1985 Canadian Figure Skating Pins: The Moncton Mystery.

Last Updated on June 6, 2026 by Netropolitan Museum

Examining one of Canadian figure skating’s lingering pin mysteries

When collectors talk about elusive pins, they usually mean those that are difficult to find. In the case of the 1985 Canadian Figure Skating Championships pins, however, the mystery has nothing to do with rarity. Instead, it centers on the design itself. The pins created for the event, held in Moncton, New Brunswick, feature two unusual graphic elements whose meanings remain unknown decades later.

Researching the inspiration behind figure skating championship logos is often straightforward since design elements are frequently tied to local landmarks, regional traditions, or national symbols. When published information falls short, there is usually someone involved with the event who can help fill in the blanks. Unfortunately, online research by the Curator produced no answers, and subsequent inquiries directed to what seemed the most likely source of truth went unanswered. And unlike the Olympic Games, where logos, mascots, and graphic standards are carefully documented and preserved, organizers of figure skating events rarely pay as much attention to historical preservation. As a result, collectors are sometimes left with an unsolved mystery. Enter Moncton, 1985.

Pins Gallery: 1985 Canadian Figure Skating Championships

The primary logo pin from the 1985 Canadians uses a simple palette of red, black, and white—or perhaps more accurately, off-white, given the yellowing that typically occurs on epoxy-coated pins over time. At the center are the event name, year, and location displayed in stacked format against a white background: “Canadians 1985 Moncton.” A red border frames the design and helps draw attention to two particularly puzzling elements.

The first is a torch-like shape on the left side of the pin. Incorporated into this graphic is an older logo of the Canadian Figure Skating Association, complete with the requisite maple leaf. The deliberate black-and-white division of the torch-like element seems too intentional to be decorative alone. Does it symbolize a local landmark, a provincial emblem, a sporting tradition, or something connected to the host city? One possibility is that it was intended to evoke competition, excellence, or the ceremonial traditions associated with major sporting events. During the 1970s and 1980s, torch imagery often appeared in sports branding.

The second mystery appears within the word “Canadians.” The third letter “a” has been replaced by an unidentified graphic element. Part of the image appears heart-shaped, but beyond that, the possibilities seem endless. Is it a stylized skater? A cluster of balloons? Some local symbol that made perfect sense in 1985 but has since been forgotten? The imagination can run wild. Whatever the answer, the element is not particularly successful as a substitute letter, and its meaning remains stubbornly out of reach.

The mystery deepens when examining the larger companion pin issued for the championship. Like many Canadian national events of the period, a larger version of the logo pin was produced for competitors and selected officials. These special-issue pins often featured the same or similar artwork but were manufactured in a larger format, distinguishing competitors and selected event officials. In this version, the event name, year, and location appear against a gold-color background, creating an outline effect that differs from the standard logo pin. Curiously, the symbol replacing the “a” in “Canadians” is even more difficult to identify on the larger pin.

The 1985 Canadian Figure Skating Championships pins may remain one of those intriguing cases where the artifact survives but its full meaning does not. As always, The Curator welcomes information from anyone who can identify either of the mysterious design elements. Until then, the Moncton mystery remains—and your interpretation may be every bit as valid as anyone else’s.

This blog was originally published at The Netropolitan Museum of Figure Skating Pins on April 1, 2023, and has been updated with new and expanded information.

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