Fred's, (Used to be Barb's), Board

Skate Canada has committed to addressing systemic racism and to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all to embrace the joy of skating. This commitment requires educating ourselves and listening to the voices of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC).

Through education, we learn to be uncomfortable and vulnerable, and learn to see how privilege is established and sustained within organizations and society. Educating ourselves on systemic and institutional racism enables us to understand racism is more than individual acts of discrimination. This education is a necessary basis for action, and it informs our commitment to positive ongoing transformation of sport and society.

Skate Canada is pleased to launch our Education Plan for Anti-Racism and EDI. This is a collective, active, and sustained educational plan that seeks to establish shared engagement with anti-racism and EDI resources at all levels across Skate Canada. The Skate Canada Board of Directors, senior management and national office employees, as well as the section leadership teams have dedicated time for their education and have begun the process. We invite all Skate Canada members and registrants to join in this shared educational journey.

Dear members and registrants,

Recognizing the need to have open dialogues about race, to listen to the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC), and to keep our community engaged. Join us tonight, Tuesday, January 19, 2021, for Skate Canada’s first Talking About Race in Skating Panel at 7pm ET. This virtual panel will be available for all community members to watch and will be recorded for later viewing.

The virtual panel will feature BIPOC voices in skating discussing why talking about race will strengthen our community. The virtual panel will feature:

Uzoma Asagwara (they/their) – Asagwara will act as the moderator for the panel. They are a former basketball player with the University of Winnipeg and the Canadian National Basketball team. They are currently an elected MLA in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and a leading activist and voice for social justice.

Elladj Baldé (he/him) – Baldé was a member of the Canadian figure skating team from 2007 to 2018 and was the 2008 Canadian Junior Champion. He retired as a competitor in 2018. Baldé is founder of Skate Global, and co-founder and President of the Figure Skating Diversity & Inclusion Alliance (FSDIA).

Patrick Chan (he/him) – Chan is the most decorated male figure skater in Canadian history with three Olympic medals, three world championship crowns, and 10 Canadian titles. He retired from the competitive sphere in 2018 and currently provides coaching and choreography services in the Vancouver area.

Vanessa James (she/her) – James is a French-Canadian pair skater. She has represented France at two Olympic Winter Games, most recently placing 5th in 2018. James is a Global Ambassador for the Figure Skating Diversity & Inclusion Alliance (FSDIA).

Andrea Satar (she/her) – Satar is an active member of the synchronized skating community for the last 20 years. From 2005-2007, she competed with Black Ice, one of Canada’s most decorated synchronized skating teams. She currently works in the finance industry and is also a Skate Canada coach and section volunteer.

Megan Wing (she/her) – Wing is an Olympic ice dancer and was prominent on the Canadian ice dance scene for more than a decade, finishing on the Canadian podium for ten consecutive years from 1997 to 2006. In 2006, she retired from competitive skating, and remains active in the sport as one of Canada’s top ice dance coaches.

During the premiere of the panel, the YouTube Q&A chat function will be available for viewers to join the conversation and representatives from Skate Canada’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group will be available to respond to written questions and comments.

We look forward to the conversation tonight at 7pm ET. Click here to watch on YouTube!