Success Stories

Kaitlyn Weaver is a winner

[ See larger version ]
Kaitlyn at her Canadian
citizenship ceremony
in June 2009

Canadian ice dancer Kaitlyn Weaver is skating fast to glory. Her recipe for success: determination, lots of hard work, a strong support system, and belief in herself.

Kaitlyn was only 17 when she left her home in Connecticut and immigrated to Canada to pursue her dream. She came to Canada with no expectations, but knew her possibilities were endless, with the ultimate goal being to compete in the Olympics.

She and partner Andrew Poje, a skater from Kitchener, Ontario, made quick progress. Within a few months of training, the team won a bronze medal at the BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships, then danced to bronze at the 2007 World Junior championships. The pair also claimed the silver at the 2008 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships.

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Kaitlyn and Andrew hope to bring home
a medal for Canada at the
2010 Olympic/Paralympic Winter Games
Photo: David Carmichael

The rules allowed the team to compete for Canada at most international events, even though Kaitlyn was not yet a Canadian citizen. But to compete in the Olympics both skaters must be citizens. So receiving her citizenship in June of 2009 was especially meaningful for Kaitlyn.

“I feel so honoured to now call myself a Canadian and hopefully be at the Games. Canada is my home. I think it is the best country,” she says. “I am very grateful that Canada has opened its doors, allowing us to compete.”

Her citizenship ceremony is an event that Kaitlyn will always remember. She was elated and honoured to give a speech and to share her feelings with all the other newcomers. “I felt so proud, so happy, and so welcomed,” she says. “Even though everyone is different, we are all doing the same thing and that is to fulfill our dreams.”

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Kaitlyn and Andrew won the silver medal at the 2008
BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships.
Photo: © Skate Canada / Brett Barden

Currently, Kaitlyn and Andrew divide their training between coaches Shae-Lynn Bourne in Toronto and Pasquale Camerlengo in Detroit. They are delighted to work with Shae-Lynn, a ten-time Canadian Champion. “Shae-Lynn is the best coach in the world. She is very positive and makes every day fun,” says Kaitlyn.

A key competition the team is gearing up for is this season’s Canadian Championships in January, after which the Canadian team for the Olympics will be selected.

On top of training six to seven hours a day Kaitlyn is also enrolled in the Arts program at University of Waterloo. It is a lot to balance, but she is confident that her chosen path is the right one.

“My path is ice dance and Canada allowed me to pursue my goals to the fullest,” says Kaitlyn “I don’t think that I would be anywhere near where I am now if I hadn’t made that first leap to move to Canada.”

“I feel like I finally belong and fit in. I am so proud to represent such a great country.”

For more information about Kaitlyn and Andrew, visit their website.

Watch a video about Kaitlyn’s Canadian citizenship ceremony.

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