Skate Canada recently announced seven new inductees into its Hall of Fame. Among these seven are many Ontarians: Sandra Bezic, William Ostapchuk, Bill Dowding, Wilf Langevin, Wendy Griner and George Meagher.
Though they had been announced as honourees in the Hall of Fame in 2008, several other Ontarians were recently honoured with official induction ceremonies. At the 2010 Canadian Figure Skating Championships, Marijane Stong and Donald Knight were honoured. The 2010 Skate Canada Annual Convention and General Meeting featured a ceremony for David Dore.
Sandra Bezic, 54, of Toronto, Ontario will enter the Skate Canada Hall of Fame as a professional for her work as a choreographer. Bezic is a five-time Canadian Pair Champion with her brother Val Bezic, and represented Canada at the 1972 Olympic Winter Games, placing ninth. She began her skating career as an athlete but then transitioned into a choreographer. Bezic is best known for choreographing such winning programs as, Barbara Underhill and Paul Martini (1984 Worlds), Brian Boitano (1988 Winter Olympics), Kristi Yamaguchi (1992 Winter Olympics), Kurt Browning (1993 Worlds), and Tara Lipinski (1998 Winter Olympics). In 2003 Bezic won an Emmy for her Stars on Ice choreography. Bezic also wrote a book, The Passion to Skate, and has provided colour commentary for both NBC and CBC. Most recently, as co-creator and a producer of the hit CBC series Battle of the Blades,she introduced a whole new audience to the sport she loves.
William Ostapchuk, 77, of Toronto, Ontario will enter the Hall of Fame as a builder for his work to develop figure skating in Canada. A former President and Vice-President of Skate Canada, Ostapchuk helped move skating forward in Canada. Ostapchuk is a Certified Management Accountant in his professional life and served as a volunteer Chief Accountant for various figure skating events including the 1978 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, six Canadian Championships, five Skate Canada International events and numerous divisional, sectional and club competitions. In 1982 he was appointed a member of the Marketing Committee and the Athlete Trust. In 1986 he was appointed VP Administration and Chair of the Marketing and Communications Committee. During his time he recommended that the title sponsors’ names be attached to both the Canadian Championships and Skate Canada International to make sponsorship more attractive and increase value. He oversaw the marketing and sponsorship revenue increase from about $200,000 in 1984 to approximately one million in 1988. In 1991 the Hall of Fame Trust was formed and he became the first chair. He now lives with his wife Josephine in Lakefield, Ontario.
Bill Dowding, 89 and Wilf Langevin, 70 are to be inducted together in the builder category for their work as a music technician and announcer at figure skating competitions. Dowding was the official music technician for Skate Canada from 1968-1999. He also used his skills as a music technician at various world championships and the 1988 Olympics. Langevin acted as the official Skate Canada announcer at skating events from 1966-1999. He was the highly recognizable voice of figure skating at the Canadian Championships during that time.
Wendy Griner, 66, of Toronto, Ontario will enter the Hall of Fame in the athlete category. Griner was Canadian Champion from 1960-1963 and a world silver medalist in 1962. She represented Canada twice at the Olympic Winter Games, first in 1960 and once again in 1964, placing 12th and 10th respectively. Known as a staunch competitor by those who competed against her, she dominated the Canadian ladies field until she retired in 1964. In 1967 she married Dr. Don Ballantyne and settled in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The couple have two sons and one daughter.
George Meagher was a figure skating pioneer in Canada. He was born in 1866 in Kingston, Ontario and will enter the Hall of Fame in the athlete category. Meagher is best known for both his talent on the ice and for the co-founding of the Minto Skating Club in Ottawa, Ontario. Meagher won the Amateur Championships of the World in 1891 and in 1898 won the Professional Championships of the World. Meagher also published several books; his best known titles are Figure and Fancy Skating (1895) and Lessons in Skating, published in 1900. Meagher is also credited for introducing ice hockey to Europe in 1894 while on a figure skating trip to Paris. He passed away in 1930 at the age of 63 at his home in Montreal, Quebec.
The exact date and locations of the induction ceremonies for Sandra, William, Wendy and George will be announced at a later date.
David Dore was honoured in the builder category with a ceremony at this year’s Annual Convention and General Meeting.
As the youngest President of the Canadian Figure Skating Association, David brought energy, enthusiasm and a passion for excellence to the role. He carried those attributes through his eighteen years as Director General. His experience as a national medalist, world and Olympic judge, and involvement at the club and section level, combined with his background in ice show direction and production provided the broad range of experience that allowed him to excel as the association’s leader.
He revamped the association into a strong, vibrant, forward-thinking organization. During his tenure he developed the National Team program, created the Athlete Trust, developed successful marketing and television concepts and staged three highly successful ISU World Figure Skating Championships. Under his leadership, Canadian skaters won more Olympic and world medals than during any other time.
He is one of the most decorated administrators and volunteers in Canadian sport, and was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. In 2002, he received the International Olympic Committee’s highest honour, the Olympic Order, for his contribution to sport in the global community. He continues to serve the sport he loves as the first Canadian to ever be elected to the office of Vice President, International Skating Union.
Marijane Stong was officially inducted into the professional category with a ceremony at the 2010 Canadian Figure Skating Championships.
Blending innovative choreography with stirring music and vivid costumes to create a complete skating package were the hallmarks of Marijane Stong’s long career as a coach, choreographer and costume designer. She pioneered the use of vocal music in a free dance, and role reversal in her choreography became a trademark. The first female coach in Canada to become NCCP Level 4 Certified, she created the concept of packaging programs with music, choreography and costumes all working together seamlessly.
Six times Marijane attended an Olympic Winter Games as a coach of both ice dance and pair teams. Her highlight came in 1988 when her Canadian ice dance champions, Tracy Wilson and Rob McCall, won the Olympic bronze medal in Calgary. As always, Marijane found the perfect music, complemented it with ground-breaking choreography and innovative costumes to present a program that continues to be a benchmark for ice dancing.
Serving as Skate Canada’s National Coach Consultant since 1999, Marijane continues to influence the current generation of skaters. She works with skaters and coaches to complement their skating programs with the ideal skating costumes and music.
Donald Knight was inducted as an athlete with an official ceremony at the 2010 Canadian Figure Skating Championships.
Although he retired from amateur skating at the young age of 19, Donald Knight left his mark on the sport during the 1960s. In 1961, he became the Canadian Junior Champion when he was just 13 years old. For the next six years he finished on the podium at the senior Canadian championships, placing 3rd in 1962, second in 1963 and 1964 and was crowned champion for three straight years, 1965-1967.
A master of the compulsory figures, the native of Dundas, Ontario’s legendary work ethic enabled him to become an all-round skater, incorporating powerful jumps, spins and intricate footwork into his programs. He represented Canada internationally with distinction as well, capturing the 1967 North American Figure Skating Championships title. His first of five appearances at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, came when he was just 15. In 1965, he finished 3rd and earned a bronze medal for Canada. At the 1964 Olympic Winter Games, he placed ninth.
Regarded as one of the skating world’s most passionate ambassadors, Donald’s later career included touring professionally with Holiday on Ice and Ice Capades. A true gentleman, he continues to inspire young skaters today with his enthusiasm and passion for the sport as a coach with the Burlington Skating Centre.
