1980 Canadian Figure Skating Pins: Put a Bird On It.

Last Updated on May 24, 2025 by Netropolitan Museum

A curious design from Kitchener-Waterloo takes flight in skating pin history

In the world of figure skating pins, it’s rare to see a bird as the central design element—especially for a major championship. So it might just be then that the pins made to commemorate the 1980 Canadian Figure Skating Championships, held in Kitchener–Waterloo, Ontario, are the only such specimens. But what of that bird? After making inquiry with a presumed knowledgable source in the Great White North, The Curator of The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins was disappointed not to receive a reply. So onward with independent research, which indicates the bird likely is a ruffled grouse, which many people mistakenly refer to as a partridge. Ruffled grouse are common to the province of Ontario in Canada, as is figure skating, with Ontario having hosted the most Canadian Figure Skating Championships, at least over the past 30+ years. (You might be more likely to find partridges—at least six of them—in San Pueblo, California.)

The 1980 Canadian Figure Skating Championship logo pin features the grouse perched gracefully on a dark-colored branch and illustrated in shades of yellow, white, and black. A deep green background and white border help the avian wonder pop visually. The event year—“1980”—sits prominently to the right, while the perimeter of the pin, produced on a gold-color base metal, carries the full event name and location: “Canadian Figure Skating Championships Kitchener–Waterloo.”

Pins Gallery: 1980 Canadian Figure Skating Championships

A second, larger version of the 1980 Canadian Figure Skating Championships pin was produced exclusively for competitors and select officials. Aside from its size, the pin is identical in design to the logo version and was likely issued in limited quantities. The practice of producing a larger event logo pin for participants or officials at the Canadian Championships dates back to at least the 1975 in Quebec City and continued annually through 1990, with 1976 being the only known exception. The tradition of a larger pin seems to have been largely phased out after 1990.

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

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