1983 Canadian Figure Skating Pins: Flowing Like a River.

Last Updated on August 23, 2025 by Netropolitan Museum

When a championship pin told the story of a city and its river

Figure skating pins take all shapes and sizes, often blending athletic symbols with regional or cultural imagery. Few examples capture this creativity better than the 1983 Canadian Figure Skating Championships pins, issued for the event held in Montréal, Quebec. Shaped like a sweeping, irregular ribbon of water, the pin represents the St. Lawrence River, a defining feature of the host city. Its unusual design immediately sets it apart from the more conventional figure skating pins of the era.

The 1983 Canadians pins are rich with symbolism beyond the river itself. Flowing out in silver are two of Canada’s most recognizable emblems: the national maple leaf and Quebec’s fleur-de-lis. At the top curl of the design, another local touch appears—a stylized flower comprised of the letters “VM” for “Ville de Montréal” and seen on the city’s flag. Together, these elements combine national, provincial, and city symbols in a compact design.

Pins Gallery: 1983 Canadian Figure Skating Championships

Interestingly, the pin design contains no traditional skating imagery—no blades, boots, ice tracings, or skaters. Instead, the focus is entirely on location, culture, and flow. At the base, stylized water drops suggest a wave crashing onto shore, where the year “1983” is prominently displayed. Along the river’s path, the bilingual event title—“Les Canadiens Championnat / The Canadians Championship”—reminds us of Quebec’s official French language status alongside English. Le salut par la concorde.

A larger version of the logo pin was given exclusively to competitors and officials. The example shown in today’s gallery entered the The Netropolitan’s collection courtesy of Canadian skater Gary Beacom, who won the compulsory figures segment at the 1983 event before ultimately finishing second overall to “Mr. Second Place” himself, Brian Orser. The pin is unusual, much like Beacom’s own unconventional skating style.

Among collectors, the 1983 Canadian Figure Skating pins stand out not only for their layered symbolism but also for their unusual design—pins that tell the story of a city, a province, and a nation all at once.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on December 10, 2022, and has been updated with new and expanded information.

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