On March 20 the Canora Skating Club once again held its annual carnival after missing 2021 due to COVID-19. This year the theme was “80’s on Ice” with an estimated 150 spectators in attendance, according to Heather Chabun, Club president.
“The show went very well,” said Chabun. “It always takes a lot of work to make this event happen but it is worth it to see these kids on the ice again performing and displaying their skills. We were so very excited to be able to have a carnival again after a year of not being able to do anything as meaningful. The kids were all excited and the energy in the rink was so joyful and full of anticipation.”
Local skaters who performed in groups were: Rhianna Stefanyshyn, Heidi Mentanko, Katherine Hauber, Mahra Collingridge, Isabelle Chabun, Kaylie Donovan, Erika Sweeney, Rori Love, Jazmine Chasse, Paisley Wolkowski and Irene Yannoulis (Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This));
Lachlan Baillie, Ella Nycholaishen, Harper Chernoff and Emily Mentanko (I’m Still Standing);
Rachel Mentanko, Ashton Lamb, Chloe Doogan and Kenzee Kopelchuk (Girls Just Want To Have Fun); Ethan Chabun, Kaydence Goulet, Olivia Owchar, Keira Owchar, Presley Owchar and Mia Leonor (Livin’ On A Prayer); Lachlan Baillie, Ella Nycholaishen, Harper Chernoff, Emily Mentanko, Rachel Mentanko, Ashton Lamb, Chloe Doogan, Kenzee Kopelchuk, Ethan Chabun, Kaydence Goulet, Olivia Owchar, Keira Owchar, Presley Owchar and Mia Leonor (Kiss); and Isabelle Chabun, Heidi Mentanko and Rori Love (Thriller).
Irena Yannoulis and Rhianna Stefanyshyn (Pour Some Sugar On Me) performed a duet.
Solo skates were performed by: Kaylie Donovan (I Wanna Dance With Somebody); Erika Sweeney (Puttin’ On The Ritz); Katherine Hauber (Another One Bites The Dust); Paisley Wolkowski (Just Can’t Get Enough); Jazmine Chasse (9 To 5) and Mahra Collingridge (Billy Jean),
For the finale, all the skaters came together to perform to Jump.
Chabun said it took contributions from many people to make the carnival a reality. The program assistants were: Kaylie Donovan, Katherine Hauber, Paisley Wolkowski, Irena Yannoulis and Rhianna Stefanyshyn.
“A huge thank you to all the program assistants, but a special thanks to Kaylie Donovan, who is graduating this year and will no longer be with the club,” said Chabun. “Her dedication and help over the course of several years has been appreciated and she will be missed.”
A highlight of the program was that the Club was able to have guest skaters Ashlyn Schmitz and Tristan Taylor of Regina come to Canora and perform during the show. Schmitz and Taylor were the 2020 Canadian National novice pairs silver medalists and this season they competed at the 2022 Canadian Championships. Both skaters are accomplished single skaters as well. Schmitz finished second in the novice women event at sectionals and Taylor is Saskatchewan’s senior men’s champion.
“It is especially nice when we can have such accomplished young skaters come and show these kids what hard work and dedication to the sport looks like, and maybe set them to thinking of a future in skating and ignite their passion to reach and dream a little higher,” shared Chabun.
Rebecca Trost, who took over this season as head coach for the club, was the choreographer for the program, chose the songs and the groups to perform to each song. She also helped with administrative aspects of the carnival.
Trost has been involved in skating for 20 years, starting in CanSkate at the age of four, moving to competitive figure skating, and then to coaching.
“Currently, she is the assistant coach with Skate Yorkton, head coach for our Canora Skating club, head coach at the Theodore Skating Club, and previous assistant coach with the Springside Skating Club,” said Chabun.
For the carnival Chabun took care of administrative needs, and organized the event with the assistance of parents.
“All the parents helped with decorations, costumes, setting up and taking down, rehearsals, picture day, raffle prizes, making of programs and advertising,” detailed Chabun. “Without everyone’s contributions, this would be extremely hard to pull off and we appreciate everyone’s help wherever they pitched in!”
Additional members of the executive for the past year were Candace Doogan, vice-president, and
Rhonda Satterthwaite, treasurer.
As the 2021-22 skating season came to an end Chabun paid tribute to Leona Kitchen, head coach at the Canora Skating Club for the previous 11 years including CanSkate, StarSkate and CanPowerSkate programs.
“I have had the pleasure of seeing so many kids, in our community, learn how to skate and perform for their family and friends at the annual skating carnival,” said Kitchen. “I was also lucky to have skaters stay with the Canora Skating Club long enough to see program assistants, as well as have hockey players join to help teach, facilitate the programs, and inspire our younger skaters. I want to thank all the parents that I have been able to work with over the years, for volunteering their time either on the executive or organizing the carnival. I have always loved skating, hearing the blade cut the ice is one of my favourite sounds! My hope is to spark a love for skating that can be a lifelong skill, in everyone that I have coached!”
“Leona you are appreciated and missed. Good luck to you in all your endeavours!” concluded Chabun.
