40 FOCUS - SEPTEMBER 2018 Skating Club. Some of the early club pro- fessionals were John Wild, 1959-65, Jean Barclay, 1965, and Marilyn Ruth (Take) Wittstock, 1969. Richard Stephens and his wife Barbara are former skating pros in Port Perry, and Anna Forder still helps out with the club. Vyvan Coxworth has been a head coach for many years. Thanks to “a wonderful seamstress” Arlene Matthews, the participants in the annual Ice Revues always have amaz- ing costumes. Some examples of past carnival themes include The Swinging Jungle, Movies, Star Wars and Peter Pan on Ice. Then and Now was the theme of the gala 25th anniversary Ice Revue in 1983. There were 1,400 people in the audience for the Fantasy on Ice carnival in 1969. The big 60th anniversary show promises to be outstanding entertainment. “The skating world is awesome,” commented Erin Lehman, the current PPSC president. “Our club is a really good community organization.” Generations of skaters have taken to the ice over the past six decades. Erin grew up in Ottawa, and she’s a former figure skater herself. Her daughters Junior skater Taylor, age eight, and Senior skater Jordyn, age 11, both love skat- ing as much as she did. Tawni shares Erin’s enthusiasm about the local skating club. Her daughter Sarah started skating locally at the age of seven. Even though Sarah is off to University this year, Tawni still plans to continue to volunteer with the Club. Sarah enjoyed figure skating for 11 seasons. “It’s a big part of my life,” Tawni said about the skating club. When Tawni was 10, she joined the PPSC as a young skater. At the arena, there’s a nostalgic photo of her with other local skaters, celebrating the club’s 50th anniversary. IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT FIGURE SKATING Yes, Port Perry Skating Club is re- nowned for its excellent figure skating program, featuring group and private lessons with numerous coaches, who each have different teaching styles to share, as Erin pointed out. But it’s more than just that. Another important part of the club is its Canskate and Pre-Canskate programs, which accept chil- dren as young as the age of two. Learning to skate is a vital prerequisite for children who wish to play hockey or Ringette, or just have fun on the ice as a pleasant recrea- tional activity, and a way to get exercise. There’s also an adult synchro team. The latest innovation for the club is online registration, as well as traditional sign-up opportunities. FUNDRAISING IS IMPORTANT The Port Perry Skating Club is a non-profit organiza- tion, Erin noted. Fees must be paid for ice time, to Skate Canada, and for professional coaches. On February 10, the Club hosted an Inter-club competition with 14 clubs represented. “There were 400 skaters there, a silent auction and a raffle table,” Erin reported. “It was a good money maker.” Other fundraising events include youth dances, poinsettia sales, bottle drives, and the income from golf tournaments. Erin gave a shout out of appreciation to Branching Out and Herrington’s Butchers for sponsoring special events to help keep costs down. Volunteers are crucial to the smooth operation of the PPSC, she added, and more are always welcome. By Lynn Campbell, Focus on Scugog For more information on the upcoming 60th reunion carnival, registration and other PPSC news and events, go to portperryskatingclub.ca. You don’t want to miss the big show! A familiar face around Scugog, Georgia Brock was president of the Skating Club in the early 80s. David Porter and Barbara Berezowski Toronto,1976. PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES Skating Club (continued from page 39) SIGNWORKScanada.com Reach & Northport Rd., Port Perry 905-985-0802 Since 1996 snowmobile lettering