The York Region Skating Academy was established in 1986 and was the brainchild of Joanne McLeod, who at that time was a National Team coach on leave from Edmonton\'s Royal Glenora Skating Club, and Bernard Ford, five-time world Dance pairs Champion from England. Skaters from various skating clubs in the York Region and Greater Toronto Area could audition for entrance to the academy. Training at the academy went beyond what skaters were doing at many of their own clubs, and offers artistic figures, edge skills, footwork, stretch, choreography, off-ice classes, theatre and technique workshops. Over the years, not only skaters from all parts of Canada, but from around the world have trained at the YRSA. The United States of America, Japan, Slovenia, France, Italy, Switzerland, Mexico, Greece, England and Ukraine are just some of the countries that have sent skaters to train at the YRSA, a true International Training Centre.