VICTORIA - Fans dazzled by figure skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver will have a chance to see more of the sport when two Canadian championships are held in Victoria in January.

The B.C. capital will host the 2011 BMO Canadian Figure Skating Championships and the 2011 BMO Skate Canada Junior Nationals, Skate Canada said Wednesday.

More than 250 skaters are expected to compete in the two events, which will be held at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

"British Columbia has been a very special place for Canadian skaters these past several years," William Thompson, Skate Canada's chief executive officer, said in a release. "We are delighted to bring these two events here and to continue such a wonderful tradition of Canadian skating in Victoria."

The junior nationals will be held Jan. 17-20. The Canadian championships will be Jan. 21-23.

Victoria previously hosted the Canadian championships in 1978 and 1988. Victoria was also the site of Skate Canada International in 1984, 1992 and 2006.

"Fans here will truly have the best of both worlds," said Thompson. "They will see some of the top skaters in the world, including our Olympic champions and world medallists compete.

"And, as we begin the next quadrennial in our spot, people will also see a preview of the talented skaters who will go on to represent Canada on the world stage and at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games."

Skaters at the competition will be vying for spots on the Skate Canada national team and the Canadian teams that will compete at the 2011 ISU world figure skating championships, the ISU Four Continents skating championships 2011 and the 2011 ISU world junior championships.

Tickets for the events will go on sale in mid-June.

CLEVE DHEENSAW

Times Colonist

Figure-skater Joannie Rochette, who won what she describes as a "bittersweet" bronze medal in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics after her mother's death, is unsure about her competitive future.

But Victoria's reputation for drawing crowds for figure skating may just coax her back for the 2011 BMO Canadian championships Jan 21-23 at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.

"It's exciting that it's in Victoria . . . it makes me want to compete next year," said Rochette, during a press conference yesterday at the Fairmont Empress to announce the event.

That, however, is not a given.

"I haven't made up my mind, yet," said the six-time Canadian women's champion, who is contemplating several scenarios, including a switch to professional skating in ice shows.

"It's important to be a complete human being. I have other goals, including going back to school. I'll see how my body feels and how competitive I can be."

Rochette, who performed in the sold-out Stars on Ice show Tuesday night at the Memorial Centre, said she hasn't even unpacked her suitcases yet after the Winter Olympics because she was on the road again immediately preparing with Stars on Ice because "it was important to get back to what I love doing [following her mother's death]."

Even if Rochette doesn't compete in the nationals, there will be no shortage of marquee star power for the CBC-televised event in Victoria, from which Team Canada will be selected for the 2011 world championships in Tokyo.

Canadian figure skating is on the ascent, as it was the last time Victoria hosted the nationals in 1988, which stood as the Olympic trials for the Calgary Winter Games in the era of Brian Orser and Elizabeth Manley.

The 2011 nationals will feature Olympic and world champion ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Olympian Patrick Chan, defending pairs champions Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison and a rising second tier that includes Olympian and world championships No. 5 Cynthia Phaneuf and world championships No. 11 Kevin Reynolds.

This will be the third time Victoria has hosted the nationals. The other occasions were in 1978 and 1988 at the old Memorial Arena. Victoria has also been the site of the prestigious Skate Canada International three times — in 1984 and 1992 in the old rink and 2006 in the new Memorial Centre.

"The 2006 Skate Canada International was my first event after taking over as Skate Canada CEO and the arena was packed . . . the crowds were phenomenal," said William Thompson, who was a competitor in the 1978 nationals at Victoria.

"This is a long established, solid skating community. Victoria has traditionally been a strong place to hold our national and international events and attracts large and enthusiastic crowds."

The 2011 Canadian junior nationals will also be held at the Memorial Centre, beginning Jan. 17, bringing the total number of elite skaters coming to about 250. The Archie Browning Sports Centre in Esquimalt will be utilized at the practice facility.

The 2010 nationals, which were also the Winter Olympics trials for Vancouver, were held in London, Ont.

According to SportHost Victoria, the economic impact on London was $5.5 million.

"We'll do better in terms of economic impact," predicted SportHost Victoria executive director Hugh MacDonald.

"The Memorial Centre staff was amazing, even shifting the dates of two Salmon Kings home hockey games, to make this happen."

Ticket details will be announced at a later date.

cdheensaw@tc.canwest.com