(March 28, 2007)

Opened to the public at the Canadian Museum of Civilization since January 27, 2006, the Lace Up – Canada’s Passion for Skating exhibition has been a huge success. The exhibition examines the history of skating in Canada and illustrates how the sport came to occupy its special place in this country. All three skating sports, figure skating, speed skating and hockey, are featured in this exhibition.

“The aim of this exhibition is to explore skating in its totality, to examine its evolution, its transformations and its establishment in Canada,” says the exhibition's curator, Bianca Gendreau.

Skating fans can admire 200 artifacts from the Canadian Museum of Civilization's own collections and those of other Canadian and European museums, as well as personal loans from skating organizations, fans and athletes. These include a wide range of historic skates, exquisite paintings of skating scenes, historical costumes, treasured medals and trophies, souvenirs of sporting events, and decorative objects. Skate Canada loaned 12 items from its collection, including Kurt Browning’s famous Casablanca costume. There is also an audio-visual section where visitors can relive some of the best Olympic skating moments in Canadian history.

Costumes on display including Kurt Browning's Casablanca costume				Barbara Ann Scott at the exhibition last year with a Barbara Ann Scott doll

“If you are Canadian, skating is in our heritage as an Archivist and former figure skater I am thrilled that we are preserving our skating history and artifacts,” says Skate Canada’s archivist Emery Leger.

Memorabilia and trophies		Barbara Ann Scott doll

Skating fans have until this Sunday, April 1st, 2007 to go see this exhibition. It is estimated that 240,000 people will have seen Lace Up – Canada’s Passion for Skating once it closes.

Plans are underway to have this exhibition presented at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Lace Up – Canada’s Passion for Skating might also travel in the near future.