A Blast From The Past

There's a birthday celebration going at Scotiabank Place this week.
HomeSense Skate Canada International is 35 years old this weekend, and some "anniversary" touches have been added to the proceedings.
Ottawa's own Lynn Nightingale, the women's gold medallist at the first Skate Canada back in 1973 in Calgary, will present the medals after the final in that event here Saturday night. Handing out the hardware after the men's competition: 1962 world champion Donald Jackson, the executive director of skating at Ottawa's Minto Skating Club.
Of course, 1988 Calgary Olympic silver medallist Liz Manley of Ottawa is on hand as the official Athlete Ambassador all weekend. She'll also present the pairs medals. For the ice dance, that honour goes to Isabelle Duchesnay of Aylmer, the 1995 world champion (with brother Paul) in that discipline.
(while we're reminiscing, an aside. The last time this event was held in Ottawa? In 1993 at the Civic Centre, at the tail end of the first week I lived in the capital. How time flies).
Now, all of this isn't to suggest forward thinking of any sort is absent here. A new multimedia tool they've dubbed the Skate Bug is making its debut this week. It's essentially a set of headphones that give fans a chance to listen to some expert commentary from the likes of Manley and reigning world men's champion Jeffrey Buttle.
While I haven't had a keen eye in the stands about it just yet, I'm being told they're a hot item with the fans. And I can tell you the bug has already caught on with some members of the media.
Oh, and speaking of new ... we'll have a whole set of different winners this weekend. None of last year's champs in Quebec City are back to defend their crowns.