The holidays have concluded and skaters and coaches have hit the ground running with the 2012 Canadian Figure Skating Championships, the upcoming 2012 Mountain Regionals Synchronized Skating Championships, Western Regional Adult Competition, Alberta Winter Games, and preparations for 2012 STARSkate Championships and Arctic Winter Games.

Good Luck to all Section skater's competing at the 2012 Canadian Figure Skating Championships, and we encourage skating fans, family, and friends to tune into CTV/TSN or skatebuzz.ca to watch skaters take the ice. Click here to see the full broadcast schedule.  Check out athlete results here.

Special Olympics Alberta and Skate Canada: Alberta-NWT/Nunavut have made the decision to remove the Special Olympics component of the upcoming Alberta Winter Games hosted in Spruce Grove, Parkland County and Stoney Plain.

After consultation with skating clubs and Special Olympics programs it was determined that there would not be a suitable number of eligible skaters available to take part in the competition.  Both organizations are continuing to work closely together to expand their existing relationship and look forward to exploring additional opportunities for skaters with an intellectual disability.

Although Special Olympics skaters will not be part of the Alberta Winter Games this year there is a significant competition on the horizon in Alberta.  Special Olympics Skaters from across the country, and four from Alberta, will be competing at the 2012 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in St. Albert from February 28 - March 3, 2012.  This is the first time since 1996 that a Special Olympics National Games have been hosted in Alberta so we are very excited about hosting skaters from across the country.  For more information on the national games you can visit their website.

Sincerely,

Skate Canada: Alberta-NWT/Nunavut and Special Olympics Alberta 

Here at the Section Office, we would like to welcome Stephanie Gray who is a fourth year student in Physical Education & Recreation with a major in Sport Performance at the University of Alberta. She will be working closely with Holly Henderson, Manager, Athlete Development, to assist with athlete development initiatives including Special Olympics, as well as coaching programs.

Stephanie is passionate about coaching as she is involved with coaching youth soccer. Beyond volunteering her time, she is involved and/or interested in many different sports such as golf, hockey (go Oilers!), soccer, tennis and snowboarding. Stephanie is very excited to assist the organization with their Long Term Athlete Development initiatives.

Stephanie can be contacted at skateab.desk@telus.net.