Skate Canada is the national governing body

Sport governing body

A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...

 for figure skating

Figure skating

Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...

 in Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, recognized by the International Skating Union

International Skating Union

The International Skating Union is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, Netherlands in 1892, making it one of the oldest international...

 and the Canadian Olympic Committee

Canadian Olympic Committee

The Canadian Olympic Committee - COC is the private, non-profit organization representing Canadian athletes in the International Olympic Committee and the Pan American Games. It was formally recognized by the IOC in 1907. The COC also represents the selection of Canadian cities in their bid for...

. It organizes the annual Canadian Figure Skating Championships

Canadian Figure Skating Championships

The Canadian Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of Canada. It is organized by Skate Canada, the nation's figure skating governing body. The levels of the competition are senior and junior; in some years, the novice level has...

, the fall Skate Canada International

Skate Canada International

The Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition organized by Skate Canada. It is the second competition of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies' singles, Men's...

 competition, as well as other national and international skating competitions in Canada.

Overview

The organization was originally founded in 1914 as "The Figure Skating Department of the Amateur Skating Association of Canada". In 1939, it changed its name to the "Canadian Figure Skating Association" (CFSA). The current name of "Skate Canada" was adopted in 2000 for consistency with the names of other national sports organizations in Canada.

Skate Canada claims to be "the largest figure skating governing body in the world". The vast majority of members are not elite competitors, but recreational skaters.

History

• 1887 - Amateur Skating Association of Canada for speed and figure skating is formed by Louis Rubenstein
  Louis Rubenstein
  Louis Rubenstein was a Canadian figure skater, sportsman and politician. Rubenstein is considered the "Father of Canadian Figure Skating." After retirement from skating in 1892, Rubenstein became involved in the sports of bowling, curling, and cycling...
  
   of Montreal's Victoria Skating Club.
• 1911 - First artificial ice rink is built in Vancouver.
• 1914 - First official Canadian Figure Skating Championships is held in Montreal.
• 1914 - The Figure Skating Department of the Amateur Skating Association of Canada is formed to promote skating in Canada.
• 1928 - First year that Canadians participate at a World Championship.
• 1932 - For the first time, Canada hosts the World Figure Skating Championships (in Montreal).
• 1939 - Renamed to become the Canadian Figure Skating Association.
• 1947 - The CFSA joins the International Skating Union and establishes a national office in Ottawa.
• 1958 - Charles H. Cumming is hired as the CFSA's first full-time employee.
• 1963 - First CFSA logo is developed.
• 1973 - Skate Canada International
  Skate Canada International
  The Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition organized by Skate Canada. It is the second competition of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies' singles, Men's...
  
   is introduced as a major international event (first location: Calgary).
• 1981 - For the first time, Canada hosts the World Junior Championships (in London).
• 1981 - The concept of a National Team is conceived.
• 1985 - The CFSA reconfirms its mandate to promote recreational and elite skating.
• 1986 - The CFSA adopts a new logo to reflect its continuing commitment to excellence.
• 1990 - The last figures are skated in international competition at the 1990 World Championships in Halifax.
• 1990 - The Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Fame is established and the first members inducted in a ceremony at the CFSA's annual meeting in Edmonton.
• 1990 - The CFSA implements framework for Skating Unlimited new pre-school and adult recreational programs.
• 1991 - The Junior National Team is created.
• 1995 - Canada hosts its first-ever ISU-sanctioned international precision skating event, Precision Canada International (in Toronto).
• 2000 - Canadian Figure Skating Association changes its name to Skate Canada.

Organizational structure

Skate Canada's headquarters are in Ottawa, Ontario. The organization also has 13 sectional offices which coordinate much of the local activity within their respective areas.

• British Columbia / Yukon
• Alberta / NWT/Nunavut
• Saskatchewan
• Manitoba
• Northern Ontario (NOS)
• Western Ontario (WOS)
• Central Ontario (COS)
• Eastern Ontario (EOS)
• Quebec
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island
• Newfoundland and Labrador

Ontario also has a provincial sport organization, Skate Ontario, which is run in cooperation with all four Ontario sections:

• Skate Ontario

External links

• Skate Canada web site