1989 Skate Canada Pin: On Snowflakes and Asterisks.

A turning point in Skate Canada pin design Helping to kick off the 1989–90 skating season was the annual Skate Canada event, held in Cornwall, Ontario, in late October 1989. For collectors, the 1989 Skate Canada pin represents more than a simple event souvenir—it marks a visible turning point in both design philosophy and the… Continue reading 1989 Skate Canada Pin: On Snowflakes and Asterisks.

1988 Skate Canada Pins: The Winds of Change.

From Thunder Bay to collectors' hands: a transitional pin set In 1988, the long-established and successful brand for the Skate Canada event, held annually each fall, began to show signs of transformation. A title sponsor had been added, and with it came a shift in how the competition was presented and remembered. The change is… Continue reading 1988 Skate Canada Pins: The Winds of Change.

1979 Canadian Figure Skating Pins: No Thunder in Thunder Bay.

Event pins, while emblematic of the era, were decidedly understated Thunder Bay. The name alone paints a picture of overcast skies, chunky wool sweaters, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee, crusty artisan bread, and a steaming bowl of clam chowder. It doesn’t exactly scream "major figure skating event," yet in January 1979, it became… Continue reading 1979 Canadian Figure Skating Pins: No Thunder in Thunder Bay.