Interest in figure skating in Toronto Township blossomed with the opening of Dixie Arena. On December 1, 1949, two and one-half weeks before the arena opened, the Cloverleaf Community Group announced that a recently completed survey indicated 150 children were interested in figure skating lessons at Dixie Arena Gardens.
In the fall of 1950, the group, by then known as the Credit Valley Skating Club, became affiliated with the Canadian Figure Skating Association, now known as Skate Canada. By 1977, the club executive approved a name change to Mississauga Skating Club, and ultimately it was revised to The Mississauga Figure Skating Club Inc. The change was made to provide a more geographically identifiable name for the community it represented.
Miss Sally Ann Blogg, a well-known Toronto professional who skated on opening night of the arena, and Milton Anderson, a professional who specialized in teaching and theory, were engaged as the club’s first Professionals. By the start of the 1951 season the club hired Kay Amis, a coach with the Toronto Skating Club. Kay also taught at Weston, Georgetown and at the Silver Blades Club. Hilka Gough and Diane Whitehead signed on as Club Pros in 1952 and for the 1953 season Velma Lillicrop and Genetti Bull were the club’s professionals. By 1954, Olympian and Skate Canada Hall of Fame member, Wallace Distelmeyer, and his wife, Bette, were joined by Margaret Miller, a professional from the Ice Follies. The Distelmeyers remained through to the 1960’s. In 1958, the Distelmeyers were joined by skating star Toby Keeler. The teaching pros for 1962 were Toby Renelt, Nancy Scuralli and Louis Stong.
Both Louis and his wife, Maryjane, went on in later years to be inducted into Skate Canada’s Hall of Fame. In his youth, Louis was a bronze medallist, three-time junior silver medallist and international competitor in men’s figure skating. Louis represented Canada at the 1960 World Figure Skating Championships. Following an eleventh place finish, he retired to become a coach. Over the years several Canadian and World Champions have been counted among his students. Maryjane Stong, now a Skate Canada national coaching consultant, has devoted more than 35 years to coaching. She has coached skaters at six Winter Olympic Games and in numerous World, International and National Championships.