1976 Canadian Figure Skating Pin: Innsbruck Via London.

Last Updated on December 5, 2024 by Netropolitan Museum

London, Ontario, has hosted the Canadian Championships in three Olympic years spanning nearly a 40-year period

What sport collectible almost always comes with a red maple leaf worked somewhere into the design? If your first thought was a figure skating pin from Canada, then you’re as sharp as figure skating blades themselves. And right at the center of the pin made to commemorate the 1976 Canadian Figure Skating Championships, held in London, Ontario, is that much-beloved maple leaf.

The tri-color pin is set on a gold-colored base metal and has a straightforward design that reflects the simplicity of the era. There’s a certain vintage charm to the piece, capturing a time when national figure skating competitions were more about the sport than the spectacle. The pin features an illustration of a pair of skaters in a lift, their graceful motion emphasized by the clean white background. The maple leaf envelopes them, reinforcing the Canadian pride at the heart of the event.

Pin Gallery: 1976 Canadian Figure Skating Championships

Surrounding the pin’s edge is a medium blue band that carries the event name and host club name: “Canadian Figure Skating Championships, Ilderton Winter Club.” This is one of only a few pins from a major event, Canadian Championships or otherwise, to carry the name of the host club. It’s unusual. Just as unusual is that the host city’s name is missing, something that typically appears on event pins. Tucked just below the maple leaf and skaters is the event year: “1976.”

It’s also worth noting that London, Ontario, had a special connection to the Canadian Figure Skating Championships during the 1970s. Not only did the city host the national championships in 1976, but it also welcomed the event in 1972—both being Olympic years. For those interested in diving deeper into the history of Canadian Championships pins, you can also check out our earlier blog about the 1972 Canadian Figure Skating Championships pin.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on April 16, 2022, and has been updated with new and expanded information.

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