Skate Canada mourns the loss of Hall of Fame Coach Sheldon Galbraith

Skate Canada Hall of Fame coach Sheldon Galbraith passed away at the age of 92 yesterday in Toronto.

Galbraith had a record of success unequaled by any other Canadian coach. He was a dedicated teacher and technical innovator that led his skaters to world titles in men’s, ladies, and pair, as well as Canada’s first ladies and pair Olympic gold medals.

After a successful skating career, he began to coach at the Minto Club in 1946, moving to the Toronto Skating Club in 1949. His students included Barbara Ann Scott, Frances Dafoe and Norris Bowden, Barbara Wagner and Robert Paul, and Donald Jackson. He was the Olympic team coach in 1948, 1956 and 1960 and was instrumental in the formation of the Professional Skating Association of Canada.

He was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 as the first figure skating coach ever to be honoured. He later entered the Skate Canada Hall of Fame, World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame, and the Professional Skaters Association Coaches Hall of Fame. Galbraith was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1999 and in 2005 was awarded the Order of Ontario.

Skate Canada offers its sincere sympathies to Galbraith’s family and friends.

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