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

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

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

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

Canadian team en route to 2016 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Chinese Taipei

OTTAWA, ON: Canada will send 12 entries, for a total of 18 skaters, to the 2016 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei. The event takes place from February 16-21, 2016, at the Taipei Arena. The Canadian team will have three entries per category in men’s, ladies, pair and ice dance.

Three-time World Champion and double Olympic silver medallist (men’s and team) Patrick Chan, 25, Toronto, Ont., is the first of three Canadian entries in men’s. This season, Chan won gold at Skate Canada International and placed fifth in the short program at Trophée Éric Bompard to earn a berth at the ISU Grand Prix Final, where he placed fourth. The representative of the Granite Club has previously competed at this event twice, winning it on both occasions (2009 and 2012). He is coached by Kathy Johnson and trains at the Detroit Skating Club.

Canadian silver medallist Liam Firus, 23, North Vancouver, B.C., is the second Canadian entry in men’s. Last year, he placed 15th at this event. This season, the representative of Vancouver SC placed seventh at the Finlandia Trophy and eighth at the Golden Spin of Zagreb. Firus is coached by Christy Krall and Damon Allen in Colorado Springs, CO, USA.

Olympic silver medallist (team) Kevin Reynolds, 25, Coquitlam, B.C., is the final Canadian entry in the men’s discipline. Also representing Vancouver SC, Reynolds has previously competed at this event four times, winning bronze in 2010 and gold in 2013. This season, Reynolds returned to competition after a year off to win the bronze medal at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. He is coached by Joanne McLeod at the Champs International Skating Centre in Burnaby, B.C.

Newly-crowned Canadian champion Alaine Chartrand, 19, Prescott, Ont., is one of three Canadian entries in the ladies category. She placed 10th at this event last year and seventh in 2014. This season, she placed fourth at the Nebelhorn Trophy and 12th at Skate America, and sixth at the Rostelecom Cup. The representative of the Nepean Skating Club is coached by Michelle Leigh and Brian Orser.

The second Canadian entry in ladies is two-time Canadian champion and Olympic silver medallist (team) Kaetlyn Osmond, 20, Marystown, Nfld./Edmonton, Alta. She previously competed at this event in 2013, placing seventh. This season, she won gold at the Nebelhorn Trophy, placed 11th at Skate Canada International and placed sixth at the NHK Trophy. She is coached by Ravi Walia and represents the Ice Palace Figure Skating Club.

Véronik Mallet, 21, Sept-Îles, Que., is the final Canadian entry in the ladies division. This will be her third time competing at this event, having placed 13th in 2014 and 14th in 2015. Earlier this season, the representative of CPA Sept-Îles placed ninth at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic, 10th at Skate Canada International and fourth at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Mallet is coached by Annie Barabé at CTC Varennes.

In pair, world champions and Olympic silver medallists (team) Meagan Duhamel, 30, Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford, 31, Balmertown, Ont., lead off the Canadian entries. The representatives of CPA Saint-Léonard have previously competed at this event four times winning gold last year and in 2013. This season, they won gold at Skate Canada International and at the NHK Trophy, and won silver at the ISU Grand Prix Final, as well as their fifth consecutive Canadian title. Duhamel and Radford are coached by Richard Gauthier, Bruno Marcotte, and Sylvie Fullum.

Lubov Ilyushechkina, 24, Moscow, Russia, and Dylan Moscovitch, 31, Toronto, Ont., are the second Canadian pair entry at the competition. Last year, they placed sixth at this event. Earlier this season, the representatives of the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club placed fourth at the Ondrej Nepela Trophy, seventh at the Cup of China and fifth at the NHK Trophy. The two time Canadian medallists are coached by Lee Barkell, Bryce Davison and Tracy Wilson.

Vanessa Grenier, 23, Johnville, Que., and Maxime Deschamps, 24, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., will also represent Canada in pair. Grenier and Deschamps will be competing at this event for the first time. This season, the representatives of CPA Sherbrooke and CPAR Vaudreuil placed fourth at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic, seventh at Skate Canada International and eighth at the Cup of China. Most recently, they placed fifth at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. They are coached by Richard Gauthier and Bruno Marcotte at CPA Saint-Léonard.

Two time world medallists Kaitlyn Weaver, 26, Toronto, Ont., and Andrew Poje, 28, Waterloo, Ont., are the first of three Canadian entries in ice dance. They are the 2015 and 2010 champions of this competition and will be competing at this event for the seventh time. This season, the representatives of Sault FSC and Kitchener-Waterloo SC have won gold at all of their events: Finlandia Trophy, Skate Canada International, Rostelecom Cup and the ISU Grand Prix Final. Most recently, they won their second consecutive Canadian championship. Weaver and Poje are coached by Angelika Krylova, Pasquale Camerlengo and Shae-Lynn Bourne in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Canadian silver medallists Piper Gilles, 24, Toronto, Ont., and Paul Poirier, 24, Unionville, Ont., will be the second Canadian entry in ice dance. This will be their fourth time competing at this event, at which they won the silver medal in 2014. This season, they have medalled at all of their competitions: gold at the Ondrej Nepela Trophy, bronze at Skate America and silver in the short program at Trophée Éric Bompard. The representatives of Scarboro FSC also won their second consecutive Canadian silver medal. Gilles and Poirier are coached by Carol Lane and Juris Razgulajevs at Ice Dance Elite in Scarborough, Ont.

Canadian bronze medallists Élisabeth Paradis, 23, Loretteville, Que., and François-Xavier Ouellette, 23, Laval, Que., are the third Canadian ice dance entry. This will be their first time competing at this event. Earlier this season, they won bronze at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic and placed eighth at Skate Canada International. The representatives of CPA Loretteville and CPA Les Lames D’Argent De Laval Inc., are coached by Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon and Romain Haguenauer.

Skate Canada High Performance Director Mike Slipchuk will be onsite with the Canadian team. Carolyn Allwright of Kitchener, Ont., and Bev Viger of Abbotsford, B.C., will be the Canadian team leaders at this event. Dr. Lee Schofield of Toronto, Ont., will be the Canadian team doctor and Josiane Roberge of Sillery Que., will be the team physiotherapist.

Canadian officials at the event are Sally Rehorick of Vancouver, B.C., Nicole Leblanc-Richard of Dieppe, N.B., Cynthia Benson of Quispamsis, N.B., and Leslie Keen of Vancouver, B.C.

For results and full entries please visit www.isu.org.

CANADIAN ENTRIES AT 2016 ISU FOUR CONTINENTS FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Discipline Name Age Hometown Club Coach
Mens Patrick Chan 25 Toronto, Ont. Granite Club Kathy Johnson
Mens Liam Firus 23 North Vancouver, B.C. Vancouver SC Christy Krall / Damon Allen
Mens Kevin Reynolds 25 Coquitlam, B.C. Vancouver SC Joanne McLeod
Ladies Alaine Chartrand 19 Prescott, Ont. Nepean Skating Club Michelle Leigh / Brian Orser
Ladies Kaetlyn Osmond 20 Marystown, Nfld. & Edmonton, Alta. Ice Palace FSC Ravi Walia
Ladies Véronik Mallet 21 Sept- Îles, Que. CPA Sept-Îles Annie Barabé / Maximin Coïa
Pair Meagan Duhamel / Eric Radford 30/31 Lively, Ont. / Balmertown, Ont. CPA Saint-Léonard / CPA Saint-Léonard Richard Gauthier / Bruno Marcotte / Sylvie Fullum
Pair Lubov Ilyushechkina / Dylan Moscovitch 24/31 Moscow, Russia / Toronto, Ont. Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club / Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club Lee Barkell / Bryce Davison / Tracy Wilson
Pair Vanessa Grenier / Maxime Deschamps 23/24 Johnville, Que. / Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que. CPA Sherbrooke / CPAR Vaudreuil Richard Gauthier / Bruno Marcotte
Ice Dance Kaitlyn Weaver / Andrew Poje 26/28 Toronto, Ont. / Waterloo, Ont. Sault FSC / Kitchener-Waterloo SC Angelika Krylova / Pasquale Camerlengo / Shae-Lynn Bourne
Ice Dance Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier 24/24 Toronto, Ont. / Unionville, Ont. Scarboro FSC / Scarboro FSC Carol Lane / Juris Razgulajevs
Ice Dance Élisabeth Paradis / François-Xavier Ouellette 23/23 Loretteville, Que. / Laval, Que. CPA Loretteville / CPA Les Lames d’Argent de Laval Inc. Marie-France Dubreuil / Patrice Lauzon / Romain Haguenauer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gabrielle Daleman, Julianne Séguin and Charlie Bilodeau withdraw from 2016 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships

OTTAWA, ON: Canadian figure skaters Gabrielle Daleman, Julianne Séguin and Charlie Bilodeau have withdrawn from the 2016 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Chinese Taipei. The athletes had been scheduled to compete at the event which takes place from February 16-21, 2016, at the Taipei Arena in Taipei City.

In the ladies division, Gabrielle Daleman, 18, Newmarket, Ont., sustained a minor injury in training and will be replaced by Véronik Mallet, 21, Sept-Îles, Que.

In the pair discipline, Julianne Séguin, 19, Longueuil, Que., also sustained a minor injury in training, leading to the withdrawal of her and partner Charlie Bilodeau, 22, Trois-Pistoles, Que. They will be replaced by Vanessa Grenier, 23, Johnville, Que., and Maxime Deschamps, 24, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que.

“These decisions have been made for precautionary reasons as we progress towards the world championships,” said Mike Slipchuk, Skate Canada’s Director, High Performance. “We are focused on allowing our athletes to return to competition in prime condition.”

Daleman, Séguin and Bilodeau are all scheduled to return to competition at the 2016 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Boston, MA, USA.

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

We’re Canadian.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Honourable Mention: Beaver Lake, Bonsecours Basin

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

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

We’re Canadian.

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

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

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

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

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

Emera Oval

Emera Oval – Photo courtesy of Novascotia.com

OK, so we may be a little biased having visited Halifax in January for the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, but the Emera Skating Oval is one of Halifax’s newest, and most popular, landmarks. Spanning the size of three NHL rinks, the Oval claims it is the “largest outdoor artificially refrigerated ice surface east of Quebec City.”

It takes an hour, and 1,700 litres of water, to resurface the ice. In busy times, the Oval can hold up to 1,500 skaters and we are betting they’re all really, really nice. You know, it’s a Maritime thing!

Want to score some serious brownie points with the significant other? Hitting the top of Grouse Mountain for a skate should keep you in the good books. Once you get off the tram at the top of the mountain, an 8,000 square-foot patch of winter bliss awaits. Nothing like a leisurely skate 4,000 feet above one of the world’s most picturesque cities.

Greater Vancouver Area Honourable Mention: Robson Square, Vancouver

Some really smart dude designed the Freezeway for his landscape architecture Masters thesis. If things go according to plan, the skating trail will eventually be lengthened to 3.5 kilometres, but a 400-metre pilot version opened just before Christmas. Designer Matt Gibbs was inspired by a former city councillor who once quipped the city should flood the streets so Edmontonians could skate to work.

Skaters ready to compete at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games

OTTAWA, ON: Canada will have three entries in the figure skating events at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway from February 12-21, 2016. The Canadian figure skating team will consist of one entry in men’s, pair and ice dance, for a total of five skaters.

Roman Sadovsky, 16, Vaughan, Ont., will be Canada’s entry in men’s. This season Sadovsky won gold at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Slovakia, bronze at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Poland and placed sixth at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final. Most recently he placed ninth at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in the senior men’s category. Sadovsky is coached by Tracey Wainman at the YSRA Winter Club.

Justine Brasseur, 14, Brossard, Que., and Mathieu Ostiguy, 19, Granby, Que., are the Canadian pair entry at the event. They competed on the ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit earlier this season placing sixth and fifth at their two assignments. In January they placed fourth in the junior category at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Brasseur and Ostiguy train in Saint-Léonard, Que., with coach Bruno Marcotte.

Marjorie Lajoie, 15, Boucherville, Que., and Zachary Lagha, 16, Greenfield Park, Que., will represent Canada in ice dance. This season they placed seventh at their first international assignment, ISU Junior Grand Prix Logrono. Earlier this year they won the silver medal at the 2016 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in junior ice dance. Lajoie and Lagha train in Montreal, Que., with coaches Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer and Pascal Denis.

Scott Rachuk of Strathroy, Ont., will be the Canadian figure skating team leader/coach and Tracey Wainman of Toronto, Ont., will be the Canadian coach in Lillehammer. Susan Blatz of Burlington, Ont., and Janice Hunter of West Vancouver, B.C., will be the Canadian officials at the event.

For more information the 2016 Youth Olympic Games please visit the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) website.

Canadian entries at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games

DISCIPLINE NAME AGE HOMETOWN CLUB COACH
Mens Roman Sadovsky 16 Vaughan, Ont. YRSA Winter Club Tracey Wainman
Pair Justine Brasseur / Mathieu Ostiguy 14/19 Brossard, Que. / Granby, Que. CPA Brossard / CPA Saint-Césaire Bruno Marcotte
Ice Dance Marjorie Lajoie / Zachary Lagha 15/16 Boucherville, Que. / Greenfield Park, Que. CPA Boucherville / CPA St-Lambert Marie-France Dubreuil / Patrice Lauzon / Romain Haguenauer / Pascal Denis

Canadian juniors reign Supremes at French Cup

ROUEN, France – Les Suprêmes from St-Leonard, Que., won the gold medal Saturday in junior competition for the second straight year at the French Cup synchronized skating competition.

Les Suprêmes placed first in both the short and long programs and finished with 162.88 points. The Musketeers from Finland were second at 155.14 and the Skyliners from the U.S. third at 153.14 out of 11 entries.

Les Suprêmes junior  skaters were Jessica Allaire, Alessia Arsenault, Amélie Béland, Julia Bernardo, Véronik Boisvert, Rachel Cecere, Alisia Cirella, Alice Côté, Emily Degni, Béatrice De Oliveira, Gabrielle Gauthier-Roy, Marie-Ève Deschênes, Marie-Michèle Gauthier-Roy, Kathleen Grandchamp, Alessia Hart-Lewis, Jessica Iacono, Nadia Lemay, Christina Morin, Alexia Nadai-Plante, Andréanne Paradis, Alessia Polletta and Florence Poulin.

Les Suprêmes were third at the world junior championships last winter and are two-time defending Canadian junior champions.

In senior competition, Paradise from Russia won the gold medal at 206.08 edging the Rockettes from Finland at 201.68. Team Unique from Finland overtook Les Suprêmes for the bronze finishing at 198.90 to 198.80 for the Canadians in fourth.

Les Suprêmes senior team members were: Rebecca Allaire, Katherine Beaucage, Alexandra Bernardo, Lou-Ann Bezeau-Tremblay, Audrey-Anne Blouin, Joannie Brazeau, Emma Maria Corona, Alessandra Criscuolo, Laurie Désilets, Mélodie Doré, Sara Gilbert, Dana Malowany, Agathe Sigrid Merlier, An-Kim Nguyen, Minh-Thu Tina Nguyen, Olivia Laurra Sena, Claudia Sforzin, Sofya Squalli, Hélène Stojanovski and Yasuko Uchida.

The senior Les Suprêmes were sixth at the world championships last season and opened 2016 last weekend with a silver at the Neufchatel Trophy in Switzerland.

Full results: 2016 French Cup.

Canadian teams first and fourth after short programs

ROUEN, France – Les Suprêmes from St-Leonard, Que., are first in junior competition and third in the senior event after Friday’s short programs at the French Cup synchronized skating competition.

In junior, Les Suprêmes are the defending champions and lead with 58.00 points. The Musketeers from Finland are second at 53.70 and Team Mystique, also from Finland, third at 53.68 out of 11 entries.

Les Suprêmes junior  skaters are Jessica Allaire, Alessia Arsenault, Amélie Béland, Julia Bernardo, Véronik Boisvert, Rachel Cecere, Alisia Cirella, Alice Côté, Emily Degni, Béatrice De Oliveira, Gabrielle Gauthier-Roy, Marie-Ève Deschênes, Marie-Michèle Gauthier-Roy, Kathleen Grandchamp, Alessia Hart-Lewis, Jessica Iacono, Nadia Lemay, Christina Morin, Alexia Nadai-Plante, Andréanne Paradis, Alessia Polletta and Florence Poulin.

Les Suprêmes were third at the world junior championships last winter and are two-time defending Canadian junior champions.

In the senior event, Paradise from Russia stands first after the short with 71.98 followed by Finland’s Rockettes at 71.42, Finland’s Team Unique at 69.16 and Les Suprêmes at 68.32 out of 12 entries.

Les Suprêmes senior team members are: Rebecca Allaire, Katherine Beaucage, Alexandra Bernardo, Lou-Ann Bezeau-Tremblay, Audrey-Anne Blouin, Joannie Brazeau, Emma Maria Corona, Alessandra Criscuolo, Laurie Désilets, Mélodie Doré, Sara Gilbert, Dana Malowany, Agathe Sigrid Merlier, An-Kim Nguyen, Minh-Thu Tina Nguyen, Olivia Laurra Sena, Claudia Sforzin, Sofya Squalli, Hélène Stojanovski and Yasuko Uchida.

The senior Les Suprêmes were sixth at the world championships last season and opened 2016 last weekend with a silver at the Neufchatel Trophy in Switzerland.

The free programs are on Saturday.

Full results: 2016 French Cup.

Les Suprêmes synchronized skating teams prepared for 2016 French Cup

OTTAWA, ON:  Canada will have two teams at the 2016 French Cup international synchronized skating competition in Rouen, France. Les Suprêmes senior and junior will compete at the event which takes place from February 5-6, 2016, at the Patinoire Île Lacroix and features 30 teams in senior, junior, and novice.

Les Suprêmes senior, the 2015 Canadian silver medallists, will be the sole Canadian entry in the senior category. They began this season by winning the silver medal at the Neuchâtel Trophy this past weekend. They have previously competed at this event, placing fifth last season, sixth in 2014, and fifth in 2013. Last season, the representatives of Quebec won gold at the 2015 Mozart Cup and placed sixth at the 2015 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in Hamilton, Ontario. The five-time consecutive Canadian silver medallists are coached by Marilyn Langlois, assisted by Pascal Denis, Amélie Brochu, and Amanda Gaiotti.

Les Suprêmes junior, also from Quebec, will be the sole representative from Canada in the junior category. They are the defending French Cup junior champions, and previously won the bronze medal at this event in 2014, and placed eighth in 2013. Two-time consecutive Canadian junior champions, Les Suprêmes junior also won the bronze medal at the 2015 ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships. The team is also coached by Marilyn Langlois, assisted by Pascal Denis, Amélie Brochu, and Amanda Gaiotti.

Andrew Bosco of Thorold, Ont., will be the sole Canadian official at the event.

For more information on the event please visit 2016 French Cup.

Strong free programs put Canada in medals at Neuchâtel Trophy

Neuchâtel, Switzerland – Strong free programs produced silver medals for Canada in both senior and junior competition on Sunday at the Neuchâtel Trophy synchronized skating competition.

In senior competition, Team Paradise from Russia took the gold medal with 213.50 points followed Les Supremes from St-Leonard, Que., in second at 198.06 edging Team Unique from Finland third at 198.04.  There were seven entries.

The 20-member  Supremes were third after the short program on Saturday just behind the Finns.

The skaters for Les Supremes were Rebecca Allaire, Katherine Beaucage, Alexandra Bernardo, Lou-Ann Bezeau-Tremblay, Audrey-Anne Blouin, Joannie Brazeau, Emma Maria Corona, Alessandra Criscuolo, Laurie Désilets, Mélodie Doré, Sara Gilbert, Dana Malowany, Agathe Sigrid Merlier, An-Kim Nguyen, Minh-Thu Tina Nguyen, Olivia Laurra Sena, Claudia Sforzin, Sofya Squalli, Hélène Stojanovski and Yasuko Uchida.

Les Supremes were sixth at the 2015 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in Hamilton. The five-time consecutive Canadian silver medallists are coached by Marilyn Langlois, assisted by Pascal Denis, Amélie Brochu, and Amanda Gaiotti.

In junior completion, NEXXICE from Burlington, Ont., ranked third for both the short and long programs but their consistency paid off in silver with 138.86. Chicago Jazz from the U.S. won the event with 148.07 and Fond du Lac Blades, also from the U.S., were third at 136.24.

NEXXICE skaters were Madina Asrorova, Alyssa Finocchi, Alycia Giro, Taylor Johnston, Anna Ljunberg, Caroline Marr, Emiko Marr, Shayna McFadden, Jessica Morgan, Angie Qi, Jeian Amiel Simbahon, Samantha Smith, Melanie Spowart, Scarlet Stinson-Panning, Nicoel Susek, Alessandra Toso, Kayla Walker, Brooklyn Williamson, Emily Wright and Olivia Xie.

Last year, NEXXICE placed fifth at the 2015 ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships. Nexxice junior are coached by Trish Perdue-Mills and represent the Burlington Skating Centre.

Full results: 2016 Neuchâtel Trophy

Ottawa to Host Skate Canada’s 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

OTTAWA, ON: Skate Canada announced today that Ottawa, Ontario will be the host city for the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships from January 16-22, 2017, at the TD Place Arena. The championships will be the first sporting event in Ottawa’s year-long celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday.

Canadian Tire national skating championships logo

“We are excited to be back in Ottawa for the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. From our first championships in 1914 to our 100th anniversary of the event in 2014, Ottawa is a very special place for Canadian skating,” said Dan Thompson, Skate Canada CEO. “We are proud to be able to kick-off the National Capital’s celebrations for Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations. Like past years, we know the support from the community, fans and volunteers will allow for another amazing event that will inspire Canadians to embrace the joy of skating.”

“At Canadian Tire and Jumpstart, we believe in the power of sport to change lives, bring communities together and inspire greatness – whether it’s a first pair of skates, supporting kids through our charity, or helping athletes from the playground to the podium,” said Landon French, President of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. “As title sponsor, we are proud to help bring this event to Ottawa and look forward to welcoming Canada’s top skaters again in 2017.”

The pre-eminent all-Canadian sporting event will feature approximately 250 skaters in the men’s, women’s, pair, and ice dance disciplines, competing in three levels: senior, junior, and novice. Athletes will vie for spots on the Skate Canada National Team and the Canadian teams that will compete at the 2017 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, 2017 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, and 2017 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.

“I want to congratulate Skate Canada on the selection of Ottawa as the host city for the 2017 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships,” said the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities. “Our country’s top figure skaters will be sharpening their focus on the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and our junior and novice figure skaters will benefit from—and be inspired by—sharing the same ice as their skating heroes. The Government of Canada is proud to support Skate Canada and our athletes who will be coming to these championships, especially as they will kick off Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations.”

Ottawa hosted the very first National Skating Championships in 1914 as well as in 1922, 1925, 1929, 1935, 1940, 1949, 1953, 1958, 1987, 1996, 1999, 2006 and 2014. The 2017 event will be 15th time that Ottawa will have hosted the largest gathering of Canadian skating talent. Canada’s capital has also played host to several other Skate Canada produced events, including Skate Canada International in 1976, 1981, 1993 and 2008, as well as the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in 1978 and 1984.

“I’m thrilled that Ottawa will once again be hosting the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, this time in 2017. This adds another marquee event to our already impressive list for 2017 and there are still more to come,” said Mayor Jim Watson.

“It’s a big win for Ottawa to be awarded the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in 2017. Events like this bring with them a significant boost for our local economy while helping to inspire our younger generation to pursue excellence in sports,” added Councillor Jody Mitic, Ottawa Sport Commissioner.

All-event ticket packages for the championships will go on sale later this year.

ABOUT SKATE CANADA

Skate Canada is the nation’s governing body for skating and dedicated to creating a nation of skaters both recreationally and competitively. At over 125 years old, it is the world’s oldest skating organization and Canada’s preeminent leader in skate training and education, providing high performance coaching and skating development education. Over 130,000 Canadians participate in Skate Canada educational programs each year.

Canada’s most successful governing sport body, Skate Canada athletes have won 25 Olympic medals and 32 world championships. Today’s Canadian world and Olympic medalists all began at one of our 1,200 local Skate Canada clubs or skating schools. Through our programs, more than 5,200 certified professional coaches encourage Canadians of all ages to skate together as a family, pursue competitive ice sports and enjoy an active lifestyle.

Skate Canada has a National Service Centre in Ottawa, marketing headquarters in Toronto and High Performance facilities in Toronto and Calgary.

 

ABOUT CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION

Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited, (TSX:CTC.A) (TSX:CTC) or “CTC,” is a family of businesses that includes a retail segment, a financial services division and CT REIT. Our retail business is led by Canadian Tire, which was founded in 1922 and provides Canadians with products for life in Canada across its Living, Playing, Fixing, Automotive and Seasonal categories. PartSource and Gas+ are key parts of the Canadian Tire network. The retail segment also includes Mark’s, a leading source for casual and industrial wear, and FGL Sports (Sport Chek, Hockey Experts, Sports Experts, National Sports, Intersport, Pro Hockey Life and Atmosphere), which offers the best active wear brands. The 1,700 retail and gasoline outlets are supported and strengthened by our Financial Services division and the tens of thousands of people employed across the Company.