The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Interest is up when it comes to learning how to skate, which is what the Creighton Skating School will be all about. Coaches Sheri Parr Campbell and Ray Donaldson are relieving the public of the two-year break from the last Creighton-based skating club and starting their own school. "We're taking the steps to rebuild what was there," says Donaldson. And he adds, "there is a lot of community interest already, and we haven't even had registration yet." Donaldson will be putting his 12 years of coaching to good use for the season as he will be coaching a power skating and pre-power skating class. Parr Campbell will be taking her dozen years of training and coaching a Can-skate program. Both programs will be based at the Creighton Sportex and open to males and females of all ages. Registration will be at the Sportex Lounge August 24 from 6-8 p.m. and August 25 from noon until 3 p.m. Donaldson says that although there is community interest, he doesn't know what kind of turnout to expect. "I've been coaching Power Skating for a number of years, and I would like to think, or hope, some of my students will come to this school, but we won't know for sure until things get started," says Donaldson. Both Parr Campbell and Donaldson are optimistic about the first year. And Parr Campbell says, "we'll try anything once." And she adds, "this will be our trial-and-error year." She also says she thinks the Can-skate program will be made up mainly of younger students. "It is open to anyone, from anywhere, but I think it will have more younger kids," she says. As for adults, both coaches agreed it would depend on interest shown at registration. Donaldson adds, "if the interest is there, I'm sure we could work something out for a Saturday or something." The Creighton Skating School is starting off as a school for two main reasons. "We need to get this up and organized and once we get some people involved, we can move on," says Donaldson. The school needs to build its clientele before becoming a club. According to Parr Campbell, there are certain loops to go through with Skate Canada, and some require forming an executive. "If you are in a club you have to have an executive, but we're starting out as a school," which she says will help them get going before moving onto a club and choosing an executive. Another benefit of opening a school, says Parr Campbell, is being able to have smaller group sizes. "I like being able to teach on a more one-on-one base. And this way I can also have the parents come out and help their kids," she adds. Having the parents come out and help their children gives the child a certain level of trust, as they know Mom or Dad is right there behind them, says Parr Campbell. As for the first year itself, she says, "I think it will be a fun year." And she adds, "we hope for the best and hope for lots." She adds that being in the Can-skate or the Power Skate programs will show the students a fun way to learn how to skate. Donaldson says, "we play fun games and learn to skate forward and backwards and do everything you need to know to start off." At the registration, Donaldson and Parr Campbell are asking everyone to bring their favourite recipe, which they are hoping to turn into a Creighton Cookbook. According to Donaldson, the fundraising thing has been done many times, and some parents just want to know what they need to pay, no hidden fees by selling chocolate bars or tagging. And this way, he says, will hopefully raise some added money, but the parents still have the amount they need to pay. It's too soon to tell how much the cost will be, but once registration comes to an end it will be easier. "We'll get the parents together, same as when you join a hockey team or something, and just go over what we want to get out of it and see what they want from it.," says Donaldson. For more information about the Creighton Skating School, contact Sheri Parr Campbell at 688-4136 or Ray Donaldson at 688-7246.
