Ice Cold Shoulder: Skate Canada Pulls All National & International Events from Alberta
The Gist
Calgary, brace yourselves. Skate Canada just dropped a bombshell, announcing on December 16, 2025, its decision to stop hosting national and international-level figure skating events in Alberta. This isn't just a casual 'see ya later' – it's a direct response to Alberta's 'Fairness and Safety in Sport Act,' which came into effect on September 1, 2025.
For those who remember the dazzling 2024 Canadian National Skating Championships at WinSport Arena, or perhaps caught the 2024 ISU International Adult Competition and the 2025-26 Skate Canada Challenge right here in Calgary, this news hits different.
As of today, December 16, 2025, Skate Canada has zero upcoming national or international figure skating events scheduled for our province.
Impact on Calgarians
What does this mean for your weekend plans, your kid's aspiring skating dreams, or even your favourite coffee shop on 17th Ave? It's not just about missing out on seeing future Olympic hopefuls on home ice; these events brought serious dough to our city. Think of the packed hotels downtown, the bustling restaurants near Canada Olympic Park, and the local businesses that thrive on the influx of visitors.
The 2024 Canadian Figure Skating Championships alone generated significant economic activity. For context, other national events like the 2024 Legion National Track and Field Championships were projected to inject roughly $2.8 million into Calgary's economy, with the 2024 and 2025 combined Legion Nationals anticipated to deliver over $5 million. The withdrawal of Skate Canada's events means we're losing similar economic benefits from future national and international figure skating competitions. That's millions of dollars not flowing into our local economy, affecting everyone from the hospitality worker in the Beltline to the small business owner in Ward 11.
The Reality Check
Skate Canada isn't mincing words. Their official statement on December 16, 2025, was crystal clear: they "are unable to host events in the province while maintaining our national standards for safe and inclusive sport." This stance is a direct challenge to Alberta's 'Fairness and Safety in Sport Act,' a provincial law that restricts transgender athletes aged 12 and older from participating in female-only sports categories.
While the Act took effect back on September 1, 2025, this decision by Skate Canada officially puts Alberta on an unofficial 'no-go' list for their major competitions.
The Bottom Line
So, what's the final score? For now, the only figure skating events we'll be seeing in Alberta are local ones, not the national or international spectacles that draw crowds from across the country and beyond. The sentiment echoed byナちゃん (@QuadAxel3Toe) on social media – "There should have been no events in Alberta after 2024 Nationals in Calgary so this is welcome news" – reflects a segment of the public that views this decision as an expected, and even desired, outcome given the provincial policy.
But for a city that prides itself on its vibrant sporting culture and the economic boosts these events provide, it's a tough pill for many local fans and businesses alike, signaling a significant shift in Alberta's role on the national sporting stage for figure skating.
