I am delighted to provide you with the Notice of Meeting for the 2010 Skate Canada Annual Convention and General Meeting and National Coaches’ Conference in Toronto, the capital city of Ontario. Delegates, coaches, athletes and guests are about to experience a fantastic few days where we can learn more about the future of our exciting sport and how we can work together to make it even stronger.

This year our theme is “Embracing Evolution”.

For more than 100 years, our organization has taught Canadians to skate. Throughout the sport’s history skating has grown from being used as a means of transportation to becoming one of the sweetheart sports of the Olympic Games, from a discipline concentrating on perfect circles to one focusing on the complete performance, and from a sport based on general impression to one that is truly measureable. 

We’ve come a long way in changing how skating is both delivered and perceived. Along the path, we’ve responded positively to our changing environment, challenges such as our limited pool of volunteers, reduced resources and the threat of outside competition, and we’ve done it with the same kind of vision, adaptability and commitment that has made our programs, coaches and athletes some of the best in the world. Now that’s evolution! 

And speaking of evolution, you’ve probably noticed this year’s ACGM “look” is from last season. If that seems counter to our theme, I promise that “look” is the final exciting wrap-up for the first decade of this millennium and the launching pad for a host of new ideas to be debuted in Toronto.

Over the next few days I want to encourage you to get involved and discuss the ideas being presented. Yes, they will challenge us in new ways; however they will also enhance our skating experience. They’ll help streamline our club and section operations, teach us about marketing and promotional opportunities and build on our tradition in ways that will make us more productive and successful.

To the Central Ontario Section, our gracious host, thank you for all your hard work and contribution in the planning and execution for this gathering of the Skate Canada family. Both the Section and officials from the city of Toronto have been supportive and I look forward to this conference.

I am energized by the opportunity to share ideas and learn from each other. As our sport continues to thrive and advance, remember the huge impact we all have on our skaters, from the grassroots up, and let’s work together to continue to help skating progress.

Sincerely,

Benoît Lavoie