LITTLE CURRENT—The Drolet family is synonymous with figure skating on Manitoulin Island and beyond and for three generations they have helped guide and build Island figure skating infrastructure and resources.
“My grandmother (the late Marg Glover-Ayre), got involved when our family moved to the Island,” said figure skating coach Abbie Drolet. “She was involved in figure skating when they lived in Espanola too.” Her grandmother brought the very first certified coach to the Island and Ms. Drolet’s mother, Jane Drolet, was the face of Island figure skating for decades before she “retired.” “She got roped into making costumes,” laughed Ms. Drolet, noting that involvement in figure skating takes on many forms.
The latest in that line of remarkable women, Ms. Drolet began her figure skate coaching career at the tender age of 15. But all good things come to an end, sort of, and this past week Ms. Drolet has announced that after 27 years, she will be retiring from coaching this year.
“I got my certification when I was quite young,” she said, “and I loved every minute of it.” Ms. Drolet is adamant that she is not stepping away from Island figure skating entirely, just the coaching part. Both she and her mother have been involved at every level of figure skating in Canada, from the local ice surface at the club level to regional level all the way to the national level. That kind of dedication takes passion. “Definitely it is a passion,” said Ms. Drolet.
Ms. Drolet has spent the past year building a strong cadre of coaches and she is confident that the five new coaches she has trained will continue the Island’s proud legacy in the figure skating world.
“We have five wonderful, excited new coaches,” she said, “so this is the right time to be done.” As a National Coach Certification Program trainer, Ms. Drolet was fortunate to have received permission to train those coaches locally and keep the local club strong.
Ms. Drolet said that she has had a great deal of help along the way.
As for the future of figure skating, things have hardly looked better, she notes. “We have just gone through a complete revamp of the program,” said Ms. Drolet. “The goal was to make it more accessible.” She said she believes that goal has been attained.
“In the past, the way the system was set up a large part of the skill development had to happen before you could advance,” she said. “Now there is a much better continuum of development, with each skill level leading into the next.”
The result is a more efficient system, but also a system that places a lot less financial burden on participants and their families. Instead of having to pay $250 for a regional trainer the fees are now a much more accessible $12. “And you don’t have to wait a year,” she said. “You can progress at your own level.”
The club also now does not have to bring in evaluators at great expense.
Among the local changes has been the establishment of a lending skating library of equipment. “Who can afford to spend $700 on a pair of skates, especially if you are in a growth spurt and need a couple of pairs a season?” she said. “It is important to have good skates, for safety in particular.” Now the skates can be borrowed and returned when the skater is finished with them.
Figure skating can also now be taken on at any age, so adults can take part as well.
Ms. Drolet stresses that she will still be very involved in figure skating, despite stepping back from coaching. The kind of passion that has driven three generations of women to devote countless hours of time and treasure to their art doesn’t easily fade.
