(August 1, 2007)

The Mariposa School of Skating’s 18th annual charity gala will take place Thursday August 9, 2007 at 7 pm at the Barrie Molson Centre in Barrie, Ont. Proceeds from this year’s gala will go to the Royal Victoria Hospital Simcoe-Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre Rotary House and will be dedicated to the memory of Brian Orser’s mother, Joanne.

The 2007 gala will include many skaters that currently train at Mariposa in Barrie, including 2007 Canadian champion and 2007 Canadian silver medallist Jeff Buttle and Chris Mabee, and pair team Anabelle Langlois and Cody Hay. Alumni from Mariposa School of Skating will also participate in this year’s gala including Olympic and world silver medallist Brian Orser, and six-time Canadian champion Jennifer Robinson.

The 2007 national bronze medallist synchronized skating team, black ice, will also perform, in addition to rising international skater, Turkish champion, Tugba Karademir.

Since its first gala in 1990, $969,000 has been raised for different charitable projects in the Barrie-Huronia area. Organizers are hoping to reach the million-dollar milestone with this year’s event.

On-ice seats have been sold out for months, but there are still some good tickets available, including in private box suites. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.ca) or at the Barrie Molson Centre box office.

For more information go to www.mariposagala.info.