The BC Centre of Excellence is one of two major figure skating

Figure skating

Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...

 training centers in Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. Located in Burnaby, British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, it is home to many great national and international stars. The programs there are overseen a top-notch staff, including Joanne McLeod

Joanne McLeod

Joanne McLeod is a Canadian figure skating coach. She is the skating director at the BC Centre of Excellence. She coaches Emanuel Sandhu, Mira Leung, and Kevin Reynolds, Mira Leung, Jeremy Ten, and many others. She is a level 5 certified coach.-External links:...

, who coaches 3-time Canadian men's national champion Emanuel Sandhu

Emanuel Sandhu

Emanuel Sandhu is a Canadian figure skater and dancer. He is a three-time Canadian national champion and the 2004 Grand Prix champion.-Personal life:...

; Bruno Marcotte

Bruno Marcotte

Bruno Marcotte is a Canadian retired pair skater who currently works as a coach. Over the course of his eligible career, he competed with Isabelle Coulombe, Nadia Micallef, and Valérie Marcoux. He won the bronze medal a the 1993 World Junior Figure Skating Championships with Isabelle Coulombe...

, who competed at the 2002 Winter Olympics; Victor Kraatz

Victor Kraatz

Victor Kraatz, MSC is a Canadian figure skater. He and his partner, Shae-Lynn Bourne became the first North American team to win a World Championship in ice dancing in 2003.- Career :...

, the 2003 World Champion in ice dancing, and Maikki Uotila

Maikki Uotila

Maikki Uotila-Kraatz is a Finnish ice dancer. She is a former Finnish national champion with Toni Mattila. She married Victor Kraatz on June 19, 2004. The two coach in Vancouver, where they are the ice dancing directors at the BC Centre of Excellence. She and Kraatz have one son, born September...

, who was a national champion in Finland and is now married to Kraatz. The center operates out of Canlan Ice Sports Burnaby 8 Rinks. Notable skaters who train there include Emanuel Sandhu

Emanuel Sandhu

Emanuel Sandhu is a Canadian figure skater and dancer. He is a three-time Canadian national champion and the 2004 Grand Prix champion.-Personal life:...

, Mira Leung

Mira Leung

Mira Leung is a Canadian figure skater. She is the 2006-2008 Canadian silver medalist.-Biography:Leung was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. She began skating at age 3 with the Kitsilano Figure Skating Club and her former coach Christine Goodall...

, Allie Hann-McCurdy

Allie Hann-McCurdy

Allie Hann-McCurdy is a Canadian ice dancer. She partners Michael Coreno. They are the 2010 Four Continents silver medalists and the 2008 Canadian bronze medalists.-Competitive highlights:...

 & Michael Coreno

Michael Coreno

Michael Coreno is a Canadian ice dancer. He competes with Allie Hann-McCurdy. They are the 2010 Four Continents silver medalists and the 2008 Canadian bronze medalists.-Competitive highlights:...

, Jessica Millar & Ian Moram

Ian Moram

Ian Moram is a Canadian pair skater. He skates with Jessica Miller. They teamed up in 2002. Moram previously competed with Chantal Poirier and Meeran Trombley...

, Jeremy Ten

Jeremy Ten

Jeremy Ten is a Canadian figure skater. He attended Magee Secondary School in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is the 2009 Canadian bronze medalist and 2007 junior national champion. He trains at the BC Centre of Excellence.In January 2011, Ten underwent surgery to repair a bone impingement problem...

, and Kevin Reynolds

Kevin Reynolds (figure skater)

Kevin Reynolds is a Canadian figure skater. He is the 2010 Canadian bronze medalist and 2010 Four Continents bronze medalist. He is known for his strong jumping skills and is currently the only skater to have landed two quadruple jumps in a short program.- Personal life :Reynolds was born in North...

. This club is sometimes known as an training site for international competiters to practice for competitions in Vancouver

Vancouver

Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...

.