Grace Dafoe

A born and raised Calgarian, Grace always had a passion for competing on ice. It began with figure skating – a sport she competed in from ages 3-18 – this led her to the Canada Olympic Park. When the ice rink facility opened, Grace knew she had reached her peak in the sport and became interested in the sliding sports after watching the 2010 and 2006 Olympics. 

With competitive juices still flowing, Grace contacted the Alberta Skeleton Association and participated in a “Discover Skeleton” session in 2012. Olympic gold medallist, Jon Montgomery, was a guest instructor. She completed the driving school and 10 months later, despite crashing in nearly every race, Grace was hooked.

Working her way through the development pathway, Grace’s first win came on her home track in 2015 when she won the North America’s Cup race in Calgary. She says standing on the podium, listening to the Canadian anthem, is her favorite sporting memory. Her first trip off the continent for skeleton was with her mom where Grace represented Canada at the Junior World Championships 2016.

Grace’s favourite track is at the birthplace of the sport in St. Moritz, Switzerland. She grew up idolizing Canada’s Olympic medal winning figure skater, Joannie Rochette. She says watching Joannie skate to the Olympic podium days after losing her mom was one of the most resilient performances ever.

If she wasn’t sliding, she would be working full-time and volunteering more in her community. Grace spends a great deal of time working with youth in Calgary associated with KidSport and Fast & Female where she mentors kids in sport, instilling life lessons sport presents for the next generation. Grace also completed an internship with Classroom Champions last year. She also coaches figure skating and is a support coach with Olympic gold skeleton medalist, Duff Gibson’s, program Dark Horse Athletic.

Grace holds a Bachelor of Health & Physical Education with a major in Physical Literacy from Mount Royal University. Committed to the MRU Alumni Community, Grace returns to the school each spring to talk to new graduates about career opportunities and pathways available to them. 

She loves to travel and spend time with friends and family, along with her dog Ivy.

Career Highlights

2019 – Canadian Selection Races, Whistler, CAN: 5
2018 – North America’s Cup: 2nd Overall
2017 – North America’s Cup, Whistler, CAN: 1 
2016 – Junior World Championships, Winterberg, GER: 19
2015 – North America’s Cup: 3rd Overall
2015 – North America’s Cup, Calgary, CAN: 1