2013 ISU World Figure Skating Championships Logo Revealed
Can you tell we are a little excited to be hosting the 2013 ISU World Figure Skating Championships? In June, at a City Council meeting, Skate Canada unveiled the logo for the event which will take place in London, Ontario from March 10-17, 2013 at the John Labatt Centre.
The 2013 ISU World Figure Skating Championships logo represents many aspects central to the sport of figure skating. The intertwining shapes and colours indicate the duality of the sport, where artistry and athletic power combine. Merging the fluid shapes of figure skating with the energetic expressiveness of colour, this logo captures the vision of a multi-faceted, modern celebration of figure skating to be staged in London.
All-event ticket packages are expected to go on sale in late January 2012 through the John Labatt Centre.
Let us know what you think of the logo on our facebook or twitter pages!
Meet Bill!
At the Skate Canada Annual General Meeting and Convention in Charlottetown, P.E.I., the Skate Canada Hall of Fame inducted William (Bill) Ostapchuk as a builder. For nearly forty years, Ostapchuk worked tirelessly to develop figure skating in Canada. He gave unlimited energy, leadership and commitment to his wide range of volunteer roles with the association.
 |
Read his full list of contributions here.
Joannie returns from World Vision expedition
Joannie Rochette recently returned from Honduras, and although she was able to observe the beautiful landscape, this was no vacation. Rochette, a spokesperson for World Vision Canada, went to see and experience the assistance which World Vision has been able to provide for the Honduran people.
Thanks to World Vision and the generosity of Canadians, many Honduran families have received gifts including chicken, fish, cows, seed, farming equipment, fruit trees, and more. World Vision recently took the concept of a catalogue, familiar to Canadians, and put a positive twist on it to help out the less privileged, such as those in Honduras. Canadians can now purchase catalogue items to be given to those in need in underprivileged countries.
This method of donation is more effective than simply providing the bare minimum of food. Families are not only receiving the food they need, but also the tools and knowledge to grow and sustain their supplies. This way, a family can continually breed chickens to eat and to sell, for example.
 |
During her visit, Joannie was uneasy at first thought of witnessing the slaughtering of a chicken, but gained a new appreciation for the way of life that many Hondurans must survive by. She remarked that many Canadians take our privileges for granted. “We kind of forget where these items come from […] we go to the grocery stores and we buy them” she said. Overall, it was a stimulating experience, “it’s a very real way of living” commented Rochette.
 |
Since her breathtaking bronze medal performance at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Joannie has been on tour with the Smucker's Stars on Ice (U.S.) and Sears Stars on Ice (Canada) tours. She is currently preparing for shows in Korea in mid-July, and at the moment, does not expect to be competing this year.
Athlete’s Corner
Swiegers wins USFSA 2011 Sportsmanship Award
There are not many people in the figure skating community who will forget how Canadian pair skater Rudi Swiegers rushed down to the boards at the 2011 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei, when American skater Mark Ladwig's skate broke at the start of his short program.
It was an act of pure kindness from Swiegers who had once trained with Ladwig in Florida and knew they had the same sized feet. The United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) did not forget the sportsmanship that Swiegers showed and in April presented him with the 2011 Sportsmanship Award at the USFSA Governing Council meeting.
 Mark Ladwig presented Rudi Swiegers with the USFSA 2011 Sportsmanship Award in Lombard, Illinois. |
Photo by Peter Zapalo
Allie Hann-McCurdy & Michael Coreno Receive Commemorative Photograph
Every year Skate Canada loses a few skaters to retirements. It’s always with mixed emotions that we say goodbye and good luck to our athletes as they start a new chapter in their lives. In order to commemorate their time on the national team, Skate Canada presents a framed photograph with a plaque to remember their time as national team members.
 |
Ice dancers Allie Hann-McCurdy and Michael Coreno retired from eligible skating in June 2010 and are now coaching at the Gloucester Skating Club. Skate Canada stopped by the club to present them with their commemorative photos.
Get to know: Alexandra Najarro
After only two years of competing in the senior category at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships, Alexandra Najarro has earned her spot on the Skate Canada National Team. Alexandra took a big step into the spotlight at the age of 13, winning the pre-novice category at junior nationals. Her programs are well-known and admired for the presentation and level of artistry. Be sure to keep an eye on this budding prospect!
Category: Senior Women Competitive Record
|
|
International Events:
2011 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships – 25 Did you know?
» Alexandra is an avid tennis fan |
 |
Skate Canada News
Skate Canada Wins Awards
Skate Canada has a hard working group of people who work at the national office and this year some of that work was recognized at the national and international levels.
The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) recognized Skate Canada’s handling of a difficult situation at last year’s Olympic Winter Games with its prestigious Gold Quill Award of Excellence. The award was given for Skate Canada’s submission, The Bravest of Faces: The Joannie Rochette Story, in the Issues Management and Crisis Communications.
In addition, the redesign of the Skate Canada logo, also received an international award. The design firm, Zebra Studios, received the Gold Summit Creative Award in the category of Logo Re-Design.
At the national level, Skate Canada recently won the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance Canadian Sport Event of the Year Award for the 2010 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships.
Locally, the IABC Ottawa chapter also recognized The Bravest of Faces: The Joannie Rochette Story with an award of excellence at its recent IABC Excel Awards gala.
For more information click here.
Join Skate Canada On Facebook and Twitter!
Skate Canada launched its facebook page just over a year ago and we love the conversation it has generated. It’s a direct link to our fans and we are excited to grow the page even more as we enter our second year.
If you’re not already a member, join us and if you’re already a member, send it along to a friend!
@SkateCanada recently launched a twitter page in October and we have started to tweet up a storm! The page allows us to post information in a timely manner and also share some never before seen photos. We’re also enjoying taking you backstage at events and giving you glimpses of the arena as we convert it for skating. Follow us @SkateCanada.
See you online!
 |
 |
Sponsor news
Television Update
In May Skate Canada announced that it had signed a 10-year rights agreement making Bell Media’s CTV, TSN and RDS the official broadcasters of Skate Canada. As part of the agreement, CTV, TSN and RDS acquire exclusive multimedia rights to all of Skate Canada’s premiere domestic events including Skate Canada International and the Canadian Figure Skating Championships.
CTV has been a long-time supporter of figure skating and previously hosted the sport on its networks for more than four decades dating back to the early 1970s. Skate Canada events last aired on CTV in 2007.
CBC will still be a part of skating as they will host the International Skating Union (ISU) events, including the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating® Final in Quebec City, ISU World Figure Skating Championships®, ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating® events and ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships®.
With more outlets broadcasting skating across the country we hope to bring skating into every Canadian home! Watch out for the full broadcast schedule coming this fall!
Upcoming Events
2011 Skate Canada International
Mississauga, Ont., will host the 2011 Skate Canada International competition. The event will take place at the Hershey Centre, from October 27-30, 2011.
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 (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 events. The top six in men’s, ladies, pair and ice dance qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, to be held in Quebec City from December 8-11, 2011.
All-event tickets for the 2011 Skate Canada International are currently on sale and available through www.ticketmaster.ca, by phone at 1.855.985.5000 or in person at the Hershey Centre box office.
2012 Skate Canada Challenge
Regina, Sask., will host the 2012 Skate Canada Challenge. The event will be held at the Co-operators Centre at Evraz Place, from November 30 to December 4, 2011.
All 500 skaters participating in the event will have to qualify through their respective sectional championships in order to compete. This is the final opportunity for novice, junior and senior skaters to qualify for the 2012 Canadian Figure Skating Championships. At this event the pre-novice champions of Canada will also be crowned.
2011 ISU Grand Prix Final
Quebec City, Que., will host the 2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The event will be held at the Pavillon de la Jeunesse at ExpoCité, from December 8-11, 2011.
The ISU Grand Prix Final is the pinnacle event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure skating series. The series hosts six stops: United States (Skate America), Canada (Skate Canada International), China (Cup of China), France (Trophée Eric Bompard), Russia (Rostelecom Cup) and Japan (NHK Trophy). Skaters are awarded points based on their placements at assigned events, and the top six in each of the four disciplines advance to the Finals. The event includes the 2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final.
The world’s top junior skaters also collect points—through seven events, which change yearly—in order to qualify. The top eight in men’s, ladies, pair and ice dance advance to the Junior Final, based on the results of the Junior Grand Prix series.
All-event tickets will go on sale in September, and ticket information will be available on www.skatecanada.ca as it comes available.
2012 Canadian Figure Skating Championships
Moncton, N.B., will host the 2012 Canadian Figure Skating Championships from January 16-22, 2012 at the Moncton Coliseum Complex. The practice arena will be the Red Ball Internet Centre.
Approximately 260 skaters in the women’s, men’s, pair and ice dance disciplines will compete at the senior, junior and novice levels at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships. Athletes will vie for spots on the Skate Canada National Team and the Canadian teams that will compete at the 2012 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, the 2012 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and the 2012 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.
All-event ticket packages for the events will go on sale in September.
