National Team member Kharis Ralph retires from competitive skating

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OTTAWA, ON:  Kharis Ralph, 22, Toronto, Ont., who had a long career in ice dance with Asher Hill, 23, Pickering, Ont., has retired from skating.  The duo trained at the Scarborough Figure Skating Club’s Ice Dance Elite with coaches Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajevs.  They competed at one ISU World Figure Skating Championships, finishing 13th at the 2012 event in Nice, France, and were 6th at this year’s Canadian Tire National Skating Championships.

In making her decision, Ralph said, “It has been both a privilege and a challenge to be on the National Team for the last five years and I am grateful for the opportunity. I would like to thank Skate Canada for all the support through the years, and wish everyone well for the future.”

“For eight years Kharis and Asher were mainstays on the international scene. Their hard work and determination resulted in them being one of very few teams to have ever represented Canada at both a junior and a senior world championship”, said Mike Slipchuk, High Performance Director, Skate Canada.  “Kharis’ positive attitude and charismatic personality made her a role model for other skaters and she will be truly missed.”

Ralph’s immediate plans include finishing her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, majoring in History, and minoring in Political Science and Philosophy, and then to pursue graduate studies. She hopes to stay involved in the sport, possibly in the area of judging or as a technical specialist. Hill is currently looking for a new partner and hopes to continue competing in ice dance.

At just 11-years-old Alison Schumacher is always rising to challenge

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Alison Schumacher looks up at you with earnest brown eyes and an air of maturity.

This, despite the fact that she is only 11-years-old and the youngest athlete at the Skate Canada Development Camp for singles skaters in Markham, Ontario.

Garbed in a royal purple sweater, she takes everything in and pushes on, listening intently to coach Lee Barkell, who is handing out technical tips on jumps. She’s up for the challenge. She always has been.

Jennifer Jackson has been her coach at the Riverside Skating Club in Windsor, Ontario since almost the beginning. Her first vision of the girl was as a five-year-old sprite. Like many others, Schumacher showed up in moulded skates and a helmet. And there the story began.

Schumacher has blossomed very quickly since. “She’s very dedicated and she comes to the rink all the time. And she has a definite passion for skating,” said Jackson, a coach for 27 years. “She has some fast-twitch muscles and she has a lot of things going for her as far as talent goes, but her number one asset is her work ethic.”

You see, Schumacher is driven, even at her young age. She’s very coachable. She’s smart and listens to everything her coach tells her. Jackson doesn’t have to tell her twice. “She’s always been that way,” Jackson said. “She’s always been able to focus and listen and get on her task.”

As a little sprig, Schumacher competed with girls her own age. But she started to progress and Jackson figured she’d better keep her moving up the ladder. “There’s no point in standing still,” she said. A couple of years ago, when she was nine, Schumacher began to compete against girls who were as old as 15 and 16 – and they were doing triples.

That year, Jackson entered Schumacher at an international competition, Skate Detroit, across the border. With a club that has perhaps one skater a year that makes it to the national championships, Jackson knows she has to get her skaters out to see others. “It would be nice for her to see what she has to do if she’s serious about this,” Jackson said. So she entered Schumacher in a novice competition, although that was a level above her head.

Even Jackson was surprised when Schumacher finished fourth, just off the podium. “She’s always been that way,” the coach said. “You give her a challenge and she rises to it.”

Schmacher’s next goal was to master the double Axel by the time she turned 10. The Skate Challenge competition – where Schumacher was to compete nationally as a pre-novice skater – was 1 ½ weeks after her tenth birthday. She finally hit that double Axel when she turned 10 and then landed the thing at the championships. She won the bronze medal.

Then Schumacher went after the triples. She mastered her first triple –a triple loop of all things – last fall. And a lover of the edge jump, she also has a triple Salchow in her arsenal. Jackson advised her to try both triples out at Skate Canada Challenge, to test them out before competing at the novice level at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships last January in Ottawa.

Schumacher admitted to nerves when she competed at her first Canadian championship. Under this sort of pressure, Schumacher finished 15th in the short program, but then she collected herself and finished seventh in the free skate, earning level fours in all three spins. That put her in 11th place overall in a novice women’s competition that was deep, very deep with talent.

“I was sort of nervous because I was with older girls,” she said in her tiny voice.  “And they’re probably in that category longer than me, so they had more experience.”

Edge jumps have been her thing so far. She also loves the triple Salchow. But now she’s working on the triple toe loop and even the triple flip – and sometimes the triple Lutz.

A sixth-grader in Windsor, Schumacher watched the Sochi Olympics, and found someone to admire: Julia Lipnitskaia, the Russian youngster who, at 15, became one of the stars of the Games, with her exquisite spins and winsome choreography. What does Schumacher like about her? “Her consistency,” the little skater said.

Does she aspire to the Olympics? “I’m not really sure,” she said. “I do like skating in general. I like competition and I like having the pressure and I like seeing my friends when I compete.”

In school, Schumacher is a math whiz.

At the camp, Schumacher soaked up tips from some of the best. “The coaches have different strategies and they’re all good and it’s just something new and I find it really helpful,” she said.

Jackson, too, benefitted from the development camp. “It’s always good to listen to whatever people have to say,” she said. “You take what you can out of it.” She loves Joanne McLeod, because she starts skaters out from the grassroots level and develops them. “She deals with so many levels,” Jackson said.

Jackson also found it valuable to hear the tips and tricks that the veteran coaches gave the young skaters. “Then I don’t have an 11-year-old coming home and trying to translate for me, what she thought she heard,” Jackson said. She also likes to see how her students stack up against the others, just in terms of work ethic. “We always think they’re working really hard here, and we’re doing everything,” she said. “It’s nice to see to make sure we’re on track.”

As for Schumacher, the sky is the limit for her, if she stays healthy and can always feel the passion, Jackson said. “She’s still in the learning phase. Every week she comes in, there is something that is better.

“I don’t think there are a lot of limits,” Jackson said.

Beverley Smith

From carbon copies to iPads, Nicole Guerin has seen it all after 40 years at Skate Canada

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With retirement waiting in the wings following a memorable 40-year career at Skate Canada, Nicole Guerin has a confession.

She almost backed out of the original job interview, all thanks to an elevator.

After four decades in the same Finance position she has held since day one, Guerin is bidding farewell to Skate Canada and stepping into well-deserved retirement. She will punch the proverbial clock for the final time on May 6th, exactly four decades to the day that she walked into the offices of Skate Canada, then known as the Canadian Figure Skating Association, for her first day of work.

Guerin laughs as she reflects back to that first interview, admitting she almost took herself out of the running for the job because of a fear of elevators.

Back in 1974, the shy 20-year-old answered an ad in her hometown Hawkesbury newspaper for an accounts payable/payroll position with the CFSA. Guerin, at the time working part-time in the finance department of a grocery store in Hawkesbury, borrowed a friend’s car and made the hour-long trip to Ottawa for an interview. Unfamiliar with what she refers to as “the big city”, not only did Guerin park in the wrong lot, but the large building on River Road that housed the CFSA head office cast a rather imposing shadow for the self-proclaimed small-town country girl.

When she walked through the front door and realized the office was on the 10th floor, Guerin, having never stepped in an elevator, turned around and walked back outside towards her car.

Not speaking a word of English was something Guerin figured she could overcome. Getting on an elevator for the first time, however, didn’t seem to be an option.

“I told myself I was not going, I could not get on that elevator,” says Guerin. “But then I said ‘I can do this, I have to do this.’ I went back in and got on that elevator. It was such a weird feeling. Everyone was speaking English. I was petrified.”

After riding the ten floors up, Guerin, walked off the elevator and straight into the CFSA office, telling the receptionist the only words she knew in English.

The same sentence she had been practicing all day.

“I’m Nicole Guerin and I have an interview.”

After filling out her application, she met with office manager Lois Hyland and was offered the job. She has handled accounts payable and signed payroll cheques at the CFSA/Skate Canada ever since.

To put the length of Guerin’s tenure in perspective, in 1974, Pierre Elliott Trudeau was Prime Minister of Canada, the average price of a new car was about $3,500 and you could pick up a quart of milk for under 50 cents.

And 20-year-old Nicole Guerin was about to set out on the journey of her life.

“Those first five years were not easy,” admits Guerin. “I was calling my mother almost every day. But I knew I had to do this for myself.”

For Guerin, it’s no coincidence her last day of work will come 40 years to the day that she started. May 6th, 2014, has been circled on her calendar for the past three years.

Guerin welcomes retirement and the freedom it will bring, even if the transition is going to take a little getting used to.

“It’s hard to say goodbye, a lot harder than I thought,” says Guerin. “This is a new, exciting time in my life, but I’ve been doing the same routine, day after day, for 40 years. It’s tough to say goodbye to the people.”

Of all the close relationships Guerin has developed at Skate Canada over the years, there is none closer than the one she shares with Diane Vanier. The two met when Vanier worked at the National Sport & Recreation Centre, located in the same building as the CFSA, 38 years ago. Six years later, Vanier joined the CFSA team.

They’ve been best friends ever since.

“Nicole is such a wonderful friend, and we’ve developed a very special relationship over the years,” said Diane Vanier. “It won’t be the same without her.”

“Yes, Diane means the world to me,” adds Guerin. “We’re like sisters. She is very special, she has been my closest friend for a long time.”

Skate Canada staff honoured Guerin’s remarkable career last week in Ottawa. Among those in attendance were former CFSA Director General David Dore and current Skate Canada CEO Dan Thompson.

“Nicole has been an integral member of the Skate Canada team over the past 40 years, and we would like to pass on congratulations as she celebrates her retirement,” stated Dan Thompson.

“Nicole has consistently been a model for service excellence and integrity throughout her entire career. On behalf of the Skate Canada family, I would like to wish her well as she sets off on this new, exciting chapter in her life.”

Over the course of her career, others who have sat in the Skate Canada CEO chair include Douglas Gunter, Hugh Glynn, Lou Lefaive, Patrick Sharp, Pam Coburn and William Thompson.

Guerin began her career in the era of adding machines and carbon copies, and finished with laptops and iPads. One thing that never changed, however, was her love of numbers.

“My job was changing for me all the time, but I was always very happy to learn new technology,” she adds.

“My specialty has always been numbers. It is my passion.”

So much a passion that Guerin watches the odometer on her car to make sure she doesn’t miss those moments when the digits roll over to match exactly. There haven’t been many times when Guerin has missed seeing the numbers change, whether it be 33,333, 88,888 or any other combination.

“Sometimes I’ve had to pay attention to the road, miss when the numbers change and get upset,” laughs Guerin.

“I have a sickness for numbers.”

As she gets set to ride off into the retirement sunset, Guerin says she plans on travelling the world, doing some fishing and golfing and “reading books in weeks instead of months.” She would also like to volunteer her time at local hospitals to assist patients filling out complex forms.

Guerin will not head into retirement alone – her husband, Denis, retired last month.

“He’s waiting for me,” she says. “We are going to enjoy this. We’ve waited a long time.”

“It seems like yesterday that I was taking that elevator for the first time. I’ve enjoyed every minute of this. I’ve never been great at words – numbers have been my specialty. I love being around people, and the people here are very special. I knew a long time ago I was in the right place and I wanted to stay for good.”

And now, four decades later, Guerin gets a little choked up at the thought of walking out the front doors of Skate Canada for the last time.

“Right now, I’m trying not to think about it too much,” says Guerin with a smile, her voice breaking. “I don’t want to cry.”

Retirement? That’s the easy part.

Saying goodbye will be a little tougher.

Saskatchewan pair skaters Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers end partnership

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OTTAWA, ON: Saskatchewan pair skaters Paige Lawrence, 24, Kennedy, Sask., and Rudi Swiegers, 26, Kipling, Sask., have ended their nine-year partnership. Lawrence and Swiegers achieved a lifelong dream of being Olympians earlier this year when they competed at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

Lawrence and Swiegers are four-time Canadian bronze medalists (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014). In 2010 they won their first international medal, a bronze at Skate Canada International. That same season they also won the bronze medal at the 2011 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.

The team trained in Virden, Manitoba with coach Patricia Hole and in Florida with Lyndon Johnston. In 2014 they qualified to compete for Canada at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi and placed 14th. They then went on to place 12th at the 2014 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Japan.

“I’m so thankful for all the opportunities and adventures that Rudi and I have had the chance to experience throughout our nine-year career together. It was amazing to fulfill our dream of competing at the Olympics and world championships and I have never been happier than I was while skating those programs,” said Lawrence. “We have reached a point now where we both want different things and I wish Rudi all the health, happiness, and continued success in whatever path he follows.”

Lawrence continued, “I would like to say thank you to my coaches Patty Hole and Lyndon Johnston for their unwavering commitment and belief in us, my support team back home for always being there for me, and to all our fans for cheering us on and sharing in this incredible journey. I am so grateful!”

Lawrence is looking to find a new partner and continue skating but is keeping an open mind to whatever life may throw her way.

“I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to skate with Paige and represent Saskatchewan nationally and internationally. One of my greatest joys is that we’ve been able to succeed and achieve our goals while staying true to our small town roots; proving that you don’t need to move away to large centers to train,” said Swiegers. “I’d like to personally thank Patricia Hole and Lyndon Johnston for everything they have done for me, untold hours on and off the ice. Their dedication to me as a person and an athlete has been paramount in making me the man I am today.”

Swiegers finished, “I am truly grateful for all the sport has given me. This isn’t goodbye for me but rather see you later!”

Swiegers is taking a year off from competitive skating for personal reasons.

Canadian Pair Team of Moore-Towers and Moscovitch end skating partnership

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OTTAWA, ON:  After reaching the pinnacle of their career with an Olympic silver medal, the pair team of Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch has decided to go in different directions.  Moore-Towers, 21, of St. Catharines, Ont. and Moscovitch, 29, of Toronto, Ont. teamed up in 2009, and competed at their first Canadian championship together in 2010, earning a 5th place finish.

They went on to become Canadian champions in 2011, and have won the national silver medal the last two years.  On the international stage, they won multiple medals on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating circuit, and qualified for the ISU Grand Prix Final three times.  In 2013 and 2014 they finished just off the medal podium at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, with fourth-place finishes both years. This past February, they were on the silver-medal winning team in the inaugural figure skating team event at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.  They also turned in tremendous performances in their individual event, finishing the highest of the three Canadian teams with a fifth-place finish. The pair has trained under coaches Kristy Wirtz and Kris Wirtz at the Kitchener-Waterloo Skating Club for the last five years.

“I’m so proud of what Dylan and I achieved in our five years together, and I do want to thank him for everything we accomplished. We are just at different points in our lives right now,” said Kirsten Moore-Towers.  “I feel that there is an opportunity for me to keep skating for at least one, maybe two, more Olympic cycles, so I want to pursue those options. My plan is to look for the partner who will share in that dream.”

“It was such an honour to represent Canada on the world and Olympic stage. Being a part of the silver-medal winning team in Sochi is the most memorable moment of my career to this point. And I’m glad that Kirsten and I accomplished that together. I wish her the best of luck going forward,” said Dylan Moscovitch. “My future includes embracing new opportunities within the sport that I love, finding a new partner and competing in the 2014-2015 season, and expanding my horizons for life after skating.

He added, “I also want to thank Kris and Kristy Wirtz for their continued support, expertise and love for over a decade.”

Winnipeg to host Skate Canada’s 2015 Annual Convention and General Meeting and National Coaches’ Conference

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OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada announced today that Winnipeg, Manitoba, will be the host city for its 2015 Annual Convention and General Meeting (ACGM), in conjunction with the 2015 National Coaches’ Conference (NCC). The events will run from May 27-30, 2015 at The Fort Garry Hotel.

Winnipeg last hosted the event in 2005 and the Saturday program in 2015 will include the association’s 102nd AGM.

“We are excited to bring together our diverse skating family in Winnipeg for our National Coaches’ Conference and Annual Convention and General Meeting,” said Dan Thompson, Skate Canada’s Chief Executive Officer. “The city has so much to offer our delegates and members. We know that in addition to the conference activities, they can look forward to a wonderful experience and a warm welcome in Manitoba. We are particularly looking forward to celebrating the first year of the introduction of our new CanSkate program and reporting on the progress of our 2014-2018 strategic plan”

“We’re thrilled that Skate Canada has chosen Winnipeg. With 450 delegates coming to the city, this conference will boost the economy with an estimated delegate spend of close to $500,000 on hotels, restaurants, shopping, attractions and more,” said Marina R. James, president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg.”

“This is great news for the city and local industry partners as we get an opportunity to showcase all our city has to offer as a meeting destination to delegates from across the country. So much has changed in 10 years with all the new developments, so we’re excited to welcome the Skate Canada family once again,” says Chantal Sturk-Nadeau, senior vice president, Tourism Winnipeg.

The figure skating delegates and coaches in Winnipeg will celebrate the 2014-2015 season’s competitive and corporate successes and outline goals and directions for coming years.

Elizabeth Manley enters Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

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OTTAWA, ON: In a press conference today Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame announced the Class of 2014. Canadian figure skater Elizabeth Manley was included in the class of eight. The other inductees include, Horst Bulau, Sarah Burke, Pierre Harvey, Geraldine Heaney, Gareth Rees, Tim Frick and Kathy Shields.

“The Class of 2014 is truly an inspiring group of Canadian sports heroes,” said Colin MacDonald, Chair of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Board of Governors.  “We are proud to be able to share the stories of their achievements so that we can inspire all Canadians to be the best they can be in all aspects of life.  Our new Honoured Members and a number of sports heroes from across Canada who have been previously inducted will be at the Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame 2014 Induction Celebrations presented by Canadian Tire event in Toronto on October 22 to celebrate as the Class of 2014 are officially inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.”

Manley is a world class figure skater with an exemplary list of accomplishments in her career. Her 50 national and international achievements include being a two-time U.S. Open Figure Skating Champion, three-time Canadian Figure Skating Champion, the 1988 World Figure Skating Silver Medallist, the 1988 Olympic Winter Free Skating Champion, and ultimately the 1988 Olympic Winter Figure Skating Silver Medallist. Elizabeth is credited as being the first Canadian female to successfully land a triple-double combination jump in competition. She also received the Order of Canada in 1988.

With all of Manley’s athletic success, Canadians were not aware that she battled severe depression. Instead of hiding her personal challenge, Manley made her depression public in hopes that it could help others. Her inspiring inner strength in dealing with mental illness, and her tireless efforts in support of mental health, Manley won a gold medal in life and is a role model for all of Canada to be proud of.

Skate Canada congratulates Elizabeth Manley on this well-deserved honour. The inductions will officially take place in Toronto on October 22, 2014 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, the former Maple Leaf Gardens.

About Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame is an international award-winning facility with over 40,000 square feet of inspiring experiences. Located at Canada Olympic Park (COP), site of the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame features 12 galleries, more than 50 hands-on interactive experiences and a collection of more than 95,000 artefacts. Our mission is to share the stories of the achievements of our Honoured Members so that we can inspire all Canadians to be the best they can be in all aspects of life;

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Names Class of 2014

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TORONTO – Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame today announced the Class of 2014. The Athletes who were announced and recognized with Canada’s highest sporting honour are ski jumping champion, Horst Bulau, pioneer of the superpipe event, Sarah Burke, dual sport champion, Pierre Harvey, women’s hockey pioneer, Geraldine Heaney, figure skating superstar, Elizabeth Manley and Canada’s gift to rugby, Gareth Rees. The Builders who were announced as inductees are wheelchair basketball pioneer, Tim Frick and renowned basketball coach, Kathy Shields.

The Class of 2014 inductees present were Horst Bulau, Geraldine Heaney, Elizabeth Manley, Gareth Rees, Tim Frick and Sarah Burke’s father, Gordon Burke. In attendance to announce the Class of 2014 were Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Honoured Members: Michelle Cameron-Coulter, Dr. Bruce Kidd, Kerrin Lee-Gartner, Marnie McBean and Pat Stapleton.

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame was pleased to announce Michael Medline, President, Canadian Tire Corporation, as the Honourary Chair of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame 2014 Induction Celebrations presented by Canadian Tire. The celebrations will be returning to Toronto on October 22, 2014 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, the former Maple Leaf Gardens. “We are a proud partner of Canadian Tire and thrilled to have Michael Medline as our Honourary Chair working toward the biggest celebration of sport in Canada,” said Mario Siciliano, President and CEO of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

“The Class of 2014 is truly an inspiring group of Canadian sports heroes,” said Colin MacDonald, Chair of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Board of Governors.  “We are proud to be able to share the stories of their achievements so that we can inspire all Canadians to be the best they can be in all aspects of life.  Our new Honoured Members and a number of sports heroes from across Canada who have been previously inducted will be at the Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame 2014 Induction Celebrations presented by Canadian Tire event in Toronto on October 22 to celebrate as the Class of 2014 are officially inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.”

TIM FRICK

As Head Coach of the Canadian Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team from 1990 to 2009, Tim developed Team Canada into one of the most dominant teams in the history of all Canadian amateur sports. He led Team Canada to an incredible decade-long undefeated streak in major international competition, including an unprecedented three consecutive Paralympic gold medals (1992, 1996, 2000), four consecutive Wheelchair Basketball World Championship titles (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006), and bronze medals at the Wheelchair Basketball World Championship (1990) and Paralympics (2004).

Early in his career, Tim coached Rick Hansen during his Man in Motion World Tour. Rick Hansen said, “Tim Frick was my friend, my coach, and my Difference Maker. Tim challenged me to be the best I could be, to find excellence through hard work and purpose. Tim helped me become the “Man in Motion”.”

Tim has a natural ability to bring out the very best in people. He inspires, motivates and encourages through his coaching style and believes in preparation of the athlete, not beating the opponent. Throughout his career, Tim has been a champion for the development of opportunities for sport and physical activity for persons with disabilities.

KATHY SHIELDS

Kathy Shields has had an incredible career as both an athlete and a coach, spanning over three decades. Her coaching involvement includes Assistant Coach with the University of Victoria Vikettes (1977-1978), Head Coach with the University of Victoria Vikes (1979-2001), Assistant Coach with Team Canada (1981-1994) and Head Coach for the Senior Women’s National Team (1992-1995). Kathy led the University of Victoria Vikettes/Vikes to 8 CIAU/CIS National titles and had a record of 320 wins and only 50 losses. She has been awarded the Canada West Coach of the Year nine times and has won the CIAU/CIS Coach of the Year.

Kathy has contributed to the landscape of Canadian women’s basketball where fourteen of her athletes have gone on to represent Canada internationally. Additionally, an unimaginable eight of her former athletes and assistant coaches have become head coaches of university teams. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001, Shields uses her skills shaped over her many years of coaching to counsel others going through breast cancer treatment.

HORST BULAU

Considered Canada’s greatest ski jumper of all time, Horst Bulau enjoyed an outstanding ski jumping career from 1978 until his retirement in 1992. He won a World Junior Men’s Ski Jumping Championship in 1979 and represented Canada in the 70m, 90m and 120m ski jumping events in four Olympic Winter Games: Lake Placid, 1980; Sarajevo, 1984; Calgary, 1988 and; Albertville, 1992. At the 1988 Olympic Winter Games, Horst placed 7th, the best finish ever by a Canadian ski jumper in the 120m event. Between 1978 and 1988, Horst competed in 129 events on the World Cup ski jumping circuit, including 13 World Cup wins with 26 podium finishes and was consistently ranked 2nd or 3rd in the world during most of his career.

Horst raised the profile of ski jumping in Canada through his love of the sport, the love of his country, and the drive to be the best that he could be. No ski jumper has even come close to achieving his success. Horst has chosen to remain in Canada and volunteers in his community and inspires others with the love of sport.

PIERRE HARVEY

Pierre Harvey is one of the few Canadian athletes who ever competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Pierre represented Canada as an Olympian in 1984 at the Sarajevo Olympic Winter Games in cross-country skiing and at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Summer Games in cycling, and again at the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games.   Pierre made history in 1987 when he became the first Canadian to ever win an international cross-country event; a 30 km freestyle World Cup race at Falun, Sweden. He went on to win another three medals in World Cup competition in 1987 and 1988 before retiring in 1989. In total, Pierre competed in 50 Cross-Country Ski World Cup events and would stand atop the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships podium an amazing 35 times, including 22 Gold, 8 Silver, and 5 Bronze. A product of the Canada Games system, Pierre Harvey was a dual-sport athlete who has become an icon for both Canadian Cross-Country skiers and cyclists.

GARETH REES

Gareth Rees is known around the world for his outstanding rugby skills. At 19 years of age, he was the youngest person ever to be named to an All World Rugby XV. Gareth is also the only man to have represented his country, starting in every game, in four Consecutive Rugby World Cups – 1987, 1991, 1995, and 1999. Gareth is also the first man in the world to Captain his country in two Rugby World Cups, 1995 and 1999 and was captain of the Canadian National team 25 times in his 14 years with the team. He won scoring titles in France, Wales and England where he played professionally for a decade and Gareth is still ranked in the top 10 all-time point scorers in the Rugby World Cup. Since his retirement, Gareth has been a passionate advocate, introducing rugby to beginners of all ages across Canada and around the world.

GERALDINE HEANEY

In 1980, at the age of 13, Geraldine Heaney started playing hockey with the Toronto Aeros. This began a long and successful career playing in a then male-dominated game, and ultimately developing women’s hockey into the forefront of Canadian sport culture.

Geraldine won seven gold medals at the IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championships (1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001), the only woman to have ever accomplished this, won a silver medal at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, and a gold medal at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. More than a decade after her retirement, Geraldine remains the highest scoring defenceman in the history of Canada’s National Women’s Team. Geraldine takes her responsibility as a role model for young girls very seriously and continues to advance the women’s game.

ELIZABETH MANLEY

Elizabeth Manley is a world class figure skater with an exemplary list of accomplishments in her career. Her 50 national and international achievements include being a two-time U.S. Open Figure Skating Champion, three-time Canadian Figure Skating Champion, the 1988 World Figure Skating Silver Medallist, the 1988 Olympic Winter Figure Skating Freestyle Champion, and ultimately the 1988 Olympic Winter Figure Skating Silver Medallist. Elizabeth is credited as being the first Canadian female to successfully land a triple-double combination jump in competition. She also received the Order of Canada in 1988.

With all of Elizabeth’s athletic success, Canadians were not aware that she battled severe depression. Instead of hiding her personal challenge, Elizabeth made her depression public in hopes that it could help others. Her inspiring inner strength in dealing with mental illness, and her tireless efforts in support of mental health, Elizabeth won a gold medal in life and is a role model for all of Canada to be proud of.

SARAH BURKE

Sarah Burke was a rising star in the world of Freestyle Skiing. In competition, she was the FIS Freestyle World Ski Champion – Half-pipe in 2005, a four-time gold medallist at the Winter X Games, a gold medallist at the Nippon Open Slopestyle in 2007 and the 2007 gold medallist at the WSI, Whistler Pipe. Sarah was the first woman to land a 720, 900 & 1080 degree rotation in competition.

Sarah started in her sport when there were no women competitors and she could only compete with men. With her strength, personality and belief that all girls should have an equal chance, she attracted and often trained a generation of female competitors. Sarah’s passion and perseverance has been recognized as having been instrumental in the recent inclusion of her sport at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, but she was unable to compete due to her untimely death. She died in January 2012 at the age of 29 after succumbing to injuries suffered while training. Sarah was, and will remain a great role model for youth across Canada and above all, will be remembered for her warmth, her smile and her love of life.

About Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame is an international award-winning facility with over 40,000 square feet of inspiring experiences. Located at Canada Olympic Park (COP), site of the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame features 12 galleries, more than 50 hands-on interactive experiences and a collection of more than 95,000 artefacts. Our mission is to share the stories of the achievements of our Honoured Members so that we can inspire all Canadians to be the best they can be in all aspects of life; Inspiring Canadians -in sport and life. Please visit www.sportshall.ca to learn more about our education programs, facility rentals and corporate retreats.

*Please note that the official name is Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, not the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

MEDIA CONTACT

Marnie Krell
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
P: 403.776.1086 | C: 403.437.0939 | [email protected]

2014 Skate Canada International all-event tickets on sale Friday

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OTTAWA, ON: Tickets for the 2014 Skate Canada International will go on sale this Friday, April 25 at 10:00 a.m. (PT). This year’s event takes place in Kelowna, B.C., at Prospera Place from October 31 – November 2, 2014.

All-event tickets cost $135-$185, plus applicable surcharges and can be purchased online at www.selectyourtickets.com, by phone at 250.762.5050 or in person at the Prospera Place Box Office.

“This event will feature many of our top Canadian athletes in head-to-head competition with the best international skaters in men’s, ladies, pair and ice dance,” said Mark Halliday, Chief Marketing Officer, Skate Canada. “Fans will have the opportunity to see current Olympic and world medalists, as well as many young athletes who will be challenging for the podium four years from now at the next Olympic Winter Games in 2018.”

The list of competitors for the event will be announced in late June, when all six of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating® event assignments are determined.  Skate Canada International is the second competition in the annual series. The other events take place in the United States (Skate America), China (Cup of China), France (Trophée Eric Bompard), Russia (Rostelecom Cup) and Japan (NHK Trophy).

Skaters are awarded points based on their placements in the series’ events. The top-six men and ladies and the top-six pair and ice dance teams qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final® to be held in Barcelona, Spain from December 11-14, 2014.

The story of an official, the unsung heroes of figure skating

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The officials of figure skating are a diverse bunch, often misunderstood, often underestimated, sometimes undervalued.

They are the glue that holds the sport together, but they sit seemingly silently in their seats, judging what they see, figuring it all out, pushing all the buttons, letting their fingers do the talking. What would a figure skating competition be without them?

They are the sport’s guidebooks. They know all the rules. They impart them, offer a helpful hand to developing skaters through monitoring, and they share in the moments of a rockin’ good skate.

They are unpaid volunteers. They give up all of their holiday time to offer up their services, even sitting on committees to further the sport. Some, like Olympic judge Karen Howard, a teacher in Regina, Saskatchewan, says she doesn’t mind not being paid to judge. But she goes further. She has an agreement with her local school board to give up 10 per cent of her salary to allow her an extra 20 days a year to use for judging days. She’s missed some crucial basketball games, played by her daughters. It helps to have a supportive family.

It’s a price they are willing to pay. Judge Andre-Marc Allain won’t call it a sacrifice. A marketing/communications director for a department of the federal government, Allain looks at his judging career as an investment in pursuing a passion.

There is a common theme that keeps recurring with skating officials: volunteerism is a motivator. When Allain wrapped up his skating career in Moncton, N.B., at 16, he felt a sense of duty to give back to the community. And he had a mentor, Geraldine Leger, who had been the first triple-gold test judge from New Brunswick, who saw the potential in him to judge. Now he’s been doing it for 26 years.

Howard came from Melville, population 5,000, where volunteerism is a way of life. “Having good role models who were always out at our test days and judging, that really hooked me,” she said.

Howard, too, began work to become a judge at 16, the youngest you can be. She had already started to do the preparatory work before the magic birthday. Sometimes, she missed the odd school day to do some trial judging. Her parents were always supportive.
It’s not easy to become a judge, particularly in Canada. And it takes time, as candidates gradually advance, taking clinics and workshops and seminars along the way. It took Howard 18 years before she got her first international assignment. It took Allain about 15.

Howard has now been judging for 32 years, 14 of them internationally. Although she has never judged a world championship, she was on the Olympic panel for the women’s event in Sochi. It’s important, along the way, she said, to “develop a thick outer skin,” to judge with confidence and conviction.

By the end of last season, Canada had 1,640 accredited officials, when you take into account all the judges from pairs, singles and ice dancing and synchronized skating and the technical controllers and specialists. And don’t ever forget the data specialists, says Norm Proft, the former officials program manager for Skate Canada. They take all the numbers from the officials and run the software that does the ultimate calculation.

“If you’re going to talk about the unsung heroes of the skating world, you’re talking about data specialists,” Proft said. Why? If skater No. 1 takes to the ice at 8 a.m., the data specialist is at the rink at 5:30 a.m., setting up equipment. If the last skater finishes at 9 p.m, the data specialist will be there for another hour, finishing up.

“The majority of the work they perform occurs in the back room where you can’t even see the ice,” Proft said. “If the data specialists have done a great job, nobody knows that they’re there.” It takes a special kind of personality to do the job well, he added: they are sticklers for detail and accuracy and they have an abiding knowledge of rules and process.

What many people don’t realize is that the skating sections across the country create the judges from the ground up. Skate Canada benefits from the enormous work done by the sections to bring judges through the rudimentary levels. Skate Canada may do five competitions, such as Challenge, the Canadian championships, Skate Canada International, synchronized skating championships in a season: a section might do that many competitions in a month.

And judges at these lower levels are needed. While Skate Canada has about 2,500 competitive skaters, there are 27,000 recreational skaters, doing competitions, too. “As an official, it’s an honour to be part of that child’s moment,” said Proft, who is an accredited technical controller and specialist. “As an official, you want the focus to stay on the child. If you do your job right, the kid can compete, get a hug from their coach, get a hug from their parent, they look at the results and then they go to Dairy Queen.”

This season for the first time, the International Skating Union administered the test for international and ISU judges, all to make the level of judging more consistent. In other years, federations would test and accredit their own judges and then recommend them to the ISU. Now countries recommend judges to the ISU to take a three-day clinic in Frankfurt, Germany. “It’s intense,” Howard says. There is trial judging, a written exam, too and element identification.

However, Skate Canada rigorously tests its judges even before they go for ISU testing. “We like to say we have the best officials in the world,” Proft says. “As part of their education, a great deal of attention is paid to ethics. We’re proud of the level of ethics as demonstrated by our officials – not to say that other countries don’t.” Some countries have a much more rigorous examination process than others, and perhaps more resources.

Howard says the Canadian test is perhaps even tougher than the ones given at the Frankfurt seminar. She took over the writing of that Canadian exam, and feels it’s better that officials are well prepared for the ISU test. “I call it a challenging exam,” Howard said. “It makes you think.”

Allain who is a certified international judge and technical controller and specialist in various disciplines, including ice dancing, would love to judge at an Olympics, like Howard, but “I get the same level of fulfillment and excitement when I do regional and club events,” he said.

And Howard? She returned home from Sochi to judge the Canadian adult championships in Regina. Suddenly, she was judging women who were her age or older. “To see the joy and passion that they had in their performances and their skating, I thought what a great way to tie this amazing year together,” she said.

*** Officials are an integral part of our sport; their dedication to the success of our athletes is evident through the countless hours they spend each year servicing our competitions and test days. Take this opportunity to thank an official!

If you are interested in becoming an official contact your section office to get started!

Beverley Smith

International figure skating event gets provincial support

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KELOWNA ─ Premier Christy Clark today has announced $100,000 in support of Skate Canada International which will bring international competitors and visitors to Kelowna this fall.

“Skate Canada International will bring the world’s best skaters and our future Olympians to Kelowna for an event that will attract thousands of visitors,” said Premier Clark. “I know that Kelowna residents and businesses will welcome them with open arms.”

Skate Canada International will be held at Prospera Place in Kelowna Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2014. Nearly 20,000 spectators are expected to attend the event, which also will generate economic returns for the region. The 2013 Skate Canada International in Saint John, N.B. generated economic spinoffs estimated at $4 million.

“We know that Kelowna will warmly welcome the athletes, officials, coaches, volunteers and visitors to this beautiful part of our country,” said Dan Thompson, Skate Canada CEO. “With such an impressive calibre of Canadian and international competitors at the 2014 Skate Canada International, we know that the next generation of B.C. skaters will be inspired by having this event in their community. We would like to thank the B.C. government for the financial commitment to this event and for its ongoing support to growing sport in the province.”

Funding is being provided through the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.

Skate Canada International is the second competition in the annual ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating® series. The other events take place in the United States, China, France, Russia and Japan. Skaters are awarded points based on their placements in the series’ events. The top-six men and ladies and the top-six pair and ice dance teams qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in December 2014.

Quick Facts:

  • This is the first time Kelowna has hosted Skate Canada International. The last time the event was held in B.C. was in 2006 in Victoria.
  • Approximately 60 of the world’s best figure skaters from 13 to 15 different countries will participate in Skate Canada International in four disciplines: Men’s, Ladies, Pairs and Ice Dance. Close to 200 volunteers will assist with the event.
  • The television audience for Skate Canada International in both 2012 and 2013 totalled nearly 2 million viewers in Canada and over 25 million worldwide.

Media Contacts:

Sam Oliphant
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
250 952-7252

Jennifer Cador
Communications
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 356-0979

Barb MacDonald
Director Corporate Communications
Skate Canada
613 747-1007 x 2507
613 894-1769 (mobile)
[email protected]

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

Judges & referees – day two of our officials coverage

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We are continuing our coverage of the various roles officials play in figure skating. Yesterday we featured the data specialist and the evaluator in our celebration of Officials Day in Canada (happening tomorrow), today we look at the judge and the referee!

JUDGE

Definition: A judge is a volunteer who has been trained to judge competitions. Judges assign both program component (PC’s) marks and grades of execution (GOE’s). PC’s look at the components (skating skills, transitions/linking footwork and movement, performance/execution, choreography/composition, interpretation of the music) of an entire program. GOE’s are assigned to specific elements in a program and rate the quality of execution of every element.

TESTIMONIAL

Nathalie Delisle: For me, skating is a passion. I have been skater, trainer and now judge for over 10 years and I love it! I was looking to do something to stay close to my sport and the skaters.  It was also very important for me to stay involved in the development of my sport, as well as for the skaters.  My role as judge helps me see and understand various levels of skating.  It is a wonderful experience to communicate what I’m learning with athletes and coaches to help improve the athletes’ skating skills and be the best they can be. I have built some strong relationships with coaches, skaters and many other people in the skating community.

REFEREE

Definition: A referee at a competition is an experienced judge who has received further training to conduct a competitive event and monitor the performance of the panel of judges.

TESTIMONIAL

Cynthia Alepin: Encouraged by my mother (who has been a judge and volunteer for the past 45 years), the Quebec Section, and countless talented mentors, I began judging as a skater and have enjoyed my many experiences as a Skate Canada official for the past 35 years.

I am grateful to Skate Canada for entrusting me with a referee role at the 2014 Canadian Synchronized Skating Championships in Burnaby, B.C. It was my great privilege to sit on a panel with my peers and to evaluate and enjoy the performances of the 41 teams of talented skaters from all across Canada. These national championships included world class teams, personal best performances and a standard which has reached new heights.

My duties as referee gave me the opportunity to liaise more closely with the devoted volunteers, the Local Organizing Committee, the team of tech and data specialists and the Skate Canada staff whose time, skill and efforts behind the scenes were invaluable to the preparation and delivery of this national event.

Thank you to all those who dedicated themselves to the success of this event, in support of the wonderful discipline of synchronized skating. It was truly an honor to share this experience and I look forward to next year with great anticipation when Canada welcomes teams from all over the world at the 2015 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in Hamilton, Ontario.

Tomorrow is Officials Day in Canada! Skate Canada will be celebrating by continuing to provide more information on the importance of the roles of officials in figure skating!