Programs sponsored in part by:

Last updated:  August 13, 2008

On this page...

• General information

• 2008-2009 Fall/Winter Schedule

• Learning to Skate (CanSkate & Pre-CanSkate)

• CanPowerSkate

• StarSkate (Junior to Adult)

• Calculating Factor Points

• Off-ice Fitness Program

• Skate & Dress Code

• Synchronized Skating

• Program Assistant Training

• Skate Canada Membership Cards

• Skaters with private coaches must check with them on availability of lessons prior to registration.

  • Click here to go to the Coaches Page.

• All skaters wishing to try Skate Canada tests must have a minimum 2-day membership. Adult and Synchro skaters are excepted.

• In addition to fees there are fundraising and volunteer hour commitments - refer to Membership Commitments on the Registration page for details.

• The number of skaters for all sessions is limited.

• Refer to the Schedule and Fees page for days, times and prices for all club programs

CANSKATE (Ages 5 years & up) is Canada's only national learn-to-skate program, designed for beginners of all ages. This is a program that focuses on fun, participation and basic skill development. Participants earn badges and other incentives as they learn fundamental skating skills. Lessons are given in a group format and led by an NCCP certified professional coach. Professional coaches are assisted by trained Program Assistants. The coach/program assistant to student ratio is a maximum of 1:10. Skaters progress at their own rate and coaches conduct sessions using teaching aids, music and a wide variety of activities that create a fun environment and promote learning. Sessions are 50 minutes in length, and include a large group warm-up and cool-down component. CanSkate is the feeder program to all other Skate Canada Skating Programs.  CanSkate It was developed by experts to teach the fundamentals of skating in a progressive and sequential manner. The CanSkate program focuses on the development of six fundamental movements organized in six stages of learning, with an optional 7th level for skaters who want to move into figure skating. The skills are arranged in progressions, from very simple to the more complex. Each stage has a primary focus. Once the skills on each stage are mastered, a badge is awarded. The series of badges include Stage badges, Fundamental Movement badges and Fitness badges

PRE-CANSKATE (Ages 3 to 5) is a 30 minute learn-to-skate program, especially designed for those participants who are 3-5 years of age. Lessons are in a group format and led by an NCCP certified Professional Coach with the assistance of trained Program Assistants. The coach/program assistant to student ratio is a maximum of 1:8.

Note: CSA approved hockey helmets are mandatory for Pre-CanSkate and CanSkate stages 1 through 4.

ADULT CANSKATE is a 30 minute session, that follows the same format as the CanSkate program, with the exception of badges and incentives. Lessons are in a group format and led by an NCCP certified Professional Coach. Participation is limited to those 18 years of age and older.

For questions or more information, please speak with our CanSkate coordinator, Brigitte Martin, in person at any CanSkate session or, by telephone at 416-232-0326

• Click here to go to the Registration Page

STARSKATE is a Skate Canada program which offers skaters of all ages the opportunity to develop fundamental figure skating skills, such as stroking, spinning, jumping and ice dancing.  At MFSC, skaters progress through the StarSkate levels (Junior, Intermediate, Senior A and Senior B) based on a factor point system. Factor points are accumulated as your child progresses through each level of Skate Canada’s nationally standardized testing system. Factor Points are received when a skater successfully completes a series of Dances, Skills, Freeskate Elements or Freeskate Programs.

JUNIOR STARSKATE  is specifically designed for those skaters just completing the CanSkate program. The Junior Program moves skaters out of CanSkate, and into the StarSkate program.  In this program skaters move away from a 100% coach-directed program, into skating independence. Junior level sessions are combined with Intermediate level sessions. The Junior session fee includes a 10 minute large group stroking lesson, and a 15 minute group lesson for only the Junior level skaters. Both group lessons are conducted by a professional skating coach. The balance of their session time is utilized through a private lesson with their coach and/or working on their skills independently.

Note: Junior skaters who skated a full (September to March) Fall/Winter season at the Junior level last year should  register for Intermediate sessions this year, regardless of whether or not they have accumulated 1 factor point

INTERMEDIATE STARSKATE is for skaters with 1 to 3 Factor Points inclusive, with the exception of qualifying Junior level skaters, as noted above.

SENIOR A STARSKATE is for skaters with 4 to 8 Factor Points inclusive.

SENIOR B STARSKATE is for skaters with 9+ Factor Points.

ADULT STARSKATE - skaters must be 18 years of age or older, and must be able to skate forwards and backwards.

Factor Points are allocated based on successful completion on Skate Canada Tests.  To calculate your cumulative factor points:

• Click here to view Off-Ice Fitness Registration form

For safety reasons, proper skating attire must be worn on all stroking (spins, power edges, power/speed, edges & turns, speed), junior group lessons, freeskate, skills and dance sessions.

All skaters must wear figure skates except on Pre-CanSkate, CanSkate, Adult CanSkate and CanPowerSkate sessions. 

Jeans, flared pants, tear-aways or hats are not permitted on any session while on the ice. 

CSA approved hockey helmets are mandatory for Pre-CanSkate and CanSkate stages 1 through 4. 

Skaters registered in the Skating Skills for Hockey/Ringette session should wear full hockey or ringette equipment that is CSA approved.

Skaters not abiding by the above rules will be asked to leave the ice by a Coach or Board member.

Read more on the Synchronized Skating Page.

Skate Canada Membership Cards