Susan (nee Anderson) Morriss was born and grew up in Victoria. She began figure skating at the age of eight in the old Memorial Arena. In 1967, when the Racquet Club of Victoria opened, she began an affiliation with that figure skating club which has lasted for over 50 years. Susan took figures, free skate and ice dance lessons, competed provincially in Singles and went on to compete nationally in Ice Dance. Although she and her partner completed both their Canadian and US gold dance tests, the pressure of school caused them to give up competition. Susan was a student at the University of Victoria where she graduated and became an elementary school teacher. After 35 years, she retired from teaching but continued with her volunteer “job” as a figure skating judge.

While still competing, Susan began training at the age of 15 to become a Canadian Figure Skating Association official. She went on to become a national level judge for Singles (1984), Ice Dance (1986), Synchronized Skating (1988) and Pairs (1992). She subsequently achieved her International judging qualifications for Singles, Pairs and Synchronized Skating in 1993 and Ice Dance in 1994. In 1997, Susan was appointed as an International Skating Union (ISU) Championship Judge and International Referee for Synchronized Skating.

As an official, Susan has judged hundreds of events at local, regional, provincial and national levels including the Canada Winter Games. She has officiated at 25 Canadian Figure Skating Championships and at 34 National Synchronized Championships. As an international official, she has had the opportunity to judge in 20 different countries including at 10 International Junior and five Senior ISU Grand Prix events and 26 other international competitions including five World Championships.

As an administrator, Susan has served as a member of many officials committees at the regional, provincial and national levels. She has provided mentorship to both athletes and officials, served as a Team Leader to international competitions, chaired a Skate Canada Annual General Conference and chaired the Organizing Committee for the Canadian Championships when they were held in Victoria. She has also coordinated Community Skate and the volunteer support for Stars on Ice and was a volunteer at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Highlights of Susan’s judging career include: awarding a 6.0 to Kurt Browning during the 1993 National Championships, being part of the judging panel to award Shae Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz’s “River Dance” routine a perfect 6.0 across the board, meeting ‘Rocket’ Richard, Barbara Ann Scott and Toller Cranston when they were the Honorary Chairs of National Championships, and judging Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, from their early days right up until their Olympic Gold Medal achievements.

During her judging career, Susan has been honoured by her provincial association with the Officials Award of Excellence, Coaches Choice Award and the Audrey Moore Participation Award. Nationally, she has received the Elizabeth Swan Memorial Award and, just in the past year, the 50-year volunteer pin from Skate Canada.

SPONSORED BY 94 FORWARD

The Victoria Figure Skating Club has produced champions and has provided thousands of young participants a chance to compete in this elegant sport on blades. The club was born in the legendary Patrick Arena in Oak Bay in 1926, the year after the Victoria Cougars won the Stanley Cup on the same ice sheet. It moved to the old Willows Fairground site before settling into the then new Memorial Arena for a fruitful 53-year run. The VFSC was the second largest skating club in Canada during the 1960s and its past and continuing success is attributable to dedicated and knowledgeable coaches and volunteers. The club is proud of its two Canadian champions and has treated many appreciative fans to Ice Capades and championship competitions over its three quarters of a century existence.