’s decisions. No matter what, we’d support each other.

My dad has been gone for three years now. For a while, I felt lost. I deeply missed these conversations, and at times, it was difficult to figure out a way forward. Then one day, I realized that I could talk to him. We all hold our loved ones in our hearts and have places we can go that reminds us of them. For me, it’s the skating rink.

Being involved with figure skating is much more than a sport, it’s a community. A family. When my dad first stepped on the ice as a child to help rehabilitate his body while recovering from polio, it started a journey for him that lasted his entire life. As a competitor, a judge, volunteer, administrator, and International Skating Union delegate, it’s safe to say my dad was involved with every aspect of the sport. He recognized that skating is a community of people participating in something larger than themselves.

During his tenure as President of Skate Canada (then the Canadian Figure Skating Association), it was always important to him to visit each section, and as many clubs as he could fit into his schedule. He understood the value of connecting all clubs and skaters across the country to the head office. Likewise, when he extended his influence internationally, developing the sport outside of the traditional powerhouse countries was an important goal for him.

He believed in the power of sport and I think this came from a personal place. He recognized and valued how skating had enriched his life. In many ways, his true legacy was in developing opportunities for others to have similar experiences.

This is a big reason why I am so proud to be a part of Skate Canada’s David Dore Mentorship Fund. I believe that it is a continuation of his work. The purpose of the fund is to provide an opportunity for a Skate Canada coach, official, volunteer, or administrator at the club, section or national level to develop leadership skills. The recipient attends the Ice Summit and is matched up with mentors.

Recently, I had someone outside the skating community ask what I thought skating had taught me. I had to think about it because it’s not a short answer. I learned how to be responsible for myself, how to manage myself and my time, what it means to commit to something larger than myself, how to set goals – the list goes on. These items were all very nice and true. However, I think the biggest lesson came from my dad. It wasn’t necessarily something he told me. It was evident in how he lived his life. Search for that thing – whatever it is – that you are supposed to do. Something that provides passion and purpose. For those fortunate enough to find that discovery, dedicate the whole self to it – your focus, your talents, your emotions. With the Mentorship Fund, we hope to inspire individuals to fuel their passion and find their place in the skating community.

But still, at different times in our lives, we all need council, guidance, and mentorship. When I need it, I go to the skating rink. I’ll think to myself, “Alright, here’s the situation…” I can hear his voice as my blades cut across the ice. I can see him leaning over the boards watching. I can feel him in my heart.

To learn more about the David Dore Mentorship Fund, watch this video of past recipients expressing their experience at the 2017 Ice Summit.  If you are one of those leaders, further information and the application can be found at the below link. APPLY TODAY!

Skate Canada saddened by the passing of skating pioneer Billie Mitchell

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada is saddened by the passing of beloved Hall of Famer Billie Mitchell. She passed away peacefully at age 103 on Wednesday, February 13, 2019. Mitchell, a native of Vancouver, blazed a path for female leadership in sport and was devoted to advancing figure skating throughout her life.

Mitchell was a legend in Canadian figure skating, setting trends with a number of ‘firsts’ for the organization. She was the first woman on the Skate Canada Board of Directors as a section chairman in 1960, and in 1976 she became Skate Canada’s first female president.

“Our heart is heavy as such an influential leader in our sport has left us. Billie helped to shape the landscape of Canadian figure skating and lead the way for women to follow in her footsteps,” said Leanna Caron, President, Skate Canada. “She was a true pioneer and we are thankful for all the innovation she brought to our sport and to her dedication to volunteerism. Skate Canada sends its deepest condolence to Billie’s family and friends.”

Mitchell was instrumental in the successful campaign to bring the 1960 World Figure Skating Championships to Vancouver. During her tenure as president, she introduced “The Parade of Champions” for the first time at the 1973 Canadian Figure Skating Championships. In 1996, she was inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame as a builder and in 1998 she entered the BC Sports Hall of Fame, also as a builder.

Mitchell’s legacy in figure skating is celebrated annually at the Skate Canada Ice Summit during the Awards Banquet, where the Billie Mitchell Award is presented to a member of the Skate Canada Board of Directors for outstanding contributions throughout the year.

Mitchell will be deeply missed by the skating community, and Skate Canada sends its deepest thoughts and prayers to Billie’s family and friends.

Athlete Spotlight: Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier

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Piper Gilles

Q: What is the best advice that you were given?
Piper: Don’t change the person

Q: Who is your biggest motivation?
Piper: My Mom

Q: Who is your celebrity crush?
Piper: Chris Hemsworth

Q: What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Piper: People who leave the tooth paste cap off

Q: What fictional character would you like to meet in real life?
Piper: Regina George

Paul Poirier

Q: What’s your go to song to get pumped up for training or a competition?
Paul: I don’t have a special pump-up song, but for our first two seasons I would send a link to the “Blitzkrieg Bop” to Piper before every competition.

Q: What is your favourite place in the world and why?
Paul: Libraries!

Q: What’s your favourite emoji?
Paul: 🤡

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?
Paul: When people expect everything to be done for them by others.

Q: What song would be the theme song for your life?
Paul: You Learn, by Alanis Morissette. Also the Annie’s Edges music that I’ve done stroking too way too many times.

Athlete Spotlight: Keegan Messing

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Keegan Messing

Q: What is your favourite emoji?
Keegan: 🤠

Q: If you weren’t a figure skater, what sport would you do?
Keegan: Freestyle skiing, moguls or gymnastics

Q: What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Keegan: Bad drivers

Q: What fictional character would you like to meet in real life and why?
Keegan: Toothless from How to Train your Dragon because how cool would it be to ride dragon

Q: What song would be the theme song for your life?
Keegan: Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Athlete Spotlight: Gabrielle Daleman

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Gabrielle Daleman

Q: What’s your favourite social media account to follow?
Gabby: @selenagomez

Q: What is your favourite place in the world and why?
Gabby: Milan, Italy. I love the fashion, the culture and the architecture there.

Q:Who is your celebrity crush?
Gabby: Shawn Mendes

Q: What fictional character would you like to meet in real life and why?
Gabby: All the Disney princesses.

Q:What’s your favourite emoji?
Gabby: 🥀

Athlete Spotlight: Nicolas Nadeau

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Nicolas Nadeau

Q: What is the best advice that you were given?
Nicolas: If you don’t’ know something, google it! (my sister helping me do homework)

Q: What would you like people to remember about you?
Nicolas: The guy who’s fun to watch on the ice!

Q: What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Nicolas: Cold ice time during winter practice at my rink, with the guy working there leaving the garage door open for, what it seems like, forever.

Q: What fictional character would you like to meet in real life and why?
Nicolas: Rick from Rick and Morty show! So I can ask him “Why?”

Q: What’s your favourite place in the world and why?
Nicolas: I’ve never been to California but I’m sure it will be my favourite because of all the nice surfing spots and the lifestyle there.

Athlete Spotlight: Kirsten Moore-Towers/Michael Marinaro

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Kirsten Moore-Towers

Q: What’s your favourite social media account to follow?
Kirsten: @thebucketlistfamily

Q: What is your favourite place in the world and why?
Kirsten: Vancouver. The mountains and oceans make me feel euphoric (even when it’s raining)

Q: What is your favourite emoji?
Kirsten: ‍ 🤷🏼‍ 👏 🎉

Q: Who is your celebrity crush?
Kirsten: Zac Efron, Channing Tatum

Q: If you weren’t a figure skater, what sport would you do?
Kirsten: Football quarterback. Just kidding. Frankly, I’m not very skilled in any other sports so I always struggle with this question.

Michael Marinaro

Q: What is your favourite place in the world and why?

Michael: Italy – because of the food

Q: Who is your celebrity crush?
Michael: Hilary Duff

Q: What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Michael: Not being able to turn right on reds in Montreal.

Q: What fictional character would you like to meet in real life?
Michael: Rocky Balboa

Q: If you weren’t a figure skater, what sport would you do?
Michael: Golf

Athlete Spotlight: Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje

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Kaitlyn Weaver

Q. What’s your go to song to get pumped up for training or a competition?
Kaitlyn: My go-to song to get pumped up for a competition really depends on my mood. Ones that never fail include “Moment 4 Life” by Nicki Minaj and “Shoop” by Salt n Pepa.

Q. Who is someone in the sports world, past or present, you’d love to have dinner with and why?
Kaitlyn: I would love to have dinner with Billie Jean King. I am so inspired by her bravery, and would be extremely humbled to celebrate with her!

Q. What is the best advice that you were given?
Kaitlyn: Since I was a little girl, my mom always told me to do my best, hold fast to what I believe in, and not worry what people think, because in the end it will all pay off. She was right!

Q. What’s your favourite social media account to follow?
Kaitlyn: My favourite social media account to follow is @elephantjournal. I love art, writing, and inspiration, and this account is very bountiful .

Q. Who or what is your biggest motivation?
Kaitlyn: My past and my future are my biggest motivations. My past, because I can look back and always know what I can do better should I get another opportunity. I always want to be better than the day/event before. My future, because I have a vision for where I want to go (in skating, and in life) and I am inspired to make it happen!

Andrew Poje

Q. What’s your go to song to get pumped up for training or a competition?
Andrew: I love listening to Black Betty by Ram Jam as part of my warmup routine.

Q. Who is someone in the sports world, past or present, you’d love to have dinner with and why?
Andrew: I would love to have a dinner with Muhammad Ali. I would love to learn his stories from his journey as an athlete, symbol and icon. To try to understand from his perspective of what it takes to succeed and what he defines as his success.

Q. What is the best advice that you were given?
Andrew: I learned part way thorough my career that it is important to try to make only little accomplishments every day. Those little successes will build into something that will be undeniable in the end.

Q. What’s your favourite social media account to follow?
Andrew: I don’t follow a lot on social media, but I do enjoy when @therock posts. Seems to always have funny or positivity in everything.

Q. Who or what is your biggest motivation?
Andrew: My biggest motivation is my family. They are the reason I have made it as far as I have. They support me in my endeavours and pursuits of joy.

Athlete Spotlight: Roman Sadovksy

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Roman Sadovksy

Q: What’s your go to song to get pumped up for training and competition?
Roman: Lose Yourself by Eminem

Q: Who is someone in the sports world, past or present, you’d love to have dinner with and why?
Roman: Ulrich Salchow because he invented my favourite jump and I need to thank him.

Q: What is the best advice that you were given?
Roman: JUST DO IT!!!

Q: What is your favourite place in the world and why?
Roman: Home. Despite living there, I barely spend any time at home, and it’s the best place to chill out.

Q: What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Roman: CanSkaters walking with skates on concrete without guards.