1977 Canadian Figure Skating Pins: Western Flair.

Last Updated on February 15, 2025 by Netropolitan Museum

Championships were the first held in Calgary since 1965—and the fourth to date in that city

Eleven years before Calgary called the world to “Come Together” for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games, another grand gathering took over the city—one that swapped broncos for brackets, spurs for Salchows, and cowboy hats for crisp double Axels. The 1977 Canadian Figure Skating Championships pins captured the spirit of this event, commemorating a time when the nation’s best skaters descended upon the Stampede City to compete for gold. Although Calgary may be famous for its rodeo, this competition proved that the city had just as much flair for figure skating.

Pins Gallery: 1977 Canadian Figure Skating Championships

The official event logo pin is clever in design, featuring a stylized skater tracing a figure in the shape of a cowboy hat. At the peak of the hat sits a precisely placed loop, a subtle nod to the compulsory figure of the same name. Against a light blue enamel background, the deep blue skater and silver-lined hat stand out with classic elegance. Around the edge, silver lettering proudly displays the event details. This is one of only a few pins from Canadian Championships known to feature the formal name of the national governing body. The enamel-filled pin was acquired from Canadian figure skater Gary Beacom, who was junior champion that year.

Shown next in the gallery is the larger version of the logo pin—identical in design but expanded in size. This oversized pin was produced in limited quantity and given only to officials, competitors, and select VIPs. This pin was acquired from four-time Canadian champion Lynn Nightingale.

Although the Stampede City may be best known for its rodeo, in January 1977, Calgary’s ice rinks stole the show. The 1977 Canadian Figure Skating Championships pins serve as a perfect reminder that, for one thrilling event, the city’s biggest spectacle wasn’t on horseback—it was on ice.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on June 18, 2022, and has been updated with new and expanded information.

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Figure Skating Flashback: 1977

• The 1977 Canadian Figure Skating Championships weren’t the first “rodeo” in town for figure skating—five years earlier, Calgary made history by hosting the 1972 World Figure Skating Championships, bringing the sport’s finest to Alberta’s largest city for the first—and so far only—time.
• By 1977, Skate Canada International had reached its fifth edition, with Moncton, New Brunswick, playing host to the invitational event.
• That same year, a new queen of American figure skating emerged. Following in the footsteps of U.S., World, and Olympic champion Dorothy Hamill, Linda Fratianne captured her first world title in Tokyo.
• Meanwhile, Hamill herself was dazzling audiences in a different way, performing with Ice Capades and captivating crowds in the U.S. Off the ice, her influence extended even further—Ideal Toys was gearing up to release “Dorothy Hamill and Her Skating Rink,” ensuring her magic reached young fans everywhere.
• Across the Atlantic, the 1977 European Figure Skating Championships unfolded in Helsinki, marking Finland’s debut as host. The Soviet Union and East Germany dominated the podium, sweeping the gold medals and leaving their mark on the competition.

From rising stars to enduring icons, 1977 was a year that showcased figure skating’s global reach and evolving legacy.

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