Speed Skating Canada (commonly abbreviated to SSC) is the governing body for competitive long track and short track speed skating in Canada. It was founded in 1887, five years before the International Skating Union of which SSC later became a member in 1894.

History

In 1854, three British army officers raced on the St. Lawrence River, going from Montreal to Quebec City, which marked Canada's first recorded ice skating race. It is believed that from then on, ice skating races became a part of Canadian culture. In 1887, the Amateur Skating Association of Canada was formed. That year, the first official speed skating championships took place. At that time, figure skating and speed skating shared an organization, however the needs of the speed skaters were predominant. In 1894, the Amateur Skating Association of Canada became the first non-European organization to be a member of the International Skating Union. In 1905, short track speed skating was created and gaining popularity in Canada and the United States. In 1939, the figure skaters formed their own organization and thus the Amateur Skating Association of Canada was made up of speed skaters only. Now that it was a speed skating only organization, the name was changed to the Canadian Amateur Speed Skating Association (or CASSA) in 1960. It was not until 2000 that CASSA changed their name, yet again, to Speed Skating Canada.

Structure

The organization is governed by the Board of Directors which is elected by the members. It is composed of the President, the Athletes Director, the Treasurer, and five Directors at Large.

Branches

Speed Skating Canada is split up into thirteen branches, each representing a Canadian province or territory, as follows:

Hall of Fame

The Speed Skating Canada Hall of Fame recognizes the following athletes and contributors to the sport:

Builders

Long track

Short track