Name: Gabrielle Daleman
Occupation: Professional Figure Skater
What are some of your fondest memories of growing up in Newmarket? Skating at my school. I live next door to Pickering College and they have their own arena, so I would skate there a lot. It’s also where I learned to skate. We also have a big backyard that used to be an apple orchard, so my brother and I would explore a lot, and look for wildlife like rabbits and birds. We would also build lots of snowmen and snow forts.
Where were your favourite places to go skating in York Region? I loved skating at Pickering College, RTC (Richmond Training Centre), and Riverwalk Commons.
What are some things you currently enjoy doing most in YR? Going to Main Street to the different shops and restaurants. Walking around my backyard and playing with my dogs. Also going to the different conservation areas to walk my dogs.
How do you like to spend your time in YR? I like to spend time with my family, going for walks, playing games such as euchre, scrabble, trivia, and Texas Hold’em. We also have family movie nights, where we all try to pick a movie to watch together. Things I like to do by myself is make Tik Tok videos, Instagram posts, yoga, and listen to music. Also, helping out with different charity events when asked such as the ALS walk, and the YMCA.
What attractions or events in YR do you recommend? The Mabel Davis Conservation area, Rogers Reservoir, and Thornton Bales Conservation area, are all beautiful to go for walks through. Upper Canada Mall is another place that I would recommend going to. The Aurora Christmas Parade which takes place at night, and there are also a lot of other festivals in the area that are great to attend.
What are some of the shops and restaurants you recommend in YR? Main Street. The shops and restaurants there are amazing. Maid In Mexico, The Goulash House, Otaru Sushi, Sushi Jun, and Fresh Tea Shop, to name a few of my favourites. Another of my favourite Italian restaurants is Casa Carbone Ristorante, which is just down the street from my house.
What one thing any visitor or local should experience while in YR? Canada’s Wonderland.
Bio: Gabrielle “Gabby” Daleman has lived her whole life in the town of Newmarket, and began skating at the age of four when her parents enrolled her in CanSkate. The world champion figure skater has taken home several medals including gold at Pyeong Chang in 2018, bronze at the World Championships, and silver at the Four Continents Championships, both in 2017. She was the youngest member of the 2014 Canadian Olympic Team in Sochi.
