International skating event gives Saint John an economic boost

Canada's Patrick Chan performs his short program in the men's competition at Skate Canada International in Windsor, Ont., on Friday, October 26, 2012.( THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson)

An international skating event is bringing dozens of the world’s top figure skaters to Saint John this weekend, resulting in millions of dollars’ worth of economic spinoffs.

Media from around the world are in Saint John to cover the 2013 Skate Canada International at Harbour Station. Fans have also travelled from around the globe to catch the action.

“We’ve done some preliminary estimates of around $4 million or just over, so that’s a nice legacy that we leave behind,” says Ross Jefferson of Discover Saint John.

“When visitors are coming to any region, the longer they travel, the further they travel from, the more money that they spend also when they’re visiting, so we are obviously seeing people all around the world coming in for this event.”

While the economic impact and the entertainment factor can’t be ignored, the event also serves to inspire.

Lauren Mazerolle, a figure skater from Minto, has travelled to Saint John to watch and learn from the best.

“I like it better up close because…it inspires me more to be a better figure skater,” says Mazerolle.

For skaters like Patrick Chan, the reigning world men’s champion, the competition is also a springboard to the coming winter Olympics in Russia.

“It’s a pretty exciting preview,” says Jackie Stell-Buckingham of Skate Canada. “A lot of them are debuting their new programs, so no one’s seen them before, so that’s pretty exciting because we’ll see them grow through the season until we get to Sochi.”

Skate Canada events go all weekend and wrap up with an exhibition gala Sunday afternoon.

TSN and CTV will have full coverage of the event this weekend.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Andy Campbell