240 skaters aged 11 to 13 from across Canada will compete in Eastern or Western editions of the national championship presented by Intact Insurance

OTTAWA, ONTARIO – Canada’s next generation of short track skaters are gearing for their last competition of the season, a showdown on the national stage at a pair of Canadian Youth Speed Skating Championships presented by Intact Insurance.

The West edition of the event will take place this weekend, March 22-24, at the Big Marble Go Centre in Medicine Hat, Alberta, while the East edition runs the following weekend, March 29-31, at the Complexe Sportif Desjardins in Rimouski, Quebec.

For the first time in their history, the Medicine Hat Speed Skating Club will host a national-level competition, with 120 skaters aged 11-13 from across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon and the Northwest Territories slated to showcase their skills during two action-packed race days this coming weekend.

“We are honored to host the Canadian Youth Short Track Championships, highlighting our club’s dedication to advancing and promoting the sport of speed skating. This event will showcase the hard work of the athletes competing and our supportive local community. We look forward to providing a competitive platform for these young skaters and a welcoming atmosphere for all attending families.”

Emma Piayda, President, Medicine Hat Speed Skating Club

Rimouski, birthplace of the legendary Isabelle Charest and recent junior World Championship participant Camille Tremblay, have not hosted a national short track competition in over 20 years. Next weekend the community will welcome 120 skaters aged 11-13 from Eastern Canadian provinces including Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.

“The Cyclones Speed Skating Club is very excited to welcome skaters to our beautiful Complexe Sportif Desjardins, a modern facility that recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. We are honoured to host the Canadian Youth Short Track Championships, the first national-level competition that the city of Rimouski has hosted in more than 20 years. In addition to the competition, our club has pulled out all the stops to ensure participants have a memorable experience.”

Genevieve Sirois, President, CPV Les Cyclones de Rimouski

Races from both editions of the Canadian Youth Short Track Championships presented by Intact Insurance will be live streamed on Speed Skating Canada’s YouTube channel.

A number of limited-edition clothing items have also be created for participants and fans, with Medicine Hat and Rimouski specific pieces available at shop.speedskating.ca. Speed Skating Canada is offering free shipping on these items until April 7.