Overview
Speed Skating Canada is excited to announce that the organization’s inaugural Speed Summit – our new biennial professional development conference – will take place this summer in beautiful Kelowna, British Columbia.
From June 8 to 10, members of the Canadian speed skating community will gather in the Okanagan for the first-ever Speed Summit, a multidisciplinary conference that will feature interactive and educational workshops on a variety of technical, administrative and governance topics. Targeted streams for stakeholder groups such as administrators, coaches and officials will provide professional development and learning opportunities for participants throughout our community, while social events with the larger group will encourage networking and relationship development.
Speed Skating Canada’s 136th Annual General Meeting of the membership will take place alongside the Speed Summit.
The preliminary event schedule – as well as information on the various workshops, plennary sessions and social activities – can be found on this webpage. To assist with travel planning, note that social activities begin Thursday evening and workshops begin Friday morning.
Download the detailed event schedule here!
Schedule Overview
- Thursday, June 8
- 9:00AM – 4:00PM: SSC Board of Directors Meeting
- 2:00PM – 4:00PM: PTSO Presidents’ Meeting
- 4:00PM – 5:00PM: SSC + PTSO Presidents’ Cocktail Hour
- 4:00PM – 6:00PM: Check-In & Package Pick-Up
- 7:00PM – 9:00PM: Welcome Reception
- Friday, June 9
- 9:00AM – 3:00PM: Workshops & Plenary Sessions
- 5:00PM – 7:00PM: Social Activities (Hike / Scavenger Hunt)
- 7:00PM – 10:00PM: Free Time
- Saturday, June 10
- 8:30AM – 2:30PM: Workshops & Plenary Sessions
- 2:30PM – 5:30PM: SSC Annual General Meeting
- 8:00PM – 10:00PM: Social Activity (Boat Cruise)
The Information Package outlines many important details about Speed Summit, including schedules, dress codes and details about the evening activities. You will also find more information about how we will communicate with participants on-site.
Download the Information Package here!
Address |
Four Points by Sheraton Kelowna Airport 5505 Airport Way Kelowna, BC V1V 3C3 |
Contact |
Jill Lynch |
Web |
- Speed Summit attendees will be provided free shuttle service to/from the hotel to the Social Activities (Welcome Reception, Mountain Hike, Scavenger Hunt, Boat Cruise). Transportation will also be provided to/from the Capital News Centre for on-ice workshops on Saturday, June 10.
- Guests of the Four Points by Sheraton Kelowna Airport have access to a free airport shuttle, providing transportation to and from the Kelowna International Airport. When you land, call the Four Points by Sheraton Kelowna Airport at 1-855- 900-5505 to request a shuttle.
- The Four Points by Sheraton Kelowna Airport offers complimentary on-site parking for meeting attendees. Overnight parking is also available for as low as $12.00 per night.
Workshops
Speed Summit will feature interactive and educational workshops on a variety of technical, administrative and governance topics. Targeted streams for stakeholder groups such as administrators, coaches and officials will provide professional development and learning opportunities for participants throughout our community.
Speakers
- Laurent Daignault (Speed Skating Canada)
- Reece Williamson Derraugh (Speed Skating Canada)
Equipment 101: Enhancing your setup and maintenance game
Learn tips and tricks from National Team equipment technicians to increase your efficiency with equipment setup and maintenance. This interactive workshop will cover key tools and pieces of equipment for all skaters, including blade sharpening, rockering and bending.
- Friday, June 9 from 9:00am – 10:15am
- Hampton Inn & Suites Kelowna Airport
- Room A & B
- Dress Code: Active Wear
Speakers
- Tyler Williamson Derraugh (Speed Skating Canada)
- Robert Tremblay (Patinage de vitesse Quebec)
Principles of Technique: Elevating our technical model for speed skating
Experience the revised technical components of Speed Skating Canada’s athlete development pathway brought to life by your instructors. This workshop will allow you to engage in discussion with other coaches from across the country about the fundamental principles of speed skating.
- Friday, June 9 from 10:45am – 12:00pm
- Hampton Inn & Suites Kelowna Airport
- Room A & B
- Dress Code: Active Wear
Speakers
- Olivier Jean (Speed Skating Canada)
- Jonathon Cavar (Speed Skating Canada)
Video Feedback: Harnessing an on-ice tool for skater development
Join our National Team coaches on-ice to explore the efficient use of video to connect with your athletes. This session will take place at the Capital News Centre and focuses on how to capture the right angles and images to provide the best possible feedback to your skaters.
- Saturday, June 10 from 9:00am – 10:15am
- Capital News Centre
- Rink 1
- Dress Code: Active Wear (On-Ice)
Speakers
- Bart Schouten (Speed Skating Canada)
- Sebastien Cros (Speed Skating Canada)
- Jeffrey Scholten (Speed Skating Canada)
- Elizabeth Migneron (Speed Skating Canada)
From YTP to the ICE: Converting planning into the daily training environment
How do National Team coaches implement their Yearly Training Plans in the daily training environment? This workshop will provide you with tips on this important process, including how to adapt to unforeseen events and monitoring tools to keep you on track.
- Saturday, June 10 from 10:45am – 12:00pm
- Capital News Centre
- Dress Code: Active Wear
Speakers
- Nathalie Lambert (International Skating Union)
- Jonathon Cavar (Speed Skating Canada)
The Officials Pathway: Mapping your journey as a speed skating volunteer
Gain a better understanding of the official’s development pathway, including the roles of each official and how they work together to deliver a professional speed skating event. You will leave this session with a clear road map to achieve your goals within our sport.
- Friday, June 9 from 9:00am – 10:15am
- Hampton Inn & Suites Kelowna Airport
- Room C
- Dress Code: Business Casual
Speakers
- Nathalie Lambert (International Skating Union)
- Stu Gibbs (Speed Skating Canada)
- Rick Hunt (Speed Skating Canada)
Rules, Rarities and Reactions: Preparing for unexpected calls and stressful moments
Join Canada’s top officials to learn tips and tricks on preparing for events, dealing with rare calls and reacting to unexpected situations. This interactive workshop will provide you with the tools to manage the high stress moments that sometimes arise for officials.
- Friday, June 9 from 10:45am – 12:00pm
- Hampton Inn & Suites Kelowna Airport
- Room C
- Dress Code: Business Casual
Speakers
- Robert Tremblay (Patinage de vitesse Quebec)
- John Little (Calgary Olympic Oval)
Technology 101: Enhancing your competition setup
What is the best way to set up and connect the technology involved in running a speed skating competition? This workshop will help you explore the various options for electronic timing, transponders, lap counting, video review and more.
- Saturday, June 10 from 8:30am – 10:15am
- Hampton Inn & Suites Kelowna Airport
- Room D
- Dress Code: Business Casual
Speakers
- Nathalie Lambert (International Skating Union)
- Stu Gibbs (Speed Skating Canada)
Video Review: Improving the fairness and flow of racing
Hop into the session to learn the efficiencies of video review from the ISU’s Technical Committee Chair and our international-level officials. This session will take place at the Hampton Inn & Suites and aims to help you make the correct calls with confidence and effective use of available video review technology.
- Saturday, June 10 from 10:45am – 12:30pm
- Hampton Inn & Suites Kelowna Airport
- Room D
- Dress Code: Business Casual
Speakers
- Elizabeth Williamson Derraugh (Speed Skating Manitoba)
- Mary Frances Carter (Speed Skating Ontario)
- Sandi Vyse (Kamloops Long Blades)
- Gillian Goud (Kamloops Long Blades)
Revenue Generation: Increasing your organization’s financial reach
Navigate the landscape of revenue opportunities within sport to gain a better understanding of how to increase funding for your organization. You will leave this session with resources and ideas related to grants, sponsorship, fundraising and more.
- Friday, June 9 from 9:00am – 10:15am
- Hampton Inn & Suites Kelowna Airport
- Room D
- Dress Code: Business Casual
Speakers
- Jill Lynch (Speed Skating Canada)
- Chris Veeman (Speed Skating Saskatchewan)
Competition Best Practices: Maximizing your prep before the finish line
Benefit from the expertise of competition organizers from across the country to enhance your event planning and execution. Through roundtable discussions, this workshop will dive into best practices on key topics such as participant experience, volunteer recruitment and logistics.
- Friday, June 9 from 10:45am – 12:00pm
- Hampton Inn & Suites Kelowna Airport
- Room D
- Dress Code: Business Casual
Speakers
- Joel Mineau (Balboa Sport)
- Tom Hall (Canadian Olympic Committee)
- Alain Brouillette (Speed Skating Canada)
Public Relations: Enhancing your brand and celebrating your community
How does Speed Skating Canada use digital tools and traditional media to enhance its brand and public reputation? This session is designed to provide you with tips and tricks for highlighting, promoting, and celebrating your PTSO or club within your community.
- Saturday, June 10 from 9:00am – 10:15am
- Hampton Inn & Suites Kelowna Airport
- Room A & B
- Dress Code: Business Casual
Speakers
- Nicole Espenant (Speed Skating Canada)
- Tom Hall (Canadian Olympic Committee)
Crisis Management: Preparing for the unexpected
Learn about the crisis management toolkit developed by Speed Skating Canada in collaboration with TACT Consulting. This interactive workshop will include mock scenarios to help you practice for unexpected or challenging situations you may face at your own organization.
- Saturday, June 10 from 10:45am – 12:30pm
- Hampton Inn & Suites Kelowna Airport
- Room A & B
- Dress Code: Business Casual
Speakers
- Dr. Shaunna Taylor
Mental health for sport leaders
Mental performance specialist Dr. Shaunna Taylor will lead a session that covers why it is important for sport leaders to prioritize self-care and their own mental health so they can make a meaningful impact and help those around them achieve success.
- Friday, June 9 from 1:00pm – 2:00pm
- Four Points by Sheraton Kelowna Airport
- Room: Meritage A/B/C
- Dress Code: Business Casual
Speakers
- Tricia Smith
- Nathalie Lambert
Women in Sport
Hear four-time Olympian and Canadian Olympic Committee president Tricia Smith and three-time Olympic medalist and ISU Short Track Technical Committee President Nathalie Lambert speak about their experiences in an evolving landscape, their commitment to paving the way for girls and young women, and their goals for our industry.
- Saturday, June 10 from 1:30pm – 2:30pm
- Four Points by Sheraton Kelowna Airport
- Room: Meritage A/B/C
- Dress Code: Business Casual
Social Activities
Speed Summit will feature a number of social events to encourage networking and relationship development among the different members of our sport community. These outings will allow participants from across the country to interact and enjoy all that the beautiful Okanagna region has to offer.
Join Speed Skating Canada’s Board of Directors as they kick off the inaugural Speed Summit. The event will feature hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar (1 free drink ticket per person). Transportation between the hotel and venue will be provided.
- Thursday, June 8 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm
- Eldorado Resort
- Dress Code: Semi-Formal
Join the Kelowna Speed Skating Club for a hike up Knox Mountain to take in the breathtaking view of downtown Kelowna and Lake Okanagan. Transportation to and from the activity will be provided.
- Friday, June 9 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm
- Knox Mountain
- Dress Code: Active
Join the Kelowna Speed Skating Club on a scavenger hunt through City Park and beyond to discover downtown Kelowna. Transportation to and from the activity will be provided.
- Friday, June 9 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm
- Downtown Kelowna
- Dress Code: Casual
Enjoy the beautiful sunset on a chartered cruise of Lake Okanagan with the team from Kelowna Cruises. The event will feature hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar (1 free drink ticket per person). Transportation to and from the activity will be provided.
- Saturday, June 10 from 8:00pm – 10:00pm
- Downtown Commercial Marina
- Dress Code: Casual
Annual General Meeting
Speed Skating Canada’s 136th Annual General Meeting of the membership will take place alongside the Speed Summit. During the AGM, our Board of Directors and senior staff report on activities of the previous year and discuss the future direction of the organization. All matters related to policy are voted on and the election of the Board of Directors takes place.
- Saturday, June 10 from 2:30pm – 5:30pm
- Four Points by Sheraton Kelowna Airport
- Room: Meritage A/B/C
- Dress Code: Business Casual
We are looking for dedicated individuals with diverse experiences, and dynamic and relevant skills, to take on a leadership role within the organization as part of its Board of Directors. Directors will contribute to SSC’s mission to build a fun, safe and inclusive speed skating community across Canada that empowers everyone to grow strong and healthy.
SSC Directors will work collaboratively toward the continued growth and development of the organization according to its 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, while strengthening partnerships across the Canadian speed skating community.
The following positions are available. Please consult the Call for Nominations for details on eligibility, responsibilities and selection. The nomination deadline is on May 9, 2023 at 11:59pm PT.
- Tresurer, 2 Year Term, 1 Position Available
- Director, 2 Year Term, 2 Positions Available
Delegates can access AGM and Congress resources here, including information packages, nomination forms, annual reports, financial statements and minutes from previous meetings.