Skate Canada won’t hold events in Alberta over trans law

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Figure skating’s governing body in Canada has announced that it will not host national or international events in Alberta because of the province’s law restricting transgender athletes from participating in female-only sports.

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Skate Canada said in a statement on Tuesday that its decision came following its assessment of Alberta’s Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, which came into effect on Sept. 1. The law blocks transgender athletes from Alberta who are 12 and older from competing in female amateur sports.

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“Skate Canada considers a variety of criteria when selecting host locations for its national events,” the organization said in a statement. “Following a careful assessment of Alberta’s Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, Skate Canada has determined that we are unable to host events in the province while maintaining our national standards for safe and inclusive sport.”

Alberta athletes can continue to participate in Skate Canada programs and competitions outside of national- and international-level events, the organization said.

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Calgary recently hosted Skate Canada Challenge

There are no upcoming national or international events scheduled to be held in Alberta.

The 2025-26 Skate Canada Challenge was held in Calgary from Nov. 27 to Nov. 30. The city also hosted the 2024 national championships.

The Fairness and Safety in Sport Act is one of three laws tied to transgender health, education and sport introduced last year by Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party government.

Earlier this month, Smith’s government invoked the charter’s notwithstanding clause to shield the laws from court challenges for five years.

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Province says visiting athletes exempt from ban

Those supporting the gender laws, including Smith, point to fairness on the playing field and say girls should not be competing against opponents with biological advantages.

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Critics, meanwhile, say the laws target, stigmatize and punish those in the transgender community.

Smith’s government says out-of-province transgender competitors are exempt from the ban. It said this summer it doesn’t have the authority to regulate athletes from different jurisdictions as outside sporting organizations are bound by out-of-province or international guidelines.

Skate Canada said it plans to continue to monitor legislative developments in the province and reassess hosting opportunities as circumstances evolve.

In a statement, Andrew Boitchenko, Alberta’s minister of tourism and sport, called Skate Canada’s decision “disappointing.

“It is disappointing that Skate Canada is refusing to support and protect their own female athletes. Alberta’s policies protect women and girls and ensure that female athletic competitions are fair and safe,” Boitchenko said.

“No athlete should have an unfair advantage and no athlete should have to put themselves at risk of harm to participate in the sports they love. This is an issue that even the International Olympic Committee has recognized and plans to address in the new year.

“By choosing to forgo events in Alberta’s world-class venues, Skate Canada is denying their female athletes opportunities to compete on a safe and level playing field.”

— With files from The Canadian Press.

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