Colin Ratushniak
{{Short description|Canadian ice skater and politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = CRHeadshot.jpg
| name = Colin Ratushniak
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|8|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Gillam, Manitoba
| residence =
| office = Mayor of La Ronge, Saskatchewan
| term_start = 9 November 2020
| term_end = 19 July 2022
| predecessor = Ron Woytowich
| successor = Viviana Ruiz-Arcand
| alma_mater =
| spouse =
| occupation = Pilot, fitness supervisor, skating coach
}}
Colin Ratushniak (born 18 August 1985) is a Canadian professional ice skater and politician who appeared in the TV show Dancing on Ice in 2011, with celebrity skating partner Laura Hamilton. In September 2012, Ratushniak attained a two-year visa and moved to the UK to concentrate on building a career in TV production. In November 2020, he was elected the mayor of the town of La Ronge, Saskatchewan.{{cite news |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/lgbtq2-organizer-wins-la-ronge-wins-mayoral-race-with-half-of-votes |title=Colin Ratushniak wins La Ronge mayoral race with half of votes |last=Short |first=Amanda |work=The StarPhoenix |date=2020-11-14 |access-date=2020-11-14}}
Background
Born in Gillam, Manitoba in Canada, Ratushniak began skating at the age of two. He played ice hockey until he was 12 years old, at which point he began making the transition from hockey player to ice skater. When his family moved to Brandon, he continued training and began his competitive career.{{cite news |url=http://www.thompsoncitizen.net/article/20110107/THOMPSON0201/110109997/-1/THOMPSON/have-skates-will-travel |title=Have skates, will travel |publisher=Thompson Citizen |date=7 January 2011 |first=Ian |last=Graham |access-date=17 June 2012 |archive-date=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002225955/http://www.thompsoncitizen.net/article/20110107/THOMPSON0201/110109997/-1/THOMPSON/have-skates-will-travel |url-status=dead }}
Competitive career
From 1998 to 2002, Ratushniak reigned as the province of Manitoba's men's novice champion.{{cite web|url=http://tracings.net/2002canmb.html |title=2002 Skate Canada Manitoba Sectional Championships |publisher=tracings.net}} He also won a pre-novice bronze medal at the Junior National Championships in 2000.{{cite web|last=Graham|first=Ian|title=Gillam skater will appear on Dancing on Ice final|url=http://www.thompsoncitizen.net/article/20110323/THOMPSON0201/303239997/-1/THOMPSON/gillam-skater-will-appear-on-dancing-on-ice-final|publisher=Thompson Citizen|accessdate=28 September 2013|archive-date=2 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002193753/http://www.thompsoncitizen.net/article/20110323/THOMPSON0201/303239997/-1/THOMPSON/gillam-skater-will-appear-on-dancing-on-ice-final|url-status=dead}}
Professional skating career
=2003–2010=
In 2003, after graduating from high school, Ratushniak turned professional and joined Feld Entertainment to skate in the critically acclaimed Disney on Ice productions,{{cite news |first=Colin |last=Ratushniak |title=Exclusive Interview with Colin Ratushniak |url=http://www.colinschicks.co.uk/theatreperf1.pdf |newspaper=Theatre and Performance |date=April 2011 |page=18 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} touring the UK in 2008 with the show "High School Musical."{{cite news |first=Colin |last=Ratushniak |title=Exclusive Interview with Colin Ratushniak |url=http://www.colinschicks.co.uk/adobi2.pdf |newspaper=Theatre and Performance |date=April 2011 |page=19 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} For the next 8 years he continued to tour, working with illustrious names such as Rand Productions and Karen Kresge Productions,{{cite news |url=http://adventuregirl.com/skate-canada-international-soloists-join-elemental-the-show-at-lake-louise/ |title=Skate Canada International Soloists Join Elemental-The Show at Lake Louise |date=4 March 2010 |publisher=Adventure Girl |access-date=18 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606153013/http://adventuregirl.com/skate-canada-international-soloists-join-elemental-the-show-at-lake-louise/ |archive-date=6 June 2012 |url-status=dead }} to date performing in over 50 countries and 500 major cities across 5 continents.{{cite news |url=http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110224&content_id=16720998&vkey=ice_news |title=Hamilton wins praise "Dancing on Ice" |date=24 February 2011 |publisher=Ice Network |first=Lois |last=Elfman |access-date=17 June 2012 |archive-date=3 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203212243/http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110224&content_id=16720998&vkey=ice_news |url-status=dead }} During this time he also developed his skills as a pairs skater, pairing up with Amanda Frank and Isabelle Gauthier. In 2010, at age 24, Ratushniak performed his first backflip on the ice.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align=left" | ||
| Year
! Show ! Country | ||
|---|---|---|
| rowspan=4| 2010 | Spellbound on Ice | Hong Kong |
| Snoopy Rocks on Ice | Canada | |
| Elemental | Canada | |
| Magic on Ice | Mexico | |
| rowspan=2| 2009 | Ice Odyssey | Hong Kong |
| Endless Summer on Ice | Canada | |
| rowspan=3| 2003–2008 | Monsters Inc. | rowspan=3 | Around the world |
| 100 Years of Magic | ||
| High School Musical – The Ice Tour |
=2011=
==Dancing on Ice==
In January 2011, Ratushniak took his first foray into the world of prime time TV when he appeared as a professional skater in series 6 of the UK TV show Dancing on Ice with celebrity partner, Laura Hamilton{{cite web |url=http://www.unrealitytv.co.uk/dancing-on-ice/dancing-on-ice-2011-laura-hamilton-makes-debut-with-colin-ratushniak/ |title=Dancing on Ice 2011: Laura Hamilton makes debut with Colin Ratushniak |first=Lisa |last=McGarry |date=9 January 2011 |publisher=Unreality TV |access-date=17 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021053835/http://www.unrealitytv.co.uk/dancing-on-ice/dancing-on-ice-2011-laura-hamilton-makes-debut-with-colin-ratushniak/ |archive-date=21 October 2013 |url-status=dead }} and the couple were early favourites to win the series. They eventually finished runners up{{cite news |url=http://www.thompsoncitizen.net/article/20110406/THOMPSON0201/304069842/-1/thompson/ratushniak-finishes-second-in-uk-reality-show |title=Ratushniak finishes second in UK reality show |publisher=Thompson Citizen |date=6 July 2012 |first=Ryan |last=Flanagan |access-date=17 June 2012 |archive-date=22 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022212110/http://www.thompsoncitizen.net/article/20110406/THOMPSON0201/304069842/-1/thompson/ratushniak-finishes-second-in-uk-reality-show |url-status=dead }} in the series to Brianne Delcourt and Sam Attwater and went on to perform in cities across the UK with the Dancing on Ice Live Tour.{{cite news|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/neilmidgley/100009963/dancing-on-ice-live-tour-2011-review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412234212/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/neilmidgley/100009963/dancing-on-ice-live-tour-2011-review/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 April 2011 |title=Dancing on Ice: Live Tour 2011 – Review |work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Neil |last=Midgley |date=10 April 2011}}
===Performances/results===
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Key |TC = Team Challenge |SO = Skate Off |DP = Double Points |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align=left" | ||||
| Week
! Song ! Artist ! Score ! Leaderboard | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifier 1 | "My Life Would Suck Without You" | Kelly Clarkson | 16 | 1st – SO |
| Qualifier 2 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1 | "All the Lovers" | Kylie Minogue | 19.5 | =2nd |
| 2 | "Whenever Wherever" | Shakira | 20 | 2nd |
| 3 | "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" | Celine Dion | 24 | 2nd |
| 4 | "You Can't Stop the Beat" | Cast of Hairspray | 25.5 | 1st |
| 5 | "Stop" | Sam Brown | 25.5 | 1st |
| 6 | "Upside Down" | Paloma Faith | 24.5 | =2nd – SO |
| 7 | "I'm So Excited" | Pointer Sisters | 28.5 | rowspan=2 | 1st |
| TC | "Rockin' All Over the World" | Status Quo | 57 (DP) | |
| 8 | "Rolling in the Deep" | The Overtones | 25.5 | 2nd |
| rowspan=2|Semi-final | "The Last Dance" | Clare Maguire | 28.0 | rowspan=2|2nd |
| "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" | Jessica Simpson | 26.5 | ||
| rowspan=3| Final | "Express Yourself" | Madonna | 26 | rowspan=3|Runner-up |
| "I'm So Excited" | Pointer Sisters | 30 | ||
| Boléro | Ravel | N/A |
==Beyond Broadway==
In August and September 2011, Ratushniak performed alongside Olympic figure skating champion Joannie Rochette in the show Beyond Broadway at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE). Performing with professional partner Isabelle Gauthier, they skated to the song "Seasons of Love" from the Broadway musical Rent, as well as joining the rest of cast for other routines.
==Tropicana – The Passion Tour==
The end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 saw Ratushniak performing in the Holiday on Ice show, Tropicana.{{cite news |url=http://www.espmag.co.uk/articles/ice-show-tropicana-opens-tonight |title=Ice show Tropicana opens tonight! |date=2 February 2012 |publisher=ESP Magazine |access-date=17 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401140340/http://www.espmag.co.uk/articles/ice-show-tropicana-opens-tonight |archive-date=1 April 2012 |url-status=dead }} Running from December 2011 until February 2012 across The Netherlands and the UK, the show was created and choreographed by Olympic champion Robin Cousins MBE and featured music from singer Barry Manilow. The show premiered in Eindhoven and went on to play in Amsterdam, Maastricht, Utrecht, Zwolle, Brighton, Peterborough, Cardiff and Exeter.{{cite news|url=http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/lifestyle/the-guide-lifestyle-leisure/arts-culture/holiday-on-ice-colin-ratushniak-to-set-hearts-a-flutter-1-3463907 |title=Holiday on Ice: Colin Ratushniak to set hearts a flutter |work=Peterborough Telegraph|date=27 January 2012}}
=2012=
==Skating on Broadway==
In March 2012, Ratushniak travelled to Irapuato in Mexico to perform in the Ucha Atayde Entertainment production of Skating on Broadway. The show's cast performed to a selection of songs from Broadway musicals with Ratushniak taking the starring role in the sections for Rent and Lion King. He returned to Mexico in April 2012 and again in June 2012 this time performing the show in the cities of Villahermosa and Durango respectively. During the latter period he took on the additional role of Company Manager, responsible for co-ordinating all aspects of the show's production.
==Quebec club shows==
In between his shows in Mexico, Ratushniak joined forces with pro partner Isabelle Gauthier once again to perform as guests in the Annual Gala shows of skating clubs in Quebec. As well as their Seasons of Love routine from the show Beyond Broadway, Ratushniak and Gauthier performed a new routine that they'd choreographed especially for the shows, skating to the song "Moves Like Jagger". The shows took place at skating clubs in Charny, Abénakis and Lac-Mégantic.{{cite news|url=http://www.cpacharny.ca/documents/affiche_spectacle_cpa_charny_2012.pdf|title=Accueil }}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
==Rock on Ice==
In April 2012 and again in June 2012 Ratushniak performed in the production of Rock on Ice, a show which ran alongside the production Skating on Broadway. He joined the cast for the show's run in the cities of Villahermosa and Durango in Mexico performing as both a soloist and member of the ensemble to songs from rock legends including ZZ Top, Van Halen, Pink Floyd and Queen. His role as Company Manager whilst in Durango encompassed both shows.
==Kyran Bracken's Ice Party==
After moving to the UK permanently in September 2012, Ratushniak performed for the first time with professional skater, Patti Petrus, at Kyran's Bracken's Ice Party in Blackpool. The show took place from 1 to 3 November with Ratushniak and Petrus skating pairs routines alongside other professional skaters Karen Barber, Daniel Whiston and Brianne Delcourt.
==Stars on Ice Australia==
In November 2012 Ratushniak travelled to Singapore to perform in the Stars on Ice Australia Christmas Gala shows which took place in Novena Square. He performed in the show as a soloist as well as pairs. The show ran from 24 November until 23 December.
=2013=
==Celebrities on Ice==
Performing alongside TV personality Chico Slimani, England Rugby legend Kyran Bracken, West End star Ray Quinn and the world-famous Russian Ice Stars, Ratushniak starred in the show Celebrities on Ice{{cite web|last=Ratushniak|first=Colin|title=Celebrities on Ice turns the weekend into a scorcher at Peterborough Arena|url=http://www.peterboroughcityonline.co.uk/2013/01/29/celebrities-on-ice-turns-the-weekend-into-a-scorcher-at-peterborough-arena/|publisher=Peterborough City on Line|access-date=4 February 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505064855/http://www.peterboroughcityonline.co.uk/2013/01/29/celebrities-on-ice-turns-the-weekend-into-a-scorcher-at-peterborough-arena/|archive-date=5 May 2013|url-status=dead}} in January 2013. Held at Peterborough Arena from 25 to 27 January, the show was hosted by celebrity Christopher Biggins. The show subsequently embarked on a UK nationwide arena tour from April until June 2013 where he performed alongside Dancing on Ice celebrities Beth Tweddle, Matthew Lapinskas and Gareth Thomas and professional skaters Daniel Whiston, Brianne Delcourt and Jenna Nicole Smith.{{cite web|last=Ratushniak|first=Colin|title=Celebrities on Ice Tour|url=http://www.twitpic.com/c855yz|publisher=unknown|accessdate=2 March 2013}}{{cite news|last=Ratushniak|first=Colin|title=Colin Ratushniak joins cast of Celebrities on Ice tour|url=http://www.peterborougharena.com/2012/12/11/canadian-professional-skater-colin-ratushniak-joins-the-cast-of-celebrities-on-ice/|newspaper=Peterborough News}}
==Stars on Ice Australia==
Ratushniak ended the year with a return to Singapore to perform once again at the Velocity Christmas shows held in Novena Square. The show, produced by Stars on Ice Australia, ran from 26 November to 22 December and featured a mix of popular music and classic Christmas songs performed by a cast of three professional skaters.
=2014=
==Skate in the City==
Taking place at Broadgate Ice Rink and hosted by Southend Airport, Ratushniak performed alongside English rugby player and Dancing on Ice star Kyran Bracken,
X factor contestant Chico, Eastenders and Dancing on Ice contestant Matt Lapinskas, and the Russian Ice Stars in a one-off outdoor event, Skate in the City.{{cite web|last=Ratushniak|first=Colin|title=Skate in the City|url=http://www.broadgate.co.uk/Event/Detail/208|access-date=7 February 2014|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305054950/http://www.broadgate.co.uk/Event/Detail/208|url-status=dead}}
==Val-Bélair Gala Show==
Ratushniak was reunited with pro skating partner Isabelle Gauthier on 5 April to perform at the Val-Bélair Gala Show in Quebec. The pair skated their Seasons of Love and Moves Like Jagger routines at the show; the first they had paired up for since March 2013.
Filmography
| class="wikitable" style="text-align=left" | |||
| Year
! Month ! Title ! Agency | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | November | Love Always Wins | All Out{{cite web|last=Ratushniak|first=Colin|title=Love Always Wins|url=http://great-ads.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/lovealwayswins-olympic-psa-tackles.html|publisher=Great Ads}} |
TV production
Other interests
As well as being a professional ice skater, Ratushniak is also a qualified pilot and licensed property developer.{{cite web|last1=Ratushniak|first1=Colin|title=Property Development Interview|url=http://www.colinsworld.co.uk/page18.htm|website=colinsworld.co.uk|access-date=13 July 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715061356/http://www.colinsworld.co.uk/page18.htm|archive-date=15 July 2014|url-status=dead}}
Ratushniak was elected mayor of the northern town of La Ronge, Saskatchewan in November 2020, making him the first openly gay mayor in La Ronge's history.{{cite web|last1=Pearce|first1=Nick|title=From figure skating star to La Ronge mayor: Returning to the north brought Colin Ratushniak's life full circle|url=https://thestarphoenix.com/life/bridges/from-figure-skating-star-to-la-ronge-mayor-returning-to-the-north-brought-colin-ratushniaks-life-full-circle|website=Saskatoon Star-Phoenix|date=24 June 2021|access-date=27 June 2021}} He resigned his position in July 2022 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot.{{cite news |url=https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/la-ronge-sask-mayor-resigns-to-pursue-career-as-commercial-pilot-1.5996093 |title=La Ronge, Sask. mayor resigns to pursue career as commercial pilot |last=Risom |first=Lisa |work=CTV News |date=2022-07-20 |access-date=2022-12-25}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160305030733/http://riverlighttalent.com/?page_id=442%2F Riverlight Talent Inc]
- [http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/8775751.DANCING_ON_ICE__Laura_s_fast_paced_debut_routine_has_her_branded_a_dare_devil/ Colin Ratushniak backflip]
- {{Twitter}}
- {{facebook|officialcolinratushniak}}
{{Dancing on Ice}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ratushniak, Colin}}
Category:Canadian gay politicians
Category:Canadian gay sportsmen
Category:LGBTQ mayors of places in Canada
Category:Canadian male single skaters
Category:Sportspeople from Manitoba
Category:21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people