After having grown up in Queensville, Ontario, the Olympic Silver Medalist and three times World Skater Champion Figure Stojko has a weak point in his heart for the small town of Canada.
He began to skate in Newmarket, still in a small city at that time, where some of the greats, such as Brian Orser and Donald Jackson, arrived at their club to inspire the next generation of skaters.
“I always remembered that, and that added an impulse to my dreams, objectives and things I wanted to achieve, and that is something I enjoy returning,” Stojko said.
Since then, Stojko has made a point of visiting small communities throughout the country every time he can, to connect with the communities and share his love for artistic skating.
CBC Daybreak North The presenter Carolina de Ryk spoke with Stojko before her Mackenzie, BC, shows on March 1 and 2, 2025.
Daybreak North11:12Elvis Stojko to act in Mackenzie, BC
The Olympic figurative skater Elvis Stojko, who grew up in the small Ontario town, said he is proud to visit small communities such as Mackenzie, BC, to show such a beloved sport in his heart.
This interview has been edited by length and clarity.
Why is it so important that children see artistic skating in person?
When you watch it on television, it is different from when you watch it live in person. You realize that he is a human being who does it. It’s not just something on television. I remember training with Brian Orser and watch him on television for the first time. It was a completely different experience for me. He inspired me. He lit a fire inside me.
I have had conversations with coaches over the years, whether I have done a program or a seminar, after they call me or connect with me and they told me: ‘Hey, you know, there are some children with whom I work and have been on a streak since you have been there. They mentioned a talk that you had or something you did that inspired them. He smiles on my face. I know that I have done my job because that is part of this, paying it and everything they gave me, I would like to pay.
I think it is fair to say, Elvis, that when you were on the world stage, it was a golden age for male artistic skating in this country. How would you say it compares now?
I was very lucky to compete at that time. Kurt Browning and I talked about that all the time. It was an incredible moment for us, and it was just a peak. It is very different now. It does not have the same cache that used to have. Many skaters end up going to the hockey, which is wonderful, but then we lose on the figurative skating side. It is not as high as it used to be.
People used to sit and spend an exact moment when the skating was on and everyone gathered and looked skating. It was not as accessible as it is now, where people can see it at random on YouTube in their own time. So it is a very different world now that you see different sports.
I just want to keep skating so that we can inspire the future champions and continue with that legacy that we have had for so long.
Why do you want to see artistic skating to continue thriving in this country?
We have such an inheritance: Barbara Ann Scott, Don Jackson, Toller Cranston, Vern Taylor (who was the first man to make a triple axel in the 70s), Brian Orser, Kurt Browning, Patrick Chan, Tessa and Scott, Liz Manley and Rob McCall and Tracy Wilson. There are these wonderful people who have taken this and that worked so hard to maintain the sport in motion. We need to continue with that.
Skating has always been synonymous with Canada. Skating has always been a massive part of our inheritance. People always had skaters to support. We want to continue with that.
It is a wonderful sport. It is not easy. It keeps us fit. I also work with adult skaters. And some of them have started later, some of them have been out of ice for 20 years and want to return and simply love, keep them fit. And so it is a great activity of which to be part. We really want to keep that working competitively and show what we can do at the Olympic Games and the World Championship as well.
You have two shows in Mackenzie this weekend, along with the skaters of local figures. What is the most excited?
I love to come to small communities and meet the children and the people who get excited. Many of them do not have the opportunity to go to the biggest shows as ice stars and travel so far to go to places. Therefore, it is good to be able to go to these places and skate for the community. I love small communities; They always have a small restaurant from mom and pop or there is a bakery or something they are known for. My wife and I love doing that. So that is a fun part too, know the community and see what is there.
