Over the course of the next season I hope you’ll join me once a month to welcome home some of Skate Ontario’s most accomplished individuals to discover their early stories and learn how their skating journeys began.

Whether a retired champion or judge, coach or volunteer, these stories probably all started in the same place … at a community rink and at the local skating club.

For most in the skating family there was likely nothing particularly special about that first step on to the ice. But one thing is certain … at that moment they had no idea where the sport would lead them, what joy skating would bring nor how defining it would become in their lives.

And my story is no different.

Photo Credit: Skate Canada

I grew up on a small farm outside the tiny village of Unionville north of Toronto. In those days the big city was very far away. Back then the village looked nothing like the Unionville of today … population 603 … one main street … a two-room schoolhouse … a railroad station … a mill close by … and an antiquated skating rink that eventually became my home away from home.

Like most parents of a 5-year old, my Mom thought it was a good idea to get me involved in some kind of activity. What about the local skating club?

To prepare, she bought me double runner skates. I had all the finery. But despite her encouragement … when she put me on the ice for the first time I was having none of it and stood in the corner crying until she gave up and took me home.