Interview with Leslie Thorburn

Partial Transcript: And I come from Sweden. I was married in Sweden, in Northern England, and in Italy, three times…

Segment Synopsis: Leslie introduces herself and discusses her career as a champion figure skating and how she came to Canada. She shares that in Sweden she would skate on the sea ice because they didn’t have indoor arenas like they did in Canada. She also discusses her time with the Winter Club and a show she skated in as a witch and the compliment she received for her performance.

Keywords: Sport -- Figure Skating; St. Catharines Standard; Sweden; Women & Gender

Subjects: Immigration; Winter Club

Partial Transcript: We were amateurs. We never got a cent paid. But I belonged to a club in Gothenburg and we went out from long, over a hundred exhibitions all over Southern Sweden. And I was never in the Olympics, never in the Worlds…

Segment Synopsis: Leslie discusses what it was like skating in Sweden and how she found out about the Garden City Arena. Leslie shares that the Garden City Arena was the coldest place she had ever skated despite spending her youth skating outside in the Swedish winters. She also lists some of the places she traveled to skate, including Germany, Switzerland, France, and England.

Keywords: Community; Immigration; Sport -- figure skating; Sweden; Women & Gender

Subjects: Figure Skating

Partial Transcript: And did you want to talk about my business?

Segment Synopsis: Leslie discusses her business, “Leslie’s Pedicures.” She recalls the struggle getting a program on TV as they postponed from January all through the summer but she was persistent, and also a very successful Radio ad. Leslie then talks about the men’s club in St. Catharines and how she was the first female member in its then 125 year tenure. She also shares some of the funny ads for her business.

Keywords: Broadcasting/Media; Community; Friendship; Leslie's Pedicures; Men's club; St. Catharines Standard; Women & Gender

Subjects: Business

Partial Transcript: Oh yes, during “Leslie’s Pedicures” I was very actively with Chambers of Commerce and I was involved in moving the Museum to where it is now…

Segment Synopsis: Leslie discusses her role in the St. Catharines Museum and her love of the museum. She shares that she is allowed free entry to the museum due to being a local icon, and also that she is upset about the Garden City Arena being decommission. Leslie concludes that it was a “wonderful” time at the Garden City Arena.

Keywords: Business; Chamber of Commerce; St. Catharines Museum

Subjects: Community