For parents of skaters in Skate Canada's CanSkate learn-to-skate program (all ages, beginners), 2026-27 season. Covers helmets, ribbons and badges, how a session runs, coach ratios, registration fees, what clubs tell parents, and moving on to STARSkate.
CanSkate is Skate Canada's learn-to-skate program, designed for beginners of all ages, including children, adults and athletes with disabilities. Skaters learn basic skating skills that carry over to figure skating, hockey, ringette or speed skating, with a focus on balance, control and agility, plus fitness and fun.
It uses a nationally tested curriculum, is led by NCCP-certified coaches and is offered by Skate Canada clubs and skating schools across Canada. The program must be called CanSkate and use the official logo.
Yes. Skate Canada's Helmet Use policy says CanSkate and Adult CanSkate participants up to and including Stage 5 must wear a CSA-approved hockey helmet while on the ice.
Clubs and skating schools must enforce the policy at all skating activities, including competitions, carnival days and other special on-ice events during the season. Anyone in a sled must also wear a helmet, and only Skate Canada can grant a written exception.
Under Skate Canada's Helmet Use policy, skaters above CanSkate Stage 5 may choose to wear a CSA-approved hockey helmet in competitions or test days, and wearing one carries no score deductions.
The requirement still applies to a skater of any program, at any stage, who has poor balance or control skating forwards or backwards, has trouble stopping, or struggles to manoeuvre around obstacles on the ice. The policy is a minimum, and a Section can set stricter requirements that its clubs and schools must follow.
CanSkate has Stages 1 to 6. Skate Canada's delivery standards require clubs to use official Skate Canada ribbons and badges for Stages 1 to 6, in balance, agility and control, and to give each reward within one week of the skater achieving it. Clubs meeting the advanced standard award them on the day of achievement.
Since 2025-26 Skate Canada calls what skaters are tested on "elements" rather than skills. The element descriptions and requirements are set out in a Skate Canada document for coaches and program assistants, and Skate Canada has a bilingual poster showing the ribbons and badges for all CanSkate stages.
Skate Canada's CanSkate minimum delivery standards describe four parts:
At least 90% of skaters should be moving throughout the session, and music must be age-appropriate.
Skate Canada's CanSkate minimum delivery standard is at least 1 coach or program assistant for every 10 skaters. The advanced standard is 1 coach or program assistant for every 5 skaters, including 1 coach for every 10 skaters.
Ideally a session has no more than 50 to 60 skaters. More than 60 needs permission from the Section.
Under Skate Canada's CanSkate minimum requirements:
Yes. Skate Canada's CanSkate delivery standards say all participants must be registered with Skate Canada, and registrants sign up through their club or skating school.
Skate Canada's 2026-27 registration notice lists these registrant fees, effective August 1, 2026:
Registration for 2026-27 opened through the Membership Site on Monday, August 17, 2026. Every registrant also signs the Notice of Collection in Skate Canada's Privacy Code each year; for anyone under the age of majority in their province or territory, a parent or guardian signs.
Under Skate Canada's CanSkate minimum delivery standards, a club or skating school must:
The advanced standard (optional) adds multiple chances to meet coordinators or coaches, in-person progress updates, "next steps" guidance into other programs, and an overview of the club's Emergency Action Plan.
Skate Canada's notices say that all skaters taking part in STARSkate disciplines must first complete the CanSkate program through Stage 6. STARSkate's entry requirement is CanSkate Stage 6 or an equivalent.
STARSkate then runs from STAR 1-5 (taught by NCCP-certified coaches, covering the basics for singles, pairs, ice dance and synchronized skating) to STAR 6-Gold. Skate Canada's CanSkate page also lists PowerSkate, Adult Skating and Adaptive Skating among its other programs.
Skate Canada's 2025-26 CanSkate reminders say the CanSkate material was refreshed to support development through the STAR 1-Gold structure. Changes include:
Skate Canada's July 2026 rule book update notice lists no direct CanSkate program changes.