By: Debbi Wilkes

Growing up in small town Ontario was the perfect fit for World Champion and Olympic Coach Brian Orser.

Photo Credit: olympic.ca

“I grew up in Penetanguishene, the youngest of 5 children, the eldest only 5 years old when I was born … so my Mom had her hands full,” laughs Brian.

What may have been a challenge for other parents, Brian’s Mom got her tribe organized and involved early in all sorts of sports. And for Brian? “Like every Canadian boy from a small town, I got enrolled in hockey … but there was one small problem … I couldn’t skate.”

JoAnne and Butch, Brian’s Mom and Dad, figured out quickly that Brian would benefit from figure skating lessons to build his skating skills. His sisters and brothers were already involved and his Mom was even President of the Midland Skating Club at the time. Brian was 5.

“With all of us on the ice at the same time, my Mom could close the door, sit quietly with her friends, enjoy coffee and a cigarette, watch us skate, gossip a little … and have a break.”

But what neither parent expected, Brian took to skating immediately. “I just loved it,” admits Brian. “Anytime in the winter I had a chance to skate, I would. Indoor, outdoor … if there was a puddle that was frozen, I was on it!”

What was the attraction?

“I liked going fast … I liked the idea of doing jumps.” And although he was surrounded by people who found real joy in skating, the big ‘hook’ attached itself when Brian was 10. It was during the club’s skating carnival when World Champion Donald Jackson was a guest performer.

“I remember I had a solo,” recalls Brian, “so that meant I got to practice at the same time as Donald. He skated so fast and jumped so high … that had a big impact on me.”

Brian was so impressed, he finally got the nerve to speak to Don to ask if he would take a few minutes to watch Brian skate. “Don was so gracious and kind to me,” remembers Brian. “I was excited to show him what I could do … and almost couldn’t believe he was interested!”

“So … I flew around the ice, doing my little split jumps and waltz jumps … and I guess he liked what he saw because afterward he went to my Mom to tell her he thought I had some talent and should get private lessons. That was the beginning of my skating career … and it’s all thanks to Donald Jackson!”

Photo Credit: olympic.ca

As luck would have it, the next week Coach Doug Leigh was planning to visit the area to do a once-a-week private lesson day. Brian took advantage of the opportunity. “It was a Tuesday afternoon so I had to get out of school. We did an hour of figures and an hour of free skating.”

At the time, Doug was a young coach starting out. “Doug had a vision,” says Brian. “He believed that talent could come from anywhere, especially from small towns where something in that small-town culture created focus and determination … and something else … a belief that dreams were possible.”

Then, when Doug started his school in Orillia, Brian joined the talent squad there with other young skaters from all over the area. “We started as young kids on our Preliminary tests, then our Firsts, being a little bit competitive, and learning a lot. It was eye-opening!”

Through all the early ups and downs, the wins and the losses, Brian never wasted a moment. “I loved to train. Over the years I just went from one thing … to the next … to the next … and the next thing I knew, I was doing triple Axels.”

As Brian’s competitive career was growing, by the time he was 15, he was also beginning to volunteer as a judge. “I judged right up to when I was 26 and competing in Calgary … eventually a single-panel gold test judge and a Novice Sectionals judge. I loved having a caddy box around my neck to pull the marks out.”

Judging taught Brian a lot, particularly about figures. “I’d have my moon boots on and my big coat … little markers for the turns to see if things lined up … and if I was the referee, being able to kindly break any bad news to a skater.” These were times when the ‘Don Jackson kindness factor’ came into play.

Two Olympic silver medals, a World title and many Canadian titles, Brian was never interested in setting records. “I wasn’t trying to one-up Toller or be better than Vern Taylor’s first triple Axel … it never occurred to me that I could make history. I just loved to skate, the same message that Don Jackson gave me so many years ago.”

Even today Don’s influence continues. “Don is always so gracious,” says Brian, “something I’ve tried to learn. … how you manage and deal with fans … how you remain kind and generous. Don was a role model for me.”

Jason Brown, Tracy Wilson and Brian Orser. Photo Credit: Jason Brown on Instagram.

Brian learned other important life lessons too. He’s grateful to his family. “We were all taught to be respectful of our elders. Whether they’re right or wrong, you still have to be courteous … you still have to act with manners.”

Today in Brian’s coaching regimen, those habits punctuate every lesson. “Even now working with different skaters and parents, my goal is to exercise patience, courtesy and respect. On the ice, we start every lesson with a welcome … and finish every lesson with a slight bow and a thank you.”

While winning medals will always be vitally important to Brian, there is also huge satisfaction in helping his skaters to perfect softer skills off the ice. “For many of my students, they may spend more time with me than with their parents. So when I hear from them after they’ve left skating and discover they’ve graduated from Harvard or started a new job or they’re getting married, I’m pleased to feel like I’m still part of their community.

“And when they say ‘thank you’, I know I’ve contributed in some small way to their success in life off the ice too.”