Learn to Skate at Your Local Skate Canada Club

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OTTAWA, ON: The 2018-2019 ice skating season is beginning in many communities across Canada and all Canadians have the opportunity to register for skating programs at your local Skate Canada club or skating school.  Skating is an integral part of the Canadian experience, and with a diverse offering of programs, aspiring participants of all ages can learn at their own pace.

Skate Canada is thrilled to offer CanSkate, presented by Canadian Tire, the number one learn-to-skate program in the country. CanSkate is accessible to all Canadians and has been implemented in all member clubs and skating schools nationwide.

The CanSkate program is based on principles of Sport Canada’s Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD), and offers custom tools, professional coaching, a tested and proven curriculum, and delivery methods that guarantee strong basic skills and quicker skating development. The CanSkate program also teaches skills that prepare skaters for other popular Canadian sports like hockey, ringette and speed skating, by working on the skaters’ balance, speed, control and agility.

Learning to skate is a natural part of Canadian life. From early steps on the ice, holding onto a parent’s hand, to skating as a family activity, or moving on to other ice sports, skating is an enriching, active experience. Skate Canada offers a wide-range of programs, from CanSkate for beginners of any age to AdultSkate, for adults looking to continue their healthy lifestyle. For those looking to join a team, our Synchronized Skating programs are tailored for groups of eight or more skaters performing as a team.

Skating opportunities include:

  • CanPowerSkate – with a focus on balance, control and agility, this program is perfect for those looking to enhance specialized skating skills specifically for hockey and ringette.
  • Figure Skating – STAR 1-5 is a diverse program that offers figure skating fundamentals and aims to enhance skills in four different disciplines.
  • Adaptive Skating – options are available with all our programs for the development of skating skills. Contact your local club for details.
  • Adult Skating – options are available through programs. Contact your local skating club for details and availability.

All Skate Canada member coaches hold National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) status, first aid and valid police clearance checks and quality instruction is available at all 1,200 member clubs and skating schools across the country.

To learn more about skating programs near you, please contact your nearest club using Skate Canada’s Find a Club and get skating with us!

Skate Canada Podcast Episode 1: Craig Buntin

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In this inaugural episode of the new Skate Canada Alumni podcast, Debbi chats with three-time Canadian Pair champion, Craig Buntin.

Buntin is a three-time Canadian Pair Champion, first finding success with partner Valérie Marcoux. Together they won three Canadian pair titles from 2004-2006 and competed at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy.

Read More

 

Supporting our NextGen Through Toller Cranston’s Legacy

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Figure skating is driven by determination, dedication and a desire to express yourself with artistic passion on the ice. The Toller Cranston Memorial Fund Athlete Award recognizes these attributes in 14 of the top Next Gen skaters who exemplify this in their sport.

The award honours the late Toller Cranston, a man known for his creativity, freedom of expression and dramatic showmanship. Although he never received an Olympic or World title, his unique artistic vision forever changed the sport of figure skating. For Toller, skating was more than a sport, it was a way to express himself.

The Toller Cranston Memorial Fund Athlete Award celebrates Next Gen skaters who display exceptional artistry on ice at the 2018 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships at the Novice and Junior levels.

Each winner will also receive a free pair of industry-leading boots and blades courtesy of Jackson Ultima Skates.

“I am currently preparing to move up to Junior level this season and I know this means I will have to face lots of challenges”, explained Leah Lee, one of this year’s recipients of the award. “Receiving this award motivates me tremendously to continue to work hard, overcome these challenges and one day become a member of Team Canada, representing Canada internationally.”

The awards are presented at Skate Canada Sectional awards banquets by former Olympic competitors, family, and friends of Toller’s from coast to coast. The last event this year took place on June 9th.

The Toller Cranston Memorial Fund was established by the Canadian Olympic Foundation shortly after Toller’s death in 2015. The fund is a way to show appreciation for the artistry he brought to the world of figure skating and to financially assist young skaters who possess the same artistic values and style as he did.

The Canadian Olympic Foundation and Skate Canada are proud to announce the Toller Cranston Memorial Fund Athlete Award winners for 2018:

Alexis Lay – Novice Men
Alicia Fabbri – Junior Ice Dance
Bruce Waddell – Junior Ice Dance
Claudio Pietrantonio – Junior Ice Dance
Corey Circelli – Junior Men
Daria Carr – Novice Women
Emma Bulawka – Junior Women
Iliya Kovler – Junior Men
Leah Lee – Novice Women
Miku Makita – Novice Ice Dance
Natalie D’Alessandro – Junior Ice Dance
Tim Pomares – Novice Men
Tyler Gunara – Novice Ice Dance
Zoé Duval-Yergeau – Junior Men

Benoît Lavoie named Honorary Associate of Skate Canada

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OTTAWA, ON: Over the weekend at the 2018 Ice Summit the Skate Canada Board of Directors named Benoît Lavoie as an honorary associate. This honorary associateship recognises his domestic and international contributions to figure skating and his dedication to volunteerism. The recommendation was made by Leanna Caron, Skate Canada President, supported by the Board of Directors, and approved by membership vote during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, May 26th in Calgary, Alberta.

“I am deeply touched to be awarded this honour. Skating has always been a passion of mine and I am thankful I have been able to contribute in a positive way. Over my years in the sport I have had many mentors and friends who have helped guide me and I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to give back once again,” said Lavoie.

Lavoie is a former President of Skate Canada and is a current member of the International Skating Union (ISU) Council. He has been a skating volunteer for over 30 years and has dedicated numerous hours to the improvement of skating in Canada and around the world.  Over the years he has held many roles including competitor, world judge, referee, and technical controller.

“Skate Canada is pleased to have Benoît as an honorary associate of the organization. His experience and passion for skating is seen at all levels, from the local clubs, to the national and international stage, and he is committed to taking the sport further and inspiring everyone to embrace the joy of skating,” said Leanna Caron, President, Skate Canada.

The AGM was followed by the Achievement Awards Gala and Banquet – an evening that also celebrated many other dedicated members of the Canadian skating community who have donated their time and expertise to the advancement of skating in Canada. Click here for a full list of award winners.

2018 David Dore Mentorship Fund: APPLY

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Planning, Flexibility and Responsibility

by Paul Dore

A few months ago, I received a package from Skate Canada Archivist Emery Leger. Inside was a stack of speeches my father David Dore made in the 1980s and 1990s. My father was the Director General of Skate Canada and then Vice-President of the International Skating Union (ISU). He was first known as a great public speaker during his time at Skate Canada, who was able to clearly communicate his direction of the sport in this country. Through strong leadership, my father had a vision of what could be accomplished. There was a common thread throughout these speeches; he continually outlined three elements he felt were essential to being a successful leader: planning, flexibility and responsibility.

In order to achieve success, it was crucial for my father to have a clear path forward. During his time at Skate Canada and the International Skating Union, he was always prepared and always planning – most of the time years in advance. While planning was important, he also stressed the need to be flexible. Times change, and as we all know, the sport of figure skating can evolve rapidly. A plan must be in place, but the ability to adapt, change and adjust that plan was key to success. Finally, a leader must take responsibility for their actions. People involved with the sport did not always agree with my father and he respected and welcomed other’s opinions, but a leader must not be afraid to make unpopular decisions. They might be unpopular in the moment, but together with planning and flexibility, a strong leader must have one eye on what is best in both the long and short term.

I think these elements of leadership were part of the motivation to establish the David Dore Mentorship Fund. Skate Canada is dedicated to recognizing positive leaders who exemplify these same leadership traits at the community, club, section and national level. The Mentorship Fund enables a Skate Canada member, coach, official or administrator to further enhance their leadership skills by attending the Skate Canada Ice Summit for a unique educational and networking experience.

Last year, I had the privilege of being involved in the selection of the first two recipients of the David Dore Mentorship Fund. Megan Foster is from Brandon, Manitoba, is a coach and Regional Sport Development Officer for Sport Manitoba. Amanda Gryniewski is from Mississauga, Ontario and an official with Skate Ontario.

“I was fortunate to shadow Debra Armstrong during the Ice Summit,” Megan said. “It was really neat to see such a strong leader in action during a presentation and within an hour have everyone on the same page and on the same goal.”

As a judge, Amanda enjoyed being mentored by officials with international experience: “During the workshops, I got to present with [International Judge] Sally Rehorick, which was amazing. It was about what officials are doing when they’re not holding a clipboard. Sally gave me the opportunity to speak and I talked about own experiences as a judge and leadership among young people, which I think is very important to our sport.”

On the last day of the 2017 Ice Summit, I was able to meet Megan and Amanda. The excitement over their experiences during their time in Ottawa was palpable. “After spending time with Debra at the Ice Summit,” Megan commented, “it’s almost a little overwhelming to think of how to apply what I’ve learned and what would have the most impact to my community.”

Amanda was already thinking of how to capitalize on her time at the Ice Summit: “I went to one of the workshops taught by a referee and I learned a lot about the rules that I didn’t know even as a skater. I also went to some of the coaching seminars and I got to learn from this different perspective. I hope that when I go back to my club, I can inspire some of the younger kids to get involved with judging as well.”

Megan and Amanda both exemplify planning, flexibility and leadership. After learning about their experiences, perhaps you are a future recipient of the David Dore Mentorship Fund? If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply today to attend the 2018 Ice Summit in Calgary, Alberta.

Returning to that stack of speeches, my father always reminded himself and those he was speaking to of these principles:

“Let not the dream of every young skater remain only as a dream. Savour the friendships and memories – ours is a sport unique in comradeship and moments of greatness. Allow that our involvement always be motivated by positive intents and cooperative action. Let us have pride in our young athletes and recognize the support of volunteers, parents, coaches and administrators. Last but not least, let us not forget that this sport involves to a great extent the young people of this nation, their mental and physical development and well-being, as well as their aspirations and goals.”

To hear more from Amanda and Megan, watch this video where they go into more details about their experience at the 2017 Ice Summit.

If you are one of those leaders, find out more information and apply today through the link below.

2018 David Dore Mentorship Fund: https://info.skatecanada.ca/index.php/en-ca/procedures/246-david-dore-mentorship-fund-information-application.html

Olympic Spotlight : Larkyn Austman

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Coming off her first season as a member of the national team, Larkyn Austman captured bronze at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships to earn a spot on the Canadian figure skating team for PyeongChang 2018.

The 2013 junior women’s champion has followed in the footsteps of her mother, a competitive skater and former national novice champion herself.

The 19-year-old from Coquitlam, B.C. finished fourth at the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships to earn a spot on the national team and followed that up with a bronze at the Challenge Cup in the Netherlands, her first senior international competition.

Austman was also a flower retriever at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver and had an up close and personal view of Joannie Rochette’s unforgettable bronze medal performance.  She names Rochette and three-time Canadian champion Kaetlyn Osmond as her role models.

Olympic Spotlight : Kaitlyn Weaver / Andrew Poje

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Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje head to PyeongChang for their second Olympic appearance after winning bronze at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.

The duo started skating together in 2006 and have been consistent medallists on the domestic and international stage. The two-time Canadian champions (2015, 2016) are also two-time world championship medallists, taking silver in 2014 and following up with bronze the next season. They also claimed back-to-back Grand Prix Final gold in 2014 and 2015.

Leading up to the 2013 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in London, Ont., Weaver and Poje had an eye on the podium before Weaver broke her fibula just before the Canadian championships and needed surgery. Despite the setback, Weaver and Poje competed at those 2013 world championships and finished an impressive fifth.

Olympic Spotlight : Kirsten Moore-Towers / Michael Marinaro

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For the second consecutive year, Moore-Towers and Marinaro finished third at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, earning a spot on the Canadian team for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

After teaming up in 2014, Moore-Towers and Marinaro notched their first ISU Grand Prix medal by winning bronze at 2015 Skate Canada International. In the summer of 2016, Moore-Towers suffered a concussion in training, keeping them out of action until they returned for the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, finishing on the podium for the first time.

This past season, Moore-Towers and Marinaro won the U.S. International Classic, a Challenger Series event, and placed third at the Cup of China for their second Grand Prix medal. The pair finished sixth at Skate America in their other Grand Prix assignment.

Moore-Towers and former partner Dylan Moscovitch competed at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, where a photo of Moore-Towers and NHLer Zdeno Chara went viral.  They were also part of Canada’s silver medal-winning team in the inaugural team event at those Games.

Olympic Spotlight : Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier

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Known for their exquisite artistry and crowd-pleasing choreography, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier finished second at the 2018 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships to punch their ticket to the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

Their silver medal at the national championship was the sixth time they have reached the Canadians podium since coming together in 2011. On the ISU Grand Prix circuit this season, Gilles and Poirier placed fourth at both the Rostelecom Cup and Skate America.

Their Olympic berth comes four years after a heartbreaking setback on the road to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.  In the spring of 2013, Poirier suffered a fracture dislocation in his right ankle and underwent surgery. Gilles and Poirier were able to compete at the 2014 Canadian championships, but missed an Olympic berth by just one spot.

In 2014-15, Gilles and Poirier would win two silver medals on the ISU Grand Prix circuit before managing a career-best sixth place showing at the World Championships.

Gilles and Poirier have finished inside the top eight at the world championships for four consecutive years.

Olympic Spotlight : Julianne Séguin / Charlie Bilodeau

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Julianne Séguin and Charlie Bilodeau are off to the Olympic Winter Games for the first time.

One year after missing the Canadian championships as Séguin recovered from a concussion, the rising stars from Montreal made a successful return to nationals with a silver medal at the 2018 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, punching their ticket to PyeongChang 2018 as one of three Canadian pair entries.

On the ISU Grand Prix circuit this past season, Séguin and Bilodeau placed fifth at the Rostelecom Cup and fourth at NHK Trophy.

After a brilliant junior career which included a silver medal at the 2015 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships, Séguin and Bilodeau notched their first Grand Prix win at 2016 Skate America. They went on to place fifth at the ISU Grand Prix Final, their second consecutive top five finish at that event.

As juniors, Séguin and Bilodeau won both ISU Junior Grand Prix events they competed in in 2014 before winning the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final in just their second season together.

Séguin has skated in both pairs and singles, and won the junior women’s bronze medal at the 2012 Canadian championships.

Olympic Spotlight : Kaetlyn Osmond

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The reigning world silver medallist came up just short in her bid for a fourth national crown at the 2018 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, winning silver to earn a berth on the Olympic team.

Kaetlyn Osmond, who hails from Marystown, Nfld. and now trains and lives in Edmonton, Alb., exhibits a combination of strength and power in her programs. She will be making her second appearance at the Olympics, four years after helping Canada to a silver medal in the inaugural team event at the Sochi Olympic Winter Games.

At the 2017 world championships, Osmond and fellow Canadian Gabrielle Daleman won silver and bronze, respectively, marking the first time two Canadian women found themselves on the same world championships podium.

Five years after winning gold in her ISU Grand Prix debut at Skate Canada International in 2012, Osmond once again won SCI in 2017 before going on to capture bronze at the ISU Grand Prix Final in December, becoming the first Canadian women’s skater to win a medal at the event since Joannie Rochette during the 2004-05 season.  In 2017, she also placed third at the ISU Grand Prix stop in France.

Osmond still has strong ties to her native Marystown, Nfld., where she holds a key to the town and has an arena named after her.

Olympic Spotlight : Duhamel/Radford

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Fresh off their seventh consecutive national title at the 2018 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in Vancouver, Duhamel and Radford have cemented their legacy as one of the best pair teams in Canadian figure skating history.

With signature elements and a history of raising the bar in pairs skating, Duhamel and Radford have also won a pair of world titles (2015, 2016). The back-to-back world crowns were the first from a Canadian pair team since Barbara Wagner and Robert Paul won four straight from 1957 through 1960.

Earlier this season, Duhamel and Radford won gold at Skate Canada International and followed that up with bronze at Skate America.

They were also part of Canada’s silver medal winning squad in the first team event at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.