Canadian speed skating community victorious at Sport Tourism Canada’s annual awards
OTTAWA, ONTARIO — Earlier this week, an event and a person within Canada’s speed skating community were recognized during Sport Tourism Canada’s annual PRESTIGE Awards banquet, held in Richmond, BC
One of the first amateur sporting events to be staged in Montreal following the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Championships marked a return to the ice for Canada’s national team after a four-medal performance in Beijing 2022. It was also a chance for the sell-out crowd Nearly 3,500 spectators gathered to bid the legendary Charles Hamelin one last farewell before he retired.
Originally canceled due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions for guest athletes entering Canada, the Russian war against Ukraine prompted the International Skating Union to change course and move the event to Montreal just six weeks before its end. Once that decision was made, it took an all-hands-on-deck approach – from Speed Skating Canada, Patinage de vitesse Quebec, the local organizing committee and our partners at Tourism Montreal and the City of Montreal – to make it a success.
“On behalf of the hosting organizing committee and the hundreds of volunteers in Montreal, it is an honor to have the 2022 ISU World Short Track Championships recognized as the International Event of the Year. It took real teamwork to pull off an event of this magnitude in just six short weeks. In addition to all of the traditional measures of success – like ticket sales and economic impact – we are particularly proud of how this event has united the community during difficult times and demonstrated the true power of sport.”
Nicole Espenant, Director, Business and Membership Development, Speed Skating Canada
In addition to being recognized as the International Sporting Event of the Year, one of the people instrumental in organizing these World Championships was also honored for their hard work and dedication.
Jill Lynch, Events and Partnerships Manager for Speed Skating Canada, was named Sport Tourism’s Rising Star of the Year. The award recognizes the next generation of sports tourism professionals in Canada and recognizes emerging leaders who have already demonstrated dedication, creativity and dynamic energy in the sports tourism industry.
Lynch has played a pivotal role in the planning and execution of dozens of national and international competitions since joining Speed Skating Canada in 2020. Her tireless work behind the scenes at World Cups and World Championships has been invaluable and has helped further solidify Canada’s reputation as one of the top host nations at the ISU level.
In addition to international events, Lynch has helped professionalize the staging and hosting of Canada’s national speed skating competitions, which has helped provide a more consistent and memorable experience for competitors from coast to coast.
“I am extremely grateful to have been selected as the winner of Sport Tourism Canada’s Rising Star of the Year award. In 2019, I made the decision to jump headfirst into the action. I took a chance and quit my full-time job for a six-month contract in a town of 3,600, and I’ve never looked back. I am grateful that Speed Skating Canada has continued to support me and that the Southern Alberta Summer Games took a chance on me four years ago. I am grateful for this honor and excited to see what the future holds.”
Jill Lynch, Manager, Events and Partnerships, Speed Skating Canada
With five international events on the calendar next season – including the first ISU World Speed Skating Championships in Calgary since 1998 – there’s a good chance Speed Skating Canada’s name will be on the ballot at next year’s PRESTIGE Awards stands.