“Everyone has a moment to bloom. There is also a time to drop lightly to the garden path like a drying petal….” Toller Cranston *

I lived and breathed figure skating as I was growing up. All I wanted to do was skate and I knew everything about all of the top skaters in the world. Any reference to skating in the newspaper or magazines was carefully cut out and placed in one of my many scrapbooks.

This past weekend, ironically while watching the Canadian figure skating championships, I heard of the untimely death at 65 years of Toller Cranston, a Canadian and international skating legend. The news brought commentators Scott Hamilton and Tracy Wilson to tears. For me, it brought back many memories from my skating years and the ways that Toller had an impact on my life, then and now. Here are three ways that he continues to inspire me.

* Do It Your Way and Push the Boundaries 

Toller was a true original. He had music inside of him that had to come out through his body and his art. In an age when men’s figure skating was very technical and unemotional, he brought flair and artistry like no one before him. His style did not appeal to everyone, but you could never say that he wasn’t authentic. Cranston changed skating for the better. He was Canadian men’s champion six times, from 1971-1976 (my formative years). Even after his competitive years were over, he pushed the boundaries of professional skating by pursuing theatre on ice.

“The basis of all art is sincerity. To be yourself, to rely on your own judgement, your own gut feeling of what is right.” ~ from the book, Toller

* Be an Artist of Life 

While Toller was known as an artist on ice, he was an artist in every way. He became just as well known for his colourful and fantastical paintings. When my husband and I bought our first house, we decorated our living room around one of Toller’s prints, a gift from my Mom. The walls of our living room were bright pink to highlight the framed piece (which I still have).

Toller was also an artist of life; known for his colourful, exuberant personality and curious nature. As Jeanne Beker says in her Globe and Mail article,

“Life was theatre for Toller, and he always knew precisely how to work the stage… His capacity to love his friends was enormous. And all those he loved loved him right back.”

* Follow Your Destiny No Matter What 

I have a couple of books about Toller. The first one, simply called Toller, was written in 1975 by Elva Oglanby and includes stories, poems, pictures, and art. It was given to me by my sister for my 20th birthday. It is clear from this book that Toller Cranston felt his destiny from a young age and, although he definitely suffered from rejection at times, this never stopped him from doing what felt right. This story has stayed with me my entire life and explains much about Toller Cranston.

“Inhibition is the deadly enemy of all performers. It places limitations on their art so that they are never truly great.  Something is held back – the results are never total. I had not realized the extent to which I was inhibited until one night at a party I really let myself go. I danced a gypsy dance and poured my soul into what I was doing. I forgot the other people in the room – I was in a world of my own. I astonished everyone. Someone said to me, “You idiot! Why don’t you skate that way? It would be sensational!” And that’s exactly what I did. I never have been inhibited since then, not even the slightest bit. You only have to do it once. After that it becomes quite easy … there is no need to be afraid.”

Cranston was a human being; an unusual, complex character. His life had ups and downs, like all of us, but he inspired many, including me. Thank you, Toller. You’ll be missed.

* Idol turned friend, Toller Cranston was mesmerizing – Jeanne Beker, Globe & Mail

Toller Cranston ever the rascal, rogue and original: DiManno, The Toronto Star

See Toller Cranston original artworks at Koyman Galleries

See Toller Cranston books and merchandise on Amazon