Source: Saturday Night, November 21, 1959. Mary sighed. Her heart had been set on being the greatest figure skater the world had ever seen. But now the life insurance funds she and her mother had received after her father’s fatal encounter with an exploding kiln had dwindled to nothing, which made the replacement of the [...]

Every Saturday at noon, Historicist looks back at the events, places, and characters—good and bad—that have shaped Toronto into the city we know today. Maple Leaf Gardens ice show, between 1938 and 1947. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 6666. When Augustus Bridle, critic for the Toronto Star, called the Toronto Skating [...]

The hosts of Re-Inventors, Jeremy MacPherson and Matt Hunter, put one of their “re-inventions” to the test against Olivier Jean, a speed skater and Olympic hopeful, at the Ricoh Coliseum this week. The propeller strapped to MacPherson’s back was based on a patent registered in 1948 by Horace M. Morrill, who intended the device to [...]

Every weekday morning, bright and early, we feature a photo (or two) from a photographer in the Torontoist Flickr Pool. It’s our way of giving the many excellent photographers in our pool the attention that they deserve. DSC_1945.jpg BY ATDACHILL

Photo by Daniel Kahn. Last night, amidst the falling snow, the torrid wind, and the downtown lights, a sizable contingent of ironically-dressed hipsters, amateur figure skaters, tiny tots, and bewildered parents skated to the sounds of Stars, Major Marker, and Kevin Drew. All the while, Craig Norris froze his ass off while hosting the R3-30, [...]

For some magically ridiculous reason, CBC Radio 3′s weekly countdown, the R3-30, is broadcasting from a skating rink this week in a move that’s heavily dividing the hipster set after the announcement of another free—and markedly less active—event that same night: Tokyo Police Club at Nathan Phillips Square. But host Craig Norris offers this pitch [...]

The ice rink at Nathan Phillips Square displays its wounds after suffering through the recent spring-like weather. Photo by Miles Storey

According to Environment Canada, this winter will be the coldest in fifteen years. That news should send us all running for the comforts of indoors, but once again Harbourfront Centre provides the perfect reason to play outside. DJ Skating Nights return for a third year, providing those who brave the cold to skate under the glittering skyline with a soundtrack from local DJs. The five Friday nights of the series will feature five different...

It's time to sharpen your skates, start bubbling up the hot chocolate, and get out your kneepads (and asspads and helmet, if you're like us), because today kicks off the skating season at Nathan Phillips Square. If skating isn't your bag, then you can still come down tonight to check out the Cavalcade of Lights kickoff. The events include performances by Jully Black, Sarah Slean, and Kim Stockwood, as well as a performance by...