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BMO Skate Canada Western and Eastern Challenges return to Mississauga for 2009 and 2010
(May 20, 2008 - OTTAWA, ON) – Skate Canada announced today that Mississauga, Ont. will host the 2009 and 2010 BMO Skate Canada Western and Eastern Challenge events. The Hershey Centre will play host to both the 2009 event that will take place Dec. 3-7, 2008 and the 2010 event that will take place from Dec. 2-6, 2009.
“We are happy to bring the BMO Skate Canada Western and Eastern Challenge back to the city of Mississauga. The city has welcomed the event and shown everyone involved so much hospitality,” said Skate Canada CEO William Thompson. “The Hershey Centre has proven from hosting in previous years that it is an excellent venue for holding an event of this magnitude and we are looking forward to the next two years.”
“BMO Financial Group is proud of its partnership with Skate Canada and is pleased to be the title sponsor of the BMO Skate Canada Western and Eastern Challenge events for a thirteenth consecutive year,” says Sandy Bourne, Vice-President, Advertising, Corporate Sponsorship and Event, BMO Financial Group. “Our figure skating sponsorship provides BMO with a way to celebrate excellence while connecting us with communities where our customers and employees work and live. We're looking forward to returning to Mississauga this upcoming skating season.
The city of Mississauga and the Hershey Centre are no strangers to hosting the event. This will mark their fourth time hosting the BMO Skate Canada Western and Eastern Challenge. The city previously hosted the 2005, 2006 and 2008 BMO Skate Canada Western and Eastern Challenges.
“The Hershey Centre, the city of Mississauga and SMG Canada are very pleased to announce our continued association with Skate Canada and specifically the BMO Eastern and Western Challenge events,” said Mike Hamilton, Hershey Centre General Manager. “For the next two years some of the finest up and coming figure skaters in the country will call the Hershey Centre home. Since opening in 1998 the Hershey Centre has been home to a number of prestigious Skate Canada events and we look forward to many more in the future and to continue being one of the premier skating venues in the country.”
Mississauga will host approximately 500 skaters. Senior and junior skaters will compete to qualify for the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships. Pre-novice and novice level skaters competing at this event will aim to earn a spot at the 2009 BMO Skate Canada Junior Nationals.
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Skate Canada, the national governing body responsible for the development and administration of figure skating in Canada, is the largest figure skating association in the world. With skating programs for athletes of all ages, offered at 1326 clubs across the country, Skate Canada is an association dedicated to providing every Canadian the opportunity to experience the passion, spirit and triumph of skating.
