| It was in 1953, with Mr. Robin
Scott as instructor and Mrs. Ernest Gorrell as President,
that the Port Elgin Figure Skating Club first started with
40 skaters. After the first year, however, the Club was dropped
until 1957, when several mothers, keenly interested in figure
skating lessons for their children, were instrumental in getting
the club started again. In that season, 1957-58, all town
children were registered free, and out-of-town children were
charged 26 cents per lesson.
In November 1959, with an enrollment of 125 skaters, the
Club applied for membership in the Canadian Figure Skating
Association. On the very morning that the acceptance was received,
the Arena burned to the ground. Undaunted, carpenters volunteered
to rebuild temporary dressing rooms. Oil stoves were set up.
The skating surface was fenced in. One week after the fire,
skating lessons resumed outdoors. The club was at a standstill
until 1962, when the new Arena, with a much larger ice surface,
was opened and figure skating started that fall with Mrs.
Gorrel again as the President. In the fall of 1963 Mrs. Gorrell
handed over the presidency to Mrs. Pat Fenton.
Over the past 40 odd skating seasons, Presidents, executive
members, parents, and skaters have made many contributions
to the Club. |
