Please join Skate Ontario in welcoming this month’s Member Spotlight, the Niagara-On-The-Lake Skating Club! NOTL SC was founded over 58 years ago, and has grown over the decades to boast a current membership of 320 skaters. The work of this club is wonderfully sumarized by their mission statement: “Dedicated to providing quality Skate Canada skating programs to all of its members in a supportive, encouraging and respectful environment. A place of inclusivity where everyone is happy to belong.”

Judi Boyle-Krzeczkowski has been the Director of Skating Programs at this skating club for over 33 years. Under Judi’s leadership, the club has evolved from a mainly recreational skating club to a club now flourishing with skaters ranging from the recreational to StarSkate and Competitive levels.

In recent years, NOTL skaters have competed on the national stage, as well as StarSkate events and Adult championships across the province. “I am so proud to be a part of this club, and be a part of a coaching team that all have the same vision; to support, guide and mentor skaters achieving their dreams and preparing these same young people with life skills that go well beyond any rink”, Judi told Skate Ontario.

The Niagara on the Lake Skating Club had two skaters compete in 3 different events at the 2025 Skate Ontario Provincial Championships. According to Judi, “these skaters fully enjoyed being a part of a great event celebrating the best of the best in the StarSkate pathway! This achievement marks 22 consistent years where we have sent skaters to the Provincial Championships. Each year our skating club supports this achievement by awarding skaters who qualify to these Championships with our StarSkate monetary bursary. We have had skaters bring home every colour of medal, in categories ranging from former Junior Bronze to Gold Women, as well as Pre Novice and Novice Women.”

NOTL SC is made up of a cohesive team of like-minded coaches from the CanSkate to National Trained levels, and board members who have the best interests of the skaters at the heart of everything they do. The club hosts team building events, crowd supported assessment nights and fundraisers to foster team spirit and camaraderie. Judi shared that many NOTL SC families have expressed how much they enjoy the family feel at this skating club.

Some recent accomplishments that this club is most proud of include:

• The annual NOTL Star Challenge in which Pre-Junior skaters get first hand experience and enjoy the thrill of performing in front of their peers and parents.
• Weekly off-ice jump, ballet and conditioning classes
• Achieving the Exceeded Standard CanSkate Excellence status

NOTL SC has a team of very eager Program Assistants. According to Judi, “We have over 30 PAs to date who give countless hours each week, giving back to their skating community, helping so many littles learn and master their badge skills! In the month of October our PAs have clocked in 146 hours on our 5 PreCan, 5 CanSkate, and 2 Pre-Junior sessions! They come each day with their very visible red jackets with NOTL Team PA embroidered proudly on them, encouraging, excited and enthusiastically raring to go…These volunteers are truly the backbone of our CanSkate programs.

Many of our new members today had parents and grandparents who grew up in our skating club and are now the next generation to watch, grow and develop into proud Niagara-On-The-Lake Skating Club members, reaching their goals to celebrate with so many present and past members. We are very proud of the community we have developed both on and off the ice, many friendships that last long after they leave the ice.”

NOTL SC regularly participates in the Skate Ontario Organizational Excellence Program by participating in initiatives such as the Skate Ontario Coach Conference, the CanSkate Excellence program, monthly President’s Club webinars, and more.

Congratulations, Niagara-On-The-Lake Skating Club, for all of your accomplishments! Please join us in wishing this wonderful club an excellent season ahead.