In part three of our series of profiles on Skate Canada’s officials assigned to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, we get to know Cynthia Benson from Quispamsis, New Brunswick.
Cynthia, assigned to judge the ladies event, has also been passionate about judging since her early years in the sport, starting at age 16. Like so many skaters, Cynthia’s involvement in the sport is also a family affair. “I enjoy giving back to the sport and was always taught the importance of volunteering by my parents; my father was a long time skating volunteer/judge/club president and on the judges’ committee when I started skating. He was responsible for recruiting new judges.” This family connection continues today. Cynthia’s sister, Karen Butcher is also an ISU judge in singles, pair and ice dance and active in competitions from the local to the world level.
A true volunteer, Cynthia’s involvement in international competition goes back before her time as in international official. She has served as a flower girl, ice captain and flag bearer at a number of HomeSense Skate Canada International and World Championships held in Canada from 1978 up until the 1999 HomeSense event.
Cynthia has been an international judge for the past 14 years and has judged one ISU World Figure Skating Championship, Calgary in 2006. Cynthia is highly involved within her section of New Brunswick where she is chair of the Competitive Skater Development Programs, a member of the Section Board of Directors, and a member of the Skate Canada Harassment Committee. Cynthia has been honored for her work as a volunteer by receiving the 2009 Skate New Brunswick Volunteer of the year award and the 2009 Pitney Bowes Sports Administrator of New Brunswick.
Cynthia is a partner at the law firm of Stewart McKelvey.
If you are interested in becoming a Skate Canada official, contact your home section. Links to the websites of all Skate Canada sections, can be found on the Skate Canada web site http://www.skatecanada.ca/en/contact_us/
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