48 IFSMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 2019
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SGG,^2019KURT BROWNING HONORED
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wenty-nine years after Kurt Browning was announced as
a member of the Order of Canada, he finally attended at
a ceremony in Québec City on July 4 to receive his medal.
“I was not able to attend in 1990 and I wanted to take my
mom the following year. But then she got sick and after she
passed away I never bothered to pursue it,” Browning explained.
“When I heard that John Brunton, who produced two of my
television specials, and his sister were being honored this year
I said ‘that’s it. I am doing it.’”
Browning was honored for his success at the 1989 World
Championships and for being “an impressive ambassador
for figure skating as he embodies the ideals of Canadian
amateur sport.”
“Sonia and my two sons came with me. We all went to the
Citadel in the morning and the Governor General, Julie Payette,
spoke about the history of Québec City. It was a day where I
felt infinitely Canadian,” Browning said.
“When you are competing you feel that but then you turn
professional, turn 50 and it is not like that anymore. But that
day I felt like the younger me.
“The Governor General is so cool. At the dinner following
the ceremony it was like we were at her house and she was
entertaining us.
“And to be around all those people who had discovered
something, done something at age 25 and were still doing it at- It was so inspiring.”