Parkhill Silver Blades Skating Club is a not for profit, volunteer-based organization, dedicated to developing skating skills at all levels of ability; promoting physical fitness and friendship while fostering a lifetime love of skating for all ages
The Parkhill Silver Blades Skating Club was founded in 1975 when Arena Manager, Adrian Ansems, hired Mary Margaret Belcher to instruct a recreational skating program. Little did he know that this was the start of a new Canadian Figure Skating Club (now Skate Canada). He, along with Maxine Truemner, our founding President, applied for a sanction for the following year to become an official skating club. We received the sanction in early January 1976, becoming club #1000 within the Canadian Figure Skating Association. We had approximately 50 skaters at that time. In 1982 our Club became incorporated.
Our Club continues to grow, as the depth of the skating level of our members is always evolving. We have had and continue to have skaters who compete recreationally, provincially, and nationally with success. Our synchronized skating teams have competed in numerous area competitions and regional championships with steady success. Our skaters consistently achieve Gold test status in the various disciplines that Skate Canada offers. Other areas where some of our members have developed interests are in the field of judging and coaching. Our skaters and teams continue to have success providing proof of the teaching talents of our coaches.
We work diligently to balance our fundraising initiatives in order to be able to offer the CanSkate and STARSkate programs, to as many children that wish to learn. We continue to evaluate, streamline, and brainstorm to be able to provide quality programming as efficiently as possible. We provide a valuable service to our community and surrounding area. We foster friendships, fun, and fitness in a positive learning environment.
The support our club continues to receive from our community, businesses, and service clubs have also helped us to provide an outlet of recreation for the youth of our area. Activities such as our carnivals and showcases, and various fundraising events have served to integrate families, club and community. For their support we are indebted. It is support like this that keeps communities healthy.