Between 1996 and 2001, Montreal was home to an indoor multi-sport facility called Le TAZ. After its doors were closed in 2001, a group of administrators- including Paula Barsetti et Michel Comeau- dedicated efforts in finding a new location for a new facility.

After many years of consultations, potential site searches, and working with the three levels of government including the City Of Montreal, it has been announced that there will be a ground breaking this March.

The facility will feature an indoor 200-meter flat track. A future expansion of the TAZ may allow for a F.I.R.S. regulation banked track to be added to the multi sport facility.

The TAZ, which will be built on a site near Papineau Street and ‘La Métropolitaine’ highway, will lay claim to being part of Montreal’s 2nd biggest park. [Le TAZ website]

Currently, Canada’s only dedicated roller speed skating venue is a 200-meter outdoor banked track at the Canada Inline Training Center in Harriston, Ontario- about 1 1/2 hours north-east of Toronto.

The Design Canada results are in!

Roller Sports Canada & Il Peloton would like to thank all of the entrants and all of the voters in making the Design Canada! competition an unqualified success. 22 entries were received along with hundreds of votes. Many of you took the time to express your enthusiasm for the contest and shared your comments:

• I’d be proud to wear just about any one of them – they are excellent.
• Hard to choose.
• A wonderful initiative.
• J’aimerais bien être encore d’âge de porter un Skinsuit et avoir la fierté de représenter mes origines.
• All I can say is. . .wow!
• There are so many beautiful choices.
• Thanks for running the contest.  Fantastic.
• I wish I could vote for all of them.

After tallying the votes, we are pleased to announce that the winners are. . .

   
(to enlarge click on the skinsuit)

Design #12 will become the suit for the Canadian World/Pan Am Team and will undergo modifications to meet the teams’ requirements. The final version will be posted at a later date.

Design #20 will become what is called the Official Canada suit. It has already been given some finishing touches, including the application of elements from Design #4, a very popular design in the competition. You can see the final version of the Official Canada suit below:

This suit will be available for sale at Il Peloton, including on the website, starting in March 2008. Matching jerseys and shorts will also be available a little later on in the season. Anyone who wishes to represent Canada while racing or skating anywhere in the world now has the ability to do so. Proceeds from the sale of this clothing will be donated by Il Peloton to support the athletes on the 2008 Canadian World Team.

Once again, a huge thank you to all of the people who contributed, promoted, visited, and voted. It has been a fantastic experience and everyone involved is very proud to have been part of Design Canada!

Your Design Canada! Team
Il Peloton Ltd. & Rollersports Canada 

The Roller Sports Ontario Speed Series will be holding an indoor series this year. The first of four indoor competitions is scheduled for this Sunday, Ferbruary 3rd at Mississauga’s Scooter’s Roller Palace. [RSO Speed Series website] [Dates and details] 

Photo submitted by Peter Doucet

Sarah Hopkins from Toronto- in front wearing the red & black canadian colours- leads a Roller Speed Skating practice. She practices in Mississauga at the Scooter’s Indoor Speed Club. She represented Canada at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In conjunction with Rollersports Canada, Il Peloton has organized a contest for the creation of two skinsuits for Canadians for 2008. 22 incredible entries were entered into the contest and now is the time for speedskaters everywhere in Canada to vote for their favourite!

One of the suits will be worn by the World and Pan American Games Teams.  The other suit will be made available to anyone who wants to represent Canada in roller speed skating competitions. Proceeds from these suits will help benefit the Canadian World and Pan American Teams.
 
Over 100 votes have been received thus far. In order to get a greater national input, your help is needed to promote the design competition by informing skaters in your community who might be interested, via e-mail about the contest.
Voting has been extended until Monday January 28th at midnight.
 
[Read more about Design Canada]

The results of the contest will be announced on this site.

Voting for Desing Canada’s Competition is now open. You can help decide Canada’s next world team racing suit. Make sure you vote for your favourite of 22 entries. [View all 22 entries]  You have until January 25th to submit your vote and make your choice count. [More]