Make sure every kid has the opportunity to skate. Donate your new or gently used skates, helmets and hockey equipment to one of our hundreds of locations across Canada.

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Skate To Great is a not-for-profit organization that pairs new and used donated skates and equipment with deserving children and at-risk youth.

Skate To Great collects skates from hundreds of locations across Canada and provides them to deserving kids and at-risk youth across North America. Recipients can participate in free programs that provide skating opportunities in a supportive environment.

A 2011 report on poverty in Canada stated 639,000 children in Canada still live in poverty. More than 323,000 children also belong to families that rely on food banks. Skate To Great provides the necessary resources to break down physical and economic barriers to ensure every kid has the opportunity to skate.

Skate To Great intends on being a household name throughout North America by 2014. We are always seeking additional assistance, volunteers and resources. For more information on volunteering, please email volunteer@skatetogreat.org

Our History

Skate To Great was created in March 2012 out of a dream to provide every child, regardless of their circumstances, the opportunity to skate. Kaitlyn Weaver (Canadian Ice Dance Figure Skater with her partner Andrew Poje) and Evan Kosiner (then a college student and serial entrepreneur) had a conversation about kids growing up in Canada and how much skating is embedded in Canadian culture. They decided that every child should be given this opportunity, since in Canada, skating is second nature. With the help of Siskinds Law and lawyer Stacey Bothwell, who assisted pro bono, Skate To Great was registered in March 2012 as a not-for-profit organization. A steering committee was then formed. The Ryerson University Digital Media Zone (an award-winning incubator for startups), graciously began providing Skate To Great with offices in the heart of downtown Toronto.

With the support of FedEx Express Canada, StorageMart, Lowe's Home Improvement Stores, Siskinds Law, the Ryerson University Digital Media Zone and agency Doug + Serge, hundreds of locations across Canada began receiving Canadians' new and gently used skates (see Drop Off Locations for a list of locations to drop off your skates).

A preliminary launch event, held March 4th, 2012 at Toronto City Hall, collected hundreds of skates which were provided to children's skating programs at Courage Canada and HEROS Hockey. The event was highly successful, receiving notable national media attention. Skate To Great is currently working on fulfilling the needs of communities, school programs and organizations which assist in making hockey and figure skating possible to deserving children and at-risk youth.

Most recently Skate To Great received a letter from the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada acknowledging Skate To Great's contribution to Canadian Society. With the rapid success of Skate To Great, an American Steering Committee is currently being formed to create a similar initiative in the United States, along with a "Summer Skate To Great" program which will collect used skateboards and rollerblades to be refurbished and available to skate park programs and schools in the southern states.

Everyone currently involved with Skate To Great donates their time and/or services.