News Releases
Skate Canada and BMO Financial Group announced today that Saskatoon will host the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships. The event will be held Jan. 14 – 18, 2009 at Credit Union Centre.
“Skate Canada is excited to bring the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships to Saskatoon,” said Skate Canada Director of Sponsorship and Marketing, Debbi Wilkes. “Figure skating spectators in the city have previously had the opportunity to see World and Olympic medalists in the making at events here. Next year should be no exception as this event is only one year away from the actual naming of the 2010 Winter Olympic team. It will be a true test of our athletes' Olympic mettle.”
“We look forward to welcoming skating fans and future skating stars to Saskatoon for the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships”, said Ken Segboer, Vice-President, BMO Bank of Montreal, Saskatchewan. “This marks the second time Saskatoon will host the Canadian Championships since we began our partnership with Skate Canada in 1997. BMO employees in Saskatoon will devote just as much of their time and energy to this exciting competition as they did at the previous event in 2003.”
In 2003 Emanuel Sandhu, Jennifer Robinson, and Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz won the Canadian title in their disciplines. Bourne and Kraatz were crowned World Champions a few weeks later in Washington, DC, becoming the first Canadian ice dancers to win a world title.
The 10-time Canadian Ice Dance Champions, Bourne & Kraatz, were in Saskatoon for the announcement. “This city holds a special place in our hearts, because we won our final Canadian title here,” said Shae-Lynn Bourne. “The people gave us such a heart-felt response. It was a tremendous send-off in 2003, and we went on to win the world title later that year. Victor Kraatz outlined what it means to compete for a Canadian title. “The level of skating at these championships is outstanding, because as an athlete, you are competing for a place on the National Team and at the World Championships. Every athlete who will skate in Saskatoon in 2009 wants the opportunity to represent our country as Canadian champion.”
“We are excited to be hosting the best and brightest Canadian skaters once again in Saskatoon, just five years after hosting it in 2003,” said Tourism Saskatoon President and CEO Todd Brandt. “This is testament to the strong support shown by Saskatoon for figure skating. It will be just over a year to the 2010 Olympics – so expect to see strong competition on the ice – and quality performances!”
“Credit Union Centre is very excited to once again host the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships in January 2009,” commented Ken Wood, Executive Director, Credit Union Centre. “Saskatchewan has a strong following for the sport of figure skating and this prestigious event is sure to provide them with exciting performances. We look forward to working with Skate Canada along with the local volunteers and organizers to make this event a memorable success.”
Approximately 150 skaters in women's, men's, pair and ice dance disciplines compete at the senior and junior levels at the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships. The athletes will vie for spots on the Skate Canada national team, the Skate Canada junior national team and the Canadian teams that will compete at the 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, ISU Four Continents Championships and ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.
This marks the third time Saskatoon will host the Canadian Championships. The city previously held the event in 2003 and 1991. Saskatoon was also the site of the 2001 Skate Canada International ISU Grand Prix.
All-event ticket packages for the 2009 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships will go on sale early in February 2008.
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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 1303 clubs and 60 skating schools* across the country, Skate Canada is an association dedicated to providing every Canadian the opportunity to experience the passion, spirit and triumph of skating.
BMO Financial Group is the title sponsor of the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships, Junior Nationals and the Synchronized Nationals as well as the qualifying events that lead to the national championships, the Sectional and Challenge events. Recognizing the need to support young skaters in their quest for excellence, BMO Financial Group also supports Skate Canada's learn-to-skate program, CanSkate, which is taught in over 1,300 skating clubs and schools across Canada.
* As at August 30, 2007.