Sheldon Galbraith
Encyclopedia
Sheldon William Galbraith, (born May 24, 1922) is a Canadian figure skating
coach whose students have won all three categories at World Championships (men's, ladies' and pairs') and have won Canada's first Olympic gold medals in ladies' and pairs' competitions.
Born in Sturgeon Creek, Manitoba, the youngest of four children of William James Boyd and Mabel Agnes Frederika Mabel, he moved with his family to Tacoma, Washington
in 1928. In 1943, he married Jeanne Schulte.
His students have included Barbara Ann Scott, Francis Dafoe, Norris Bowden
, Barbara Wagner
, Gary Beacom
, Robert Paul
and Donald Jackson
. He was the Winter Olympics Canadian team coach in 1948
, 1956
and 1960
.
He was a founder of the Professional Skaters' Association of Canada and was its first president.
In 1980, he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
. In 1991, he was inducted into the Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Fame. In 1996, he was inducted into the World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame. In 1999, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
. In 2005, he was awarded the Order of Ontario
.
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...
coach whose students have won all three categories at World Championships (men's, ladies' and pairs') and have won Canada's first Olympic gold medals in ladies' and pairs' competitions.
Born in Sturgeon Creek, Manitoba, the youngest of four children of William James Boyd and Mabel Agnes Frederika Mabel, he moved with his family to Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
in 1928. In 1943, he married Jeanne Schulte.
His students have included Barbara Ann Scott, Francis Dafoe, Norris Bowden
Norris Bowden
Robert Norris Bowden was a Canadian figure skater.Born in Toronto, Bowden won championships in every division of Canadian figure skating...
, Barbara Wagner
Barbara Wagner
Barbara Aileen Wagner is a former Canadian pair skater who competed with Robert Paul. The couple captured five Canadian titles and four world titles, and capped their career by winning the gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics.After her competitive career, she married fellow skater James Grogan...
, Gary Beacom
Gary Beacom
Gary Beacom is a Canadian figure skater, choreographer and author. He is the 1983 and 1984 Canadian silver medalist and finished 11th at the 1984 Winter Olympics....
, Robert Paul
Robert Paul
Robert Paul was a Canadian figure skater, who competed in pairs with Barbara Wagner. He was born in Toronto. From their start as a team in 1952, they captured five Canadian titles and four world titles, and capped their career by winning the gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics.After skating as...
and Donald Jackson
Donald Jackson
Donald George Jackson, CM is a retired Canadian figure skater. He captured four Canadian titles and a bronze medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics...
. He was the Winter Olympics Canadian team coach in 1948
1948 Winter Olympics
The 1948 Winter Olympics, officially known as the V Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated in 1948 in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The Games were the first to be celebrated after World War II; it had been twelve years since the last Winter Games in 1936...
, 1956
1956 Winter Olympics
The 1956 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. This celebration of the Games was held from 26 January to 5 February 1956. Cortina, which had originally been awarded the 1944 Winter Olympics, beat out...
and 1960
1960 Winter Olympics
The 1960 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VIII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event held between February 18 and 28, 1960 in Squaw Valley, California, United States. In 1955 at the 50th IOC meeting, the organizing committee made the surprise choice to award Squaw Valley as...
.
He was a founder of the Professional Skaters' Association of Canada and was its first president.
In 1980, he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
. In 1991, he was inducted into the Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Fame. In 1996, he was inducted into the World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame. In 1999, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 2005, he was awarded the Order of Ontario
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
.