Skate Canada recognized the achievements of figure skaters in B.C. and the Yukon with the Section 2017 Awards and Hall of Fame inductees at its Annual General Meeting, May 6 in Burnaby. The recipients were presented with their awards on Saturday night at the annual awards banquet.
Kortney Story of Aldergrove Skating Club was one of the award recipients. She was presented with the Elizabeth Swan Award, which recognizes an individual for his or her dedication and contribution to the discipline of synchronized skating in B.C. and the Yukon.
In addition, Story will be attending the Skate Canada national AGM this June in Ottawa, where she will also receive the national Elizabeth Swan Award, to complement her provincial award.
Story, 31, has been an outstanding contributor to figure skating, especially synchronized skating, in the province, said Aldergrove Skating Club coach Colleen Leferriere.
“Kortney joined Aldergrove Skating Club about 12 years ago as a coach, and when she got married (and has since had three children) she was no longer able to coach,” said Leferriere.
“So Kortney turned to judging, which is volunteer work. She gives so many volunteer hours; she’ll go to a club to watch the skaters and give feedback. She came to Centre Ice just this past Saturday to watch the kids from our club, who are going onto competition.”
She has also been instrumental in the development of synchronized skating in B.C.
“Kortney has helped promote synchronized skating all over B.C. and has organized seminars here with top coaches from Quebec and the east on the sport,” said Leferriere.
Story’s two older children also skate, as well as dance at the Langley Dance Academy, where Story also works part-time.
Story grew up in Surrey, where she was a member of the Newton Skating Club, before moving to Aldergrove/Langley.