I found a copy of Toller Cranstons Book “When Hell Freezes over should I bring my skates”? I am reading it right now and as a figure skater and a lover of the current skaters like Kevin Amoyz who has a place in the world of Skating because of Toller and others who followed him .It’s not easy to be the trailblazer and I was so sad when I had heard of his death .I was not aware of his sisters book and I must apologize I am in the U.S.( it’s not my fault ) Piper Gilles is American but they also have been independent from other ice dancers often being “artsy” .I look forward to finding her book .Thank you !
OOh, I like this lady, Phillipa, love her thoughts and the way she expresses them! Must read her book, thank you for sharing this letter, she expresses herself just the way many of us are feeling, too!! Elbows UP, keep it up, Charlie!!
This brotherly love really got to me, albeit a tad late in the game here... Wanted to add that Toller was my fav figure skater as a kid, after reading this it sinks in that I felt the depth of his energy from a distance and that's why he made me feel proud to be Canadian. As does Charlie 💕⛸️💙
But I want to draw your attention to another sports issue that has important symbolic importance. The president and the board of the Canadian Football League have imposed extensive rle changes for the 2026 and 2027 seasons that bypassed the rules committee, and had not included consultation.
At a time of elbows up, the CFL has instituted roles and changes to the field of play that make it mare American. Canadian football has endured a progressive American influences since its ruby-football roots. But thee latest ones are egregious. I do not know the background, but it seems possible that the Canadian Football League has be come the Corporate Football League with ties the the NFL in the States with a view to increasingly make the CFL a farm league for the NFL.
I have been a Canadian football fan all my live. My dad won a Grey Cup with Montreal in 1931. It is imoprtant to me, and to any in this country. WE need to stop the changes.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I will always remember seeing Toller Cranston in Vancouver as a youngster. My Mother loved figure skating and loved him the most. I also thought he was amazing and beautiful on the ice, and am a forever fan. Now I am a fan of Phillipa!! I can’t wait to get my hands on her book. Love and respect to you Charlie, and to Phillipa and Toller’s memory ❤️🙏
This took me back to when I was young and watching Toller Cranston skate and I was amazed and excited and proud of his performances on the ice and how he transformed ice skating into the beautiful and exquisite craft it is today. At that time I was naive about global politics and I would never have imagined that now, in the 21st Century we would be witnessing the dismantling of democracies across the globe and the emergence of the 'Age of Monsters' as you so succinctly put it. You are an inspiration, Charlie, as was Toller Cranston all those years ago. Thank you, Toller. And thank you, Charlie for sharing Phillipa's Note. It was powerful and passionate and I loved reading it. And keep exposing the truth until "It bleeds the light." Elbows up. 🇨🇦
I loved this chat about the influence of Toller Cranston. Phillipa was my Film 101 Prof at Western in 1969, 1970. She was a massive influence on my future choices to work in the film/tv world in public affairs and later in Agenting. She taught the importance of Art and Media in creating discussion and dialogue. Agents of change!!! So glad to see she is still out there poking at the dark! Thanks, again Charlie for always posting something really interesting.
My sister has a copy of this book, also signed by Phillipa, and I had the opportunity to read it last week. It’s a beautiful tribute to her brother. He was a remarkable human being.
What a beautiful tribute to your brother and to Charlie . Both deserve our full attention when considering ‘the right’ path to follow in life. So glad you posted it ,Charlie.
My great aunt was the painter Kathleen Moir Morris. She, also, summered at Marshall's Bay, near Arnprior, and she and Toller were fellow artists and friends.
Thank you, Charlie. I must admit that when Toller Cranston was making figure skating history, I had little appreciaton of the arts nor of the contribution that artists make to our culture. Of course as a Canadian I was proud of his accomplishments, but that was about as far as that went. Now I am more mature and have a broader appreciation of the world, and I thank you for reminding me of what he did to enrich us all.
I am painting signs and making costumes for tomorrow’s No Kings Rally in Ithaca NY and all across this sorry nation. I sat down for a break and to look for a little inspiration. I found your post. Damn it’s so great, thank you! I loved Toller so much as a young girl. Such artistry. A man so important for his time. And I love you Charlie Angus. Such courage, such integrity, such leadership. You are definitely a man so important for his time. It is so unexpected and a delight to pair you two together, Cranston and Angus. I will go back to my preparations inspired, and with a renewed faith to put my heart into the arts that will renew and power us all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Elbows Up! Let the light shine in the darkness.
NO KINGS rally was awesome and inspiring In Ithaca our park was jammed. There were over 2,700 rallies across the US with an estimated 7 million people. Were were non violent clear determined and even joyous. The tyrant has no mandate. His time is limited. Farewell orange ogre and all your ogre friends.
I found a copy of Toller Cranstons Book “When Hell Freezes over should I bring my skates”? I am reading it right now and as a figure skater and a lover of the current skaters like Kevin Amoyz who has a place in the world of Skating because of Toller and others who followed him .It’s not easy to be the trailblazer and I was so sad when I had heard of his death .I was not aware of his sisters book and I must apologize I am in the U.S.( it’s not my fault ) Piper Gilles is American but they also have been independent from other ice dancers often being “artsy” .I look forward to finding her book .Thank you !
OOh, I like this lady, Phillipa, love her thoughts and the way she expresses them! Must read her book, thank you for sharing this letter, she expresses herself just the way many of us are feeling, too!! Elbows UP, keep it up, Charlie!!
This brotherly love really got to me, albeit a tad late in the game here... Wanted to add that Toller was my fav figure skater as a kid, after reading this it sinks in that I felt the depth of his energy from a distance and that's why he made me feel proud to be Canadian. As does Charlie 💕⛸️💙
Thanks for this story.
But I want to draw your attention to another sports issue that has important symbolic importance. The president and the board of the Canadian Football League have imposed extensive rle changes for the 2026 and 2027 seasons that bypassed the rules committee, and had not included consultation.
At a time of elbows up, the CFL has instituted roles and changes to the field of play that make it mare American. Canadian football has endured a progressive American influences since its ruby-football roots. But thee latest ones are egregious. I do not know the background, but it seems possible that the Canadian Football League has be come the Corporate Football League with ties the the NFL in the States with a view to increasingly make the CFL a farm league for the NFL.
I have been a Canadian football fan all my live. My dad won a Grey Cup with Montreal in 1931. It is imoprtant to me, and to any in this country. WE need to stop the changes.
Sorry for the typos. Included is a reference to Rugby-Football, the name for Canadian footfall until the CFL was formed in about 1949..
Thank you so much for sharing this. I will always remember seeing Toller Cranston in Vancouver as a youngster. My Mother loved figure skating and loved him the most. I also thought he was amazing and beautiful on the ice, and am a forever fan. Now I am a fan of Phillipa!! I can’t wait to get my hands on her book. Love and respect to you Charlie, and to Phillipa and Toller’s memory ❤️🙏
This took me back to when I was young and watching Toller Cranston skate and I was amazed and excited and proud of his performances on the ice and how he transformed ice skating into the beautiful and exquisite craft it is today. At that time I was naive about global politics and I would never have imagined that now, in the 21st Century we would be witnessing the dismantling of democracies across the globe and the emergence of the 'Age of Monsters' as you so succinctly put it. You are an inspiration, Charlie, as was Toller Cranston all those years ago. Thank you, Toller. And thank you, Charlie for sharing Phillipa's Note. It was powerful and passionate and I loved reading it. And keep exposing the truth until "It bleeds the light." Elbows up. 🇨🇦
I loved this chat about the influence of Toller Cranston. Phillipa was my Film 101 Prof at Western in 1969, 1970. She was a massive influence on my future choices to work in the film/tv world in public affairs and later in Agenting. She taught the importance of Art and Media in creating discussion and dialogue. Agents of change!!! So glad to see she is still out there poking at the dark! Thanks, again Charlie for always posting something really interesting.
My sister has a copy of this book, also signed by Phillipa, and I had the opportunity to read it last week. It’s a beautiful tribute to her brother. He was a remarkable human being.
This made my day! Beautiful tribute to two icons of resistance! May we have the strength and bravery they had (have) to keep kicking the darkness 💚🇨🇦
What a beautiful tribute to your brother and to Charlie . Both deserve our full attention when considering ‘the right’ path to follow in life. So glad you posted it ,Charlie.
My great aunt was the painter Kathleen Moir Morris. She, also, summered at Marshall's Bay, near Arnprior, and she and Toller were fellow artists and friends.
Thank you, Charlie. I must admit that when Toller Cranston was making figure skating history, I had little appreciaton of the arts nor of the contribution that artists make to our culture. Of course as a Canadian I was proud of his accomplishments, but that was about as far as that went. Now I am more mature and have a broader appreciation of the world, and I thank you for reminding me of what he did to enrich us all.
Such a great letter- so right on. Thank you for sharing and for being the light that shines in these dark times
Well said and well deserved Charlie! You are an inspiration to us all!
I am painting signs and making costumes for tomorrow’s No Kings Rally in Ithaca NY and all across this sorry nation. I sat down for a break and to look for a little inspiration. I found your post. Damn it’s so great, thank you! I loved Toller so much as a young girl. Such artistry. A man so important for his time. And I love you Charlie Angus. Such courage, such integrity, such leadership. You are definitely a man so important for his time. It is so unexpected and a delight to pair you two together, Cranston and Angus. I will go back to my preparations inspired, and with a renewed faith to put my heart into the arts that will renew and power us all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Elbows Up! Let the light shine in the darkness.
NO KINGS rally was awesome and inspiring In Ithaca our park was jammed. There were over 2,700 rallies across the US with an estimated 7 million people. Were were non violent clear determined and even joyous. The tyrant has no mandate. His time is limited. Farewell orange ogre and all your ogre friends.
This made me cry. As I kid, I loved toller Cranston. He was magical to watch on ice and now as an adult I wish I could afford to buy his art.