Canada's top skating talent glide into Barrie for the annual Mariposa Octoberfest Competition
The Allandale Recreation Centre in Barrie will be bustling with activity this weekend as some of Canada's top skating talent participate in the annual Mariposa Octoberfest Competition.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
The tournament, no longer officially known as Octoberfest, is spearheaded by Skate Ontario and serves as a qualifier for provincial skaters to compete at sectionals.
"For the younger skaters, it's an experiential thing, getting their feet wet in the big environments and figuring out what it’s going to be like. They will be working for a little bit longer through the season to qualify for their provincials, which is in March," said Lise Buelow, who is on the skating competition's organizing committee.
For skater Aidan Armstrong, it's all about the experience. "I just really enjoy being on the ice and competing; it’s always nice. And skating is just a big passion, and I just love being at the rink."
The tournament runs this weekend at the rec centre on Bayview Drive in the city's south end. Due to roadwork in the area, Bayview Drive is open to southbound traffic only, with access available from Little Avenue.
Day passes are available at the door for $8. The complete schedule is available here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Upcoming GST relief causes confusion for some small Canadian businesses
A tax break for the holiday season will start this week, giving some Canadians relief on year-end shopping. But for small businesses, confusion around what applies for the GST relief has emerged.
Public support key but harder to keep as Canada Post strike drags on, experts say
Public support is key to the success of a strike, experts say, but as the Canada Post strike drags on, that support is likely getting harder to maintain.
Ontario mulls U.S. booze ban as Trump brushes off Ford's threat to cut electricity
Incoming U.S. president Donald Trump is brushing off Ontario's threat to restrict electricity exports in retaliation for sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods, as the province floats the idea of effectively barring sales of American alcohol.
Canadian officials eyed 'new opportunities' no matter who won U.S. election: memos
As the U.S. presidential election loomed, Canadian officials envisioned new opportunities for co-operation with their southern neighbour on nuclear energy, supply chain security and carbon capture technologies — no matter who won the contest, newly released government memos show.
She took a DNA test for fun. Police used it to charge her grandmother with murder in a cold case
According to court documents, detectives reopened the cold case in 2017 and then worked with a forensics company to extract DNA from Baby Garnet's partial femur, before sending the results to Identifinders International.
President Macron names centrist ally Bayrou as France's next prime minister
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named centrist ally Francois Bayrou as prime minister, after a historic parliamentary vote ousted the previous government last week.
Man who set fires inside Calgary's municipal building lost testicle during arrest: ASIRT
Two Calgary police officers have been cleared of any wrongdoing in an incident that saw a suspect lose a testicle after being shot with an anti-riot weapon.
Climate groups tried to spur action with a Taylor Swift ticket giveaway. Can it work?
Taylor Swift commands a legion of devotees, but among the thousands decked out in cowboy boots, friendship bracelets and glitter at her Canadian performances, one was not like the others.
'Very concerned': Crews search B.C. ski resort for missing man
Police and rescue crews are searching for a man who was last seen boarding a ski lift at B.C.'s Sun Peaks Resort Tuesday.