Canada's Gilles, Poirier lead after rhythm dance at Skate Canada International in Vancouver

Competing for the first time since sharing her ovarian cancer diagnosis, ice dancer Piper Gilles and her skating partner Paul Poirier recorded the best score of the Grand Prix season so far.

The pair finished top of the rhythm dance program section at Skate Canada International in Vancouver with 87.55 points, comfortably ahead of Great Britain's Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson in second place.

"I don't think there was ever a thought of me not continuing," said Gilles. "If anything, it pushed me more to do it. Skating has become a part of my life and become a great distraction from all the heath issues I've gone through."

Last year's Skate Canada International was the event where she started feeling ill, Gilles said, adding to the desire to return and take part.

WATCH l Gilles, Poirier start strong in Vancouver:

The event is the first of the season for the Canadians, and both said they were keen to compete in front of home fans.

Lithuania's Saulius Ambrulevicius and Allison Reed finished third with a score of 75.6, marking the first time they have been on the podium at a Grand Prix event.

"We've been slowly getting to this point where we are and every single time we skate, we feel very proud of what we do," said Ambrulevicius. "At this stage of our careers, we're feeling very happy."

Canadians Alicia Fabbri and Paul Ayer finished seventh in the rhythm dance program with Molly Lanaghan and Dmitre Razgulajevs finished ninth out of 10.

WATCH l That Figure Skating Show — Get to know Gilles & Poirier:

Earlier in the day, Japan's Kaori Sakamoto set the tone for the women's short program at Skate Canada International.

The reigning world champion had scored 75.13 in her short program, nearly five points clear of second place