Trailblazing athletes, coaches and builders of Canada’s most successful Olympic sport honoured in newly renovated space
CALGARY, ALBERTA – The history of Canada’s most successful Olympic sport is now on full display at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, where Speed Skating Canada unveiled its newly revamped Hall of Fame during a ceremony with distinguished alumni and partners during the ISU World Cup Speed Skating on January 25.
First established in 1965, the Speed Skating Canada Hall of Fame honours and recognizes athletes, teams and builders who have made extraordinary contributions to speed skating in Canada. The original Hall of Fame display at the Olympic Oval opened ahead of the 2003 ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships and had not been updated since late 2010.
As part of their innovative partnership with Speed Skating Canada, leading carbon capture and removal solutions provider, Svante, supported the revitalization of this public space as a way to ensure that the contributions of the sport’s trailblazing athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.
“We are very proud to have unveiled our sport’s new Hall of Fame and want to thank our partners at Svante for their collaboration in rebuilding this important space. This beautiful new display highlights the storied outdoor legacy of speed skating, and the unforgettable moments carved out by athletes on the ice and builders behind the scenes. We hope that this display at the Olympic Oval in Calgary serves to inspire generations to come to achieve their dreams.”Ron Weiser, Chair, Speed Skating Canada
The newly minted Hall of Fame features a series of displays that showcase the humble outdoor beginnings of the sport in Canada, the unique equipment needed to skate at speeds of up to 60km/h, and the accomplishments of legendary athletes who have worn the maple leaf with pride on the international stage.
Over 125 individuals are enshrined in the Hall of Fame as athletes, teams or builders, and their names cycle through on a digital display at the Olympic Oval. Historical imagery and artifacts help tell the story of speed skating’s most memorable Olympic moments, including Gaétan Boucher’s double gold at Sarajevo 1984, Cindy Klassen’s five-medal performance at Turin 2006, and Operation Cobra which helped the men’s relay team capture gold on home ice at Vancouver 2010.
Canadian speed skating fans are encouraged to visit the Hall of Fame the next time they are in Calgary. The public space is located on the second floor of the Olympic Oval.
About Svante
Svante is a purpose-driven, leading carbon capture and removal solutions provider. The Vancouver, Canada-based company manufactures nanoengineered filters and modular rotary contactor machines that capture and remove CO2 from industrial emissions and the air in an environmentally responsible manner. Svante is on the 2024 Global Cleantech 100, the XPRIZE Foundation’s XB100 – World’s Top 100 Deep Tech Companies and was ranked second among private companies in the Corporate Knights’ Future 50 Fastest Growing Sustainable Companies.
About Speed Skating Canada
Speed Skating Canada is the national governing body responsible for the organization, coordination and administration of both short track and long track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, we proudly represent over 15,000 athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers from coast to coast. Our non-profit organization is accountable to our 13 provincial and territorial speed skating organizations (PTSOs) and our national team program. We’re here to rally, inspire and lead the charge for our country’s most successful Olympic sport.
CONTACT
Alain Brouillette
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Speed Skating Canada
communications@dmorrison
Colleen Nitta
Director, Marketing & Communications
Svante Technologies Inc.
cnitta@svanteinc.com