PRINCE GEORGE, British Columbia. — Our organization has been in existence for 44 years. Part of our mission is to provide and offer comprehensive training programs for all skaters of all levels, reminding ourselves that one is never too old or too young to develop a passion for an on-ice sport. It is our hope that our coaching encourages the interest, enjoyment, development and advancement of our athletes for the on-ice pathway that is chosen. My personal mission as a coach is to develop amazing athletes and, in that time, have a hand in developing exceptional human beings. I believe that sport is one of the most masterful teachers one will ever have.

We have right around 350 members in our organization and seven professional coaches on staff. Our current board of directors consists of eight to ten volunteers who work tirelessly for the club; however, we welcome volunteers who also harbour a love of on-ice sport to assist in whatever capacity available in our organization.

At Northern BC Centre for Skating, we offer a wide and inclusive range of programming, such as the Pre Canskate program that takes kids who are at the very beginning of their skating journey. This program then takes the skater into a learn-to-skate program called Canskate, against which all other programs are measured. Canskate has the best curriculum in Canada and has taught millions of Canadians to reach their recreational and competitive goals on the ice. Our organization also offers a Junior Academy program for the up-and-coming figure skater and Can Power for the up-and-coming hockey player. Lastly, we offer training to our sport-specific and more advanced figure skaters. In the past, we have offered adult power skating as well. Our organization is also active in providing skating to the schools which has been a nice addition to our repertoire.

We have just returned from a very successful competition in Surrey that occurred this past May long weekend. The skaters performed remarkably well and skated to many personal bests in terms of achievement. As summer approaches, our focus turns to training and preparing for the next competitive season with our next big event in October. As some of our star skaters have graduated high school and are moving on to university, a new cohort of young talent is emerging from our club.

I really believe that our entire board of directors, coaching team and skaters deserve a special mention. We have navigated, like many have, some troubled waters through the pandemic. We have found ways to keep the athletes skating and developing. Our board has worked so hard to ensure all health guidelines were adhered to very closely, allowing us to continue to skate and the kids to have the opportunity to do what they truly love. We have such a beautiful community of people working together!

We have had so many incredible events take place over the years: I would hate to mention a few and by accident leave out a few. The one truth about coaching children is that they provide magic every day. No day is ever the same!

Being a non-profit organization, we need to fundraise since the costs associated with ice time, training and travel to competitions in distant locales are considerable.

We typically fundraise with Centennial Meats, Hunniford Gardens and ticket raffles. Our skaters scrape the ice at all Prince George Cougars’ home games to raise funds for our club.

We would love to have a hand in your skaters’ development! The passion and knowledge for skating are high at our club, and we would love to share that with you and your child.

My life as an athlete and my life as a coach has comprised of many, many years:  years that have brought me to the mountain top and to the valley.

My coaching philosophy continues to be to pour into my students’ encouragement, knowledge and technical strategies for being successful skaters, as well as remarkable human beings. I strive to provide an on-ice environment that is safe, inclusive and goal-oriented. A place where the trouble of the day is set aside and the love for the sport and for training is awakened. A place where we celebrate the accomplishments of our fellow athletes; a place where an encouraging word is powerful enough to overcome any hurdle. A place where my athletes will not always remember everything that I say but will always remember how the ice and the time spent at the rink together made them feel.

My time coaching has provided me with incredible opportunities which have taken me to the gates of National Championships to seeing a three-year-old find her inner brave and take flight for the first time on the ice and everything in the middle. What an honour it is to do what I do.

For more information about our organization, visit skateprincegeorge.com or please contact [email protected].

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