(October 23, 2006)

Family members, friends and fans will get together Sunday, October 29, 2006 to celebrate Osborne Colson’s life. The event will take place in Toronto at the Ryerson Theatre, 43 Gerrard Street East. Click here for details.

Osborne Colson started skating at the Toronto Skating Club in the 1930s and became a two-time Canadian Senior Men’s Champion in 1936 and 1937. He started in the 1939 skating film ‘Ice Follies’ with James Stewart and the legendary Joan Crawford. Colson turned to coaching in 1946 and was inducted in Skate Canada’s Hall of Fame in 1995 in the coach category.

Over the years thousands of skaters benefited from his innovative and artistic teaching style including national champions Don Laws (USA) and Karen Preston (Canada), as well as 2005 Canadian Junior Champion Patrick Chan, and choreographer Sara Kawahara. He also worked with Canada’s first Olympic champion and two-time world champion Barbara Ann Scott. Osborne was still coaching at age 89 and spending up to 11 hours a day on the ice.

Osborne Colson passed away July 14, 2006 in Toronto. He was 90-years-old.