About Us

Our story: Where Excellence Meets Passion

Toronto Lakeshore Skating School (TLSS) was founded in 2016 by Andrew Evans and Laurisa Wyant with a simple mission: to bring the joy of skating to the community while creating a seamless pathway from grassroots development to high-performance achievement.

Over the years, TLSS has grown into one of Canada’s most respected training environments, driven by a commitment to continuous learning and innovative coaching. During the COVID-19 pause, the founders trained and collaborated with world-leading coaches across Europe and Asia, an experience that transformed the school’s methodology and elevated its technical standards.

Today, TLSS is recognized for developing national medalists at every level, hosting seminars with internationally renowned coaches, and fostering a culture of discipline, work ethic, and teamwork. From first steps on the ice to international competition, our mission is to help every skater reach their full potential and become their best self.

One Team. One Vision.
One Standard of Excellence.

TLSS is led by founders Andrew Evans and Laurisa Wyant, whose
education and international experience shaped a coaching philosophy
and system rooted in structure, discipline, and collaboration. Their
combined approach is strengthened by a diverse team of Skate Canada
certified coaches who themselves have competitive athletic
backgrounds across singles, pairs, and choreography.

Our Coaches Lead by Example.

Our coaching team is continually advancing their expertise by training alongside some of the world’s best coaches in the USA, Eastern Europe, and Asia. If you follow the top performers in global figure skating, you will already know the athletes they work with. This international exposure and collaboration allows us to bring leading-edge training methods and insight directly to our TLSS athletes here in Canada.

The Team Believes In

Developing solid fundamentals through volume and repetition

Building life skills first, trusting that results follow

Maintaining consistent communication and unified standards across levels

Offering comprehensive training – on-ice, off-ice, mental, technical\

Creating an environment where skaters feel supported, challenged, and inspired

Meet The Team

Main

Andrew Evans
Founder / director



national certified
etobicoke, on
Laurisa Wyant
Founder / director



national certified
Milton, ON
Tigran Arakelyan
coach



national certified
Oakville, on
Angel Green
Coach



Provincial Certified
brampton, on
Shawn Verasammy
Coach



provincial certified
Toronto, ON
Mary-Angela Larmer
Choreographer



provincial certified
Toronto, ON
Polina Ustinkova
Coach



Regional Certified
Toronto, ON

Andrew Evans

Founder / director



national certified
etobicoke, on

Laurisa Wyant

Founder / director



national certified
Milton, ON

Tigran Arakelyan

coach



national certified
Oakville, on

Angel Green

Coach



Provincial Certified
brampton, on

Shawn Verasammy

Coach



provincial certified
Toronto, ON

Mary-Angela Larmer

Choreographer



provincial certified
Toronto, ON

Polina Ustinkova

Coach



Regional Certified
Toronto, ON

Our Approach

Intentional. Structured.
Athlete-Centered.

At TLSS, we believe that great skating is built on strong fundamentals, thoughtful progression, and the right balance of discipline and support. Our approach centers on three pillars:

1. Training with Purpose
We emphasize repetition, technical mastery, and consistency – the foundation of every successful skater. From beginners to elite athletes, skaters train using our system inspired by leading methods from Europe and Asia.

2. Growing the Whole Athlete
We develop more than skating skills. Skaters learn time management and responsibility, preparation and pride – qualities that support well rounded and resilient children.  Our coaches understand the importance of balancing athletic ambition with each child’s broader wellbeing.

3. A Community Built on Trust
Families join TLSS because they value structure, discipline, and clear expectations. Skaters stay because they feel supported, cared for, and challenged. The result is a training environment that is both high-performance and deeply human.

Success to us are athletes who value their learning experiences and are inspired to be their best self on and off the ice.

Elite Training Environment at
the Ford Performance Centre

TLSS operates at the Ford Performance Centre in Etobicoke – one of Canada’s
premier skating facilities – The Toronto Maple Leaf’s train here! Our skaters
train on an Olympic-size ice pad equipped with advanced tools such as:

  • DartFish video analysis for real-time technique review
  • Mobile harness for safe jump development
  • Dedicated off-ice and studio space for jump classes, ballet, conditioning, yoga, stretching
  • Dedicated rotating platforms and harnesses for spin and rotation training
  • Plentiful warm-up and cool-down areas supporting complete athlete preparation

Thanks to our onsite Off-Ice Studio, TLSS is able to provide complete athlete
development in one convenient and efficient location.

Dwight Global
Online School Partnership

TLSS proudly partners with Dwight Global – a top online private school for Grades 6–12 and part of The Dwight Schools network. This partnership allows high-performance athletes to pursue rigorous academics on a flexible schedule, supporting training demands without sacrificing education.

TLSS skaters receive a 50% tuition grant, along with priority admissions support.

High Performance
School Support
Partnership

TLSS is committed to supporting the whole athlete, including their academic journey. We assist families through the application phase with various school boards by providing thoughtful support letters where appropriate, and we work closely with schools to help accommodate training and competition schedules. Our goal is to ensure athletes can pursue excellence on the ice while maintaining balance and success in the classroom.

Figure Skating
Boutique
Partnership

TLSS collaborates closely with The Figure Skating Boutique to ensure athletes receive the highest-quality boots, blades, and equipment. Their expert fitting services help skaters perform safely and confidently throughout the season.

Testimonials

Transitioning from recreational community programs to taking skating more seriously can feel like a daunting step, but finding TLSS at that exact turning point was the best decision we could have made for Morgan.

What stood out to us immediately was the incredible peer group. Having a group of keen, dedicated boys his age on the ice has completely transformed his experience. They work remarkably hard, push each other to do better, and trade Pokémon cards together.

While Morgan’s technical growth on the ice has been phenomenal, what we value most is the impact on his character. He has developed real discipline, resilience, and a positive mindset that carries into everything he does. We couldn’t be more grateful to the coaching team and the club community for providing such an inspiring, high-standard environment for young skaters.

Bruce Liu
Parent

We’ve had such a wonderful experience with Toronto Lakeshore Skating School. It has been incredibly special to watch our skater grow — not only as an athlete, but also in confidence, resilience, and as a person — alongside such caring and dedicated coaching teams.

Over the years, Toronto Lakeshore Skating School has become such an important part of her journey, where she has built lasting friendships, created countless wonderful memories, and developed skills that extend far beyond the ice. The coaches are knowledgeable, supportive, and genuinely invested in helping each skater reach their potential while encouraging confidence, discipline, and valuable life experiences.

The positive environment, strong sense of community, and quality instruction have made skating such an enjoyable and rewarding journey. We are truly grateful for all the guidance, encouragement, and support our skater has received throughout the years. It has been a privilege to watch her grow up on the ice and be part of such a wonderful skating community.

Linda Wang
Parent

Our daughter has been guided by the TLSS team from Canskate through to learning her triple jumps. TLSS has a strong focus on fundamentals and developing well-rounded athletes from a very early age. Most importantly, the team at TLSS truly cares about our daughter as a young person. They prioritize guiding her through her skating journey in a way that teaches her valuable life lessons, which she will always carry with her.

We can’t say enough about the TLSS team, and what they have done for our daughter!

Steve Gibbins
Parent

Thank you TLSS !

It is the best decision to join TLSS in 2024 to continue our skating journey. The professionalism of the TLSS coaching team is truly next level.

In two years, our children had the opportunity to learn from the best and gained competition experiences from provincial, national and international.

The TLSS coach team had created an empowering environment for skaters to grow, connect and achieve. I would highly recommend TLSS.

Jody He and Edgar Navarro
Parent

When our daughter started skating with Toronto Lakeshore Skating School, she was genuinely welcomed by both the coaches and her fellow athletes. The kindness shown to her when she first arrived helped her quickly feel comfortable and part of the TLSS community.

We have been impressed by the depth of technical expertise across the coaching team, the way the coaches communicate and work together, and the genuine passion they bring to their work. TLSS provides a comprehensive and exceptionally well-organized program that brings together high-level on-ice coaching, a full spectrum of off-ice training, and seminars led by visiting specialists and international coaches.

We appreciate the team’s thoughtful coaching, encouragement and commitment to our daughter’s development. She leaves the rink feeling motivated and excited to return. It has been wonderful to see her enjoying her training and taking pride in the progress she is making.

Anne Smith O’Connor
Parent

TLSS fosters a competitive training environment designed to encourage personal growth, as well as athletic development. There is a necessary focus on the fundamentals of skating, which has provided our daughter with a very strong foundation. Most importantly, the team at TLSS cares about our daughter as a person, not only as a skater.

Steve G.
Parent

Our trust in this team is absolute. We couldn’t imagine a better environment for our daughter to thrive in both her skating and academics.

Erica S.
Parent

We have full trust in this team and cannot imagine our daughter skating anywhere else.

Megan W.
Parent

She has made many friends, has learned to work independently, gained confidence and a new found appreciation of what hard work and dedication can bring

Vienna V.
Parent

The planning, organization, expertise, and professionalism of this coaching team is truly next level

Sophie G.
Parent

[The] TLSS team have not only been teaching her world class skating skills but also been developing her elite athlete mindset with the passion, commitment, resilience and sportsmanship required to continue to succeed in both skating and life

Lulu L.
Parent
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Alumni Success

Our High Performance program has a proven track record of success, with
alumni representing the majority of the Skate Canada NextGen list. We are
proud to continue working with top world-class athletes as they compete in
ISU events, supporting their development as they progress through the
highest levels of international figure skating.

Train With TLSS

A Structured, Athlete-Centered Environment For Skaters At Every Stage.

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