PLEDGING FOR YOUR FAVOURITE CELEBRITY DANCER
Your 2010 celebrity dancers are hard at work learning the latest samba, nightclub or waltz to dazzle us all. All funds raised support our palliative and bereavement services.
We thank you for your support!
To make a pledge for your favourite celebrity, please click on the Donate button below their picture.
Use your credit card through PayPal, or alternatively, call the Hospice office at 250.763.5511.
A tax receipt will be mailed to you for pledges of $25 or more.
Anne O'Keefe
Manager, Central Okanagan Hospice Palliative Services with Interior Health
Tom Selzler, Dance Connections - partnered with Anne
I’ve been the manager of Hospice Palliative Care (IH) for almost 8 years now and it is the best job I’ve ever had. I had never worked alongside a volunteer organization before, and I’ve been blessed with having an amazing group of people at COHA to work with. I am constantly in awe of how much the volunteers give on a daily basis, at the Hospice House, at KGH and in the patient’s home.
I was very excited to be invited to dance in this event because I love to dance! My claim to fame is a whole year of dance lessons – tap and ballet – when I was 8! Sadly that was a very long time ago, but given any opportunity, you’ll find me “shaking my stuff” on the dance floor. I’m so looking forward to having the chance to learn a “real” dance from my amazing instructor/partner Tom Selzler.
Hope to see you all on the night!
Garry Benson
Lawyer, Benson Salloum Watts LLP
Jeni MacMillan, Latinesque Ballroom and Latin Dance Studio - partnered with Garry
Garry is a former member of the RCMP, Senior Manager in the Federal Government and has sat as a director or chair of many Boards of Directors. His community involvement includes supporting community organization through strategic support, fundraising and Pro Bono legal services and now he dances!
"Participating in an event such as the SWTS was never something I would ever have contemplated. Dancing was so out of my comfort zone that 20 people have bought tickets to the event just to see if I am really capable of dancing. My partner/instructor Jeni McMillan has been wonderful and to my surprise has taken my dancing to a level where I think I may actually avoid embarrassment. Who knew I would have such fun all for a most worthwhile cause."
Lori Welbourne
Columnist, The Capital News
Warren Eaton, Latinesque Ballroom and Latin Dance Studio - partnered with Lori
A syndicated columnist, Lori Welbourne’s “On a Brighter Note” can be read every Sunday in the Capital News. Typically, Lori does whatever she can to avoid dancing. If someone manages to drag her out on the dance floor, they're usually sorry that they did (think Elaine from Seinfeld). So agreeing to be in this competition comes as a shock to all those who know her well. But raising money for the Hospice and putting herself so far out of “comfortville” were huge attractions for her. Poor Warren Eaton though. It’ll be like teaching a cat to rollover. He’s a brave fellow indeed.
www.onabrighternote.ca
Rosemary & Don Thompson
Rosemary-Owner, Living Source Media Group
Don-Director, IT Media and Classroom Services at UBCO
Sharon Sebo, Dance 4 Life - coaching Rosemary & Don
Rosemary and Don Thompson have been happily married for 19 years and dancing together for a grand total of about 4 weeks of that time! It seems that Rosemary likes to lead, at least on the dance floor, but Don hopes to change that in time for the competition. They moved to the Okanagan in 1992 and have enjoyed a vibrant life that is only available in this wonderful region. They have two beautiful daughters and three delightful grandchildren. Rosemary is a familiar face in the Okanagan having been a host/producer for 12 years on Shaw TV with the shows Home & Entertaining, Plugged-In and Okanagan Today. She was a syndicated food columnist for The Morning Star and spent time reporting for The Daily Courier. She currently is a partner at Living Source Media Group in Kelowna. Don is the Director for Information Technology, Media and Classroom Services at UBC Okanagan. He has been playing keyboards for the worship band Tread for the past 8 years.
They are delighted to be a part of this worthy fundraising event especially since a few of their friends are presently dealing with terminal illnesses. They understand the important work that Hospice does in providing the special care families need during these times.
Ruth Stewart
Quails Gate Winery
Ross Sutherland, Dance 4 Life - partnered with Ruth
Originally from Ontario Ruth is married to Ben Stewart who was born and raised in Kelowna. They met in 1976 on a blind date in Medicine Hat and were married in 1978 while living in Calgary Alberta. They returned to the "Sunny Okanagan" in 1979 to explore the opportunities of expanding Ben's family vineyards into a winery which came to fruition after 10 years of hard work in 1990 with the opening of Quails Gate Winery. During this same period their daughter Llane and their two sons Kitson and Patrick were born. Needless to say there wasn't much time for dancing during these years. Ben's desire to give back to the community has led him into politics now serving as the current MLA of the Kelowna Westside Riding and appointed Minister of Government Services, Multi-culturalism and Public Affairs leaving Ruth with lots of time to try out something new...dancing. Ruth's other hobbies include horseback riding, quilting and playing the violin and piano. Ruth says "learning the dance and then performing it for the public will be a huge personal challenge but watching last year's event was so enjoyable and fun, I'm honoured to be a part of it this year".
Phil Johnson & Tracy Hutton
Phil-Talk Show Host on 1150AM Radio Tracy-Owner, Jigsaw Trading Co.
Diane Pratt, Diane's Dancesport - coaching Phil & Tracy
When Dianne Pratt agreed to try to turn Tracy Hutton and Phil Johnson, into dancers, she admitted it might be a challenge. Clearly she had NO idea what she was getting into. Tracy and Phil would like to thank her for her patience, commitment, endurance and hope that once she's recovered she will continue to teach other "never been on the dance floor before" couples and individuals.
Phil Johnson discovered his love of fancy footwork through many years as a broadcaster and morning show host at AM-1150. He's since discovered fancy verbal footwork will do nothing to rescue him from the ugly truth. Latin, as it applies to dance, is a strange language, and he's hopelessly in over his head. His only hope is that Tracy his on the floor; and in life partner, can rescue his sorry posterior. Fortunately for him, Tracy Hutton has music in her heart, rhythm in her soul.....but is there enough to offset Phil's lack of both of those qualities, As she moves to Manilow's magic (as in Barry Manilow and Copa Cabana) she's thankful that Dianne Pratt has been able to help Phil discover his right foot (prior to this he only had two-left-feet),... and believes that somehow, they WILL find rhythm, grace, style. The aim, in addition to helping the Hospice project, to be able to take "their moves" to other less competitive dance floors.
They would like to thank their friends, supporters, and contributors for their support, both emotionally and financially. They remind anyone reading this page, that Hospice plays a critical part of the dance of life for all of us...