The Canadian Figure Skating Championships took place this past weekend in Gatineau, Quebec with a significant upset in the pairs event. Lia Pereira of Milton, Ontario and Trent Michaud of Belleville, Ontario came through as champions with a score of 204.14 points, and will represent Canada next month at the Olympic Winter Games.
Ther favourites heading into the event were Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec. However, Stellato-Dudek was ill over this past week and struggled in the free skate on Sunday. Stellato-Dudek fell on a throw triple loop, and Deschamps fell in a jump attempt. Overall, it has been a disappointing season for Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps. They were last in the Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan, and then were unable to win a national championship. This was an event they won the last three years. The 2024 World Pairs Figure Skating Champions are still going to the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo, but no longer as Canadian champions. Their national championship score was 201.36 points.
Canada will also be represented by three teams at the Olympic Winter Games in ice dance. They are Piper Gilles of Toronto, Ontario, and Paul Porter of Unionville, Ontario; Marjorie Lajoie of Boucherville, Quebec and Zachary Lagha of St-Hubert, Quebec; and Marie-Jade Lauriault, Quebec and Romain Le Gac of Laval, Quebec. Their Olympic men’s event representative will be Stephen Gogolev of Toronto, and their Olympic women’s event representative will be Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ontario.
