Newly opened Centre de glace Intact Assurance to welcome Canada’s best short and long track skaters this October
QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC – The state-of-the-art Centre de glace Intact Assurance in Quebec City will have the unique distinction of hosting the first-ever joint Canadian Short Track Championships and Canadian Long Track Championships this coming fall.
With recent adjustments made to the international competition calendar, the initially scheduled dates and locations for these Canadian Championships were no longer feasible. This presented an opportunity to host both competitions at the new Centre de glaces Intact Assurance on the same weekend, allowing both disciplines of the sport to be in the spotlight at one time.
- Canadian Long Track Championships: October 13-16, 2022
- Canadian Short Track Championships: October 14-16, 2022
Canada’s best short track and long track speed skaters – including dozens of Olympians across both disciplines – will take part in this historic joint competition, which will bring the highest level of each discipline together in a place with tremendous speed skating history.
The competition will allow hometown hero Laurent Dubreuil (Lévis, Que.) and his Quebec-based teammates – who typically travel to Calgary each year for the Canadian Long Track Championships presented by Intact Insurance – the opportunity to compete in the presence of family and friends for the first time.
It will also mark the first time in recent memory that the Canadian Short Track Championships presented by Intact Insurance will be hosted outside of Montreal, giving a whole new audience the opportunity to watch Olympic medalist such as Steven Dubois (Lachenaie, Que.) and Kim Boutin (Sherbrooke, Que.) take part in the fast-paced action.
Speed Skating Canada is currently working with event hosts to finalize the remainder of the domestic competition calendar for the 2022-23 season. Details will be communicated once the information has been finalized.
Quotes
We are very excited for the opportunity to jointly host our two Canadian Championships on the same weekend this coming October! This unique event will give sports fans in Quebec City and the surrounding communities the chance to watch the country’s top speed skaters – including Olympians in both short track and long track such as Laurent Dubreuil, Valérie Maltais and the members of our gold medal winning men’s relay team – compete in their own backyard. The beautiful Centre de glace Intact Assurance will provide us with an incredible backdrop to showcase what our sport has to offer and hopefully encourage some people to give it a try.
Susan Auch, Chief Executive Officer, Speed Skating Canada
This announcement is historic! Patinage de vitesse Quebec would like to thank Speed Skating Canada for their confidence in us and the Centre de glace Intact Assurance for welcoming us. We will be treated to the highest level of both long track and short track skating this October. Welcoming our Olympic medalists and Olympians from Beijing 2022 will allow the population of Quebec City and Quebec region to see the best speed skaters in the world take part in a major competition. I am very moved that we can finally announce it!
Robert Dubreuil, Director General, Patinage de vitesse Québec
Competitions such as the Canadian Short Track and Long Track Championships promote the community and go hand in hand with the mission of the Centre de glace Intact Assurance. Thanks to sustained programming and the collaboration of Speed Skating Canada and Patinage de Vitesse Québec, these events will generate sporting and economic spinoffs that will be very positive!
Jean-François Harvey, Director General, Corporation de gestion du Centre de glaces de Québec