Sports

Kelowna will be home to the first BMO Centre for Skating Excellence.

The announcement was made Tuesday morning at the Capital News Centre.

It is hoped that the new centre will produce not only provincial but national and international champions and follow on the heels of the Centre of Excellence in Burnaby.

In the 11 years since the development of the Burnaby facility, the centre has produced 40 national championship medals, 17 national titles and numerous international medals, including one Olympian in Salt Lake City and two in Torino.

"This is a first for Kelowna, a first for BMO in British Columbia and a first for Skate Canada," says BMO official Sean Armstrong.

"It also speaks volumes about the great partnership that we have forged with Skate Canada."

Jason Mongrain was also introduced Tuesday as the Director of Skating for the new BMO Centre.

"This means we have received a huge vote of support from Skate Canada and I think a seal of approval that we are creating something here that is in the best interest of skaters of all abilities," says Mongrain.

"It's a testament to the programming that we provide here as well as the coaching we provide. The facilities are excellent as well."

Mongrain says the number one priority is to develop all the home-grown talent in the region to their full potential.

"The expectation is we will continue to provide strong results and eclipse results and eventually get to where the standard is so high that the top skaters have Olympic opportunities."

He adds that the fact the centre is officially opening Tuesday doesn't mean programs within the Kelowna Skating Club are changing.

Mongrain says there have been gradual changes over the past eight years.

"What I would like to see in the future is slowly but surely raise the level of skating little by little. If we can have more participation in competitions and have average placements slightly higher, I think we will have multiple international competitors."