ABOUT OUR CLUB
Since 1966, the North Surrey Skating Club has been bringing skaters, families, coaches and volunteers together through a shared love of skating. As a proud member of Skate Canada, NSSC is dedicated to providing a safe, encouraging, and inclusive environment where every skater can develop their skills while creating lifelong memories. Guided by qualified coaches, our skaters develop both technical ability and personal growth on and off the ice.
At the heart of our club is our community. We believe skating is about more than just what happens on the ice. It is about friendship, perseverence, teamwork, and belonging. From first time skaters to those pursuing personal goals and achievements, NSSC is proud to celebrate every skater's journey while continuing a tradition of excellence for generations to come.
OUR STORY
The completion of the new arena in October 1966 marked the birth of the North Surrey Skating club and fulfilled the dream of establishing a sanctioned Canadian figure Skating Association club. By March 1967, skaters were competing, taking tests, and performing in ice shows.
That same year, the club presented its first production, Big Top 1967, featuring 340 skaters and a sold out crowd of 1,500 spectators.
NSSC adopted the Ookpik as the club mascot. The original drawing was created by Loren Johnson and the name "Ookpik" meaning snowy owl in the Inuktitut language was chosen by our club members.
The snowy owl symbolizes wisdom, clarity, and resilience. These qualities reflect our skating club, where skaters build focus, adaptability and confidence while developing strength and grace on and off the ice.
To build a strong and connected community through skating by making the sport accessible, inclusive, and enriching for future generations.
Skating for Everyone. Community for Life.
VISION
MEET OUR COACHES
Our Coaches are NCCP certified professional coaches trained by Skate Canada. Coaches must have personally achieved specific levels of Skate Canada tests before applying to train as a Coach. Our coaching team includes former NSSC members who started as young skaters in our programs and now give back by coaching future generations of skaters.
eLIZABETH
rOMAN
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National Certified Coach , Skate Canada and Coaching Association of Canada
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National/Level 3 – Singles certified (High Performance/Level 4 with 12 tasks complete)
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Provincial/Level 3 - Ice Dance & Provincial/Level 2 – Pairs
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First Aid trained, BackCheck Screening, NCCP certified
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50 years of coaching experience, all ages and abilities
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Lead coach and creator of the NSSC group figure skating program
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Skaters have achieved Gold test levels in Freeskate, Skills, Artistic & Dance (Diamond level)
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Coached skaters to Senior competitive tests - Singles & Novice competitive tests - Dance
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I coached skaters who have medaled at Regional, Provincial and National championships, BC Winter Games, Skate Canada Invitational and Special Olympic World Games
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Retired -Special Olympics trained competition coach – Head coach for multiple Provincial, National and World Games
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Petro Canada Coaching Award of Excellence 2001 & 2017
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SkateCanada /BCYT Coaching Award of Excellence 2006
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Committee experience : Club level, BCC Region, Skate Canada LTAD & Skate Canada Special Olympics
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Specialize in Competitive Singles, Choreography and off ice training
My passion is figure skating.
My greatest joy is to help athletes work toward their goals and achieve them.
“Be the Best you can Be”
TANNIS
MARSHALL
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NSSC Coach since 1997 - Head Canskate Coach and Club Coordinator
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Provincial & National Coach Lv3
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Coaches Star 1-10 Freeskate, Ice Dance, Skills, Synchro & Interpretive
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Passed Gold skills, Gold dances and Star 10 Freeskate
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Starskate Evaluator - Star 1-5
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Special Olympics Volunteer Coach
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Skate Canada BC/Yukon Frank Nowasad Memorial Coaching Award 2011
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Regional Coaching Committee/ Development Leader 1997-2016
I believe every skater deserves a safe space to grow, the courage to fall, and the strength to rise
ROWENA
LOCHHEAD
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NSSC Coach since 2010
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Certified Regional Coach Lv1
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Competitive Dance Background with focus on movement and expression
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Specializes in off-ice dance training, interpretive skating and choreography
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Coaches adult competition in Skate Canada and ISU
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Successfully completed all Diamond Dance Tests
LEANNE
BUTLER
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Coaching since 2010
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Certified Provincial Coach
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Special Olympics Volunteer Coach since 2020
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Performed with Disney On Ice 2012-2020
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Gold Freeskate test and former Novice Provincial competitor
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Ice Patcher and torch runner for the 2010 Oympic Games
BEN
MANGABAT
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NSSC Coach since 2019
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Certified Regional Coach NCCP Lv1
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Certified Canskate Club Coach
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Bronze Medalist in Juvenile Men at 2011BC/YT Sectional Regional
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Gold Medalist Juvenile Men at 2012 BC Winter Games
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Bronze Medalist in Junior Men at 2016 BC/YT Sectional Championships
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Former BC Prospect & Development Team
RACHEL
MARWAHA
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NSSC Coach since 2012
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Certified Regional Coach Lv1
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started skating with NSSC at age 7
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Gold Dance
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Gold Skating Skills
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Senior Silver Freeskate
SHIRNAH
CORNELIS
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NSSC Coach since 2022
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Certified Canskate Coach
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Trained Regional Coach
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Completed all Gold Tests in Freeskate, Ice Dance, Aritistic and Skills
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Silver Medalist Adult Elite Artistic 2025 BCYT Regional Championship
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Diploma in Sports Sciences with a specialization in Kinesiology
TAMYRA
TRAN
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NSSC Coach since 2023
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Certified Canskate Coach
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Completed Gold Tests in Ice Dance, Skills and Artistic
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2023 Gold Artistic BC Coast Regional Champion
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Started skating with NSSC at age 8
A Story of Connection
North Surrey Skating Club is more than just a rink; it’s a place where families build lives on the ice. Look closely at these old photos—many of the young faces you see transformed into our current team of expert coaches. This club is a second home where children grow into leaders and then return to guide our new skaters.
