Our Story

The Mariposa School of Skating offers expert training at all levels from beginner to World and Olympic caliber skaters. The school was established in 1973 in Orillia, Ontario and moved to Barrie in 1988. It was designed to offer the best facilities and coaching which would stimulate growth and learning in competitive Figure Skating. The facility consists of a sixteen acre campus and located on this is a secondary school, an Olympic size and one North American size ice rink, swimming pool, off-ice conditioning area and administration offices.

We are involved in skating to produce top athletes to represent Canada and other countries of the world. Through National Championships such as the Canadian Championships, skaters can qualify for Oympic and World Championships.

Douglas Leigh skated under the direction of World Champion Hans Gersweiller for four years and World and Olympic Silver medalist Karl Divin for two years. He also had the opportunity to train under well known Canadian coach, Sheldon Galbraith who also coached Donald Jackson. His personal skating career as an amateur was short lived as he quit at 16 years of age and finished school. Doug had achieved a second place finish at the Junior Championships of Canada in 1966. In 1969 Doug began coaching and in 1973 he established the Mariposa School of Skating. Since the beginning of the school he has coached at 26 World Championships and 6 Winter Olympic Games.

The results of our aims and objectives have been amazing. We are proud to say that Jeff Buttle, Anabelle Langlois & Cody Hay, Jennifer Robinson, Brian Orser, Elvis Stojko, Steven Cousins, Jeff Langdon and Takeshi Honda are just a few national and international skaters who have trained or are presently training at our school. We will continue creating champions at the Mariposa School of Skating.

It Can Be Done!