Congratulations to Team #2’s Tim Bennett and to Team #7’s Kyle Sampson for winning their seats in the Prince George Civic Election.

They did a great job, both on and off the dance floor !

[expand title=”BWTS 2018 Judges” tag=”h3″]

Judy Russell – Head Judge

Dance Director and owner of Judy Russell’s Enchainment Dance Centre

Judy Russell

Sandra Clermont

Sandra Clermont

Dancer with Judy Russell’s Enchainment Dance Centre Theater Performer

Laura Heagy

Laura Heagy

Dance Instructor with Judy Russell’s Enchainment Dance Centre Theater Performer

Dan Marcotte Q.C.

Lawyer Community Arts Supporter

Dan Marcotte

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[expand title=”BWTS Team #1 – YMCA Kids – Shannon & Lee” tag=”h3″]

Dancers:Lee GoatsShannon Johnson
• Star – Shannon Johnson
• Partner – Lee Goats
Charity: YMCA Prince George
Sponsor: Tab Baker – Remax

Shannon Johnson grew up in the lower mainland and later moved to Prince George. She started volunteering with the YMCA in 1987 and has been there ever since, now as the manager. She taught through 2 pregnancies working as a part-time personal trainer. Shannon strongly believes in the Y core values, in the cause, the work the Y does and why it’s so important. Her passion for fitness has turned into a leadership role where she believes she can make a difference in the community. Shannon danced ballet, modern jazz and tap as a child and then rejoined dance later in life at Judy Russells dance studios. When she had her own children she got them into dance and her daughter is now a choreographer. Shannon still sets a great example for her children with musical theatre at Judy Russells including 10 shows, most notably as Mama in Chicago and more recently Cabaret. Shannon went to Boogie with the Stars 2 years ago and thought this is something that she would like to do, so, to no one’s surprise, here she is….

Lee Henry Goats moved to Canada at the ripe old age of 15 and settled in Vanderhoof, finishing his schooling there. Eventually he moved to Prince George and signed on with the Prince George Fire Department, retiring from a distinguished career 30 short years later. He enjoys riding motorcycles and bicycles, flying, and listening to all kinds of music, and that’s the connection to his dancing. “Music and dancing just simply seem to go together” he says. He is looking forward to competing with Shannon as Team #1 in the 2018 BWTS Charity Challenge.

 

Donate to the Charity Here!

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[expand title=”BWTS Team #2 – Big Brothers Big Sisters – Tim & Carli” tag=”h3″]

Dancers:Carli BennetTim
• Star – Tim Bennet
• Partner – Carli Bennet
Charity: Big Brothers & Big Sisters Prince George
Sponsor: Prince George Cougars

Tim and Carli Bennett are a husband and wife team. BWTS encourages and applauds this type of courage and commitment. Tim is father to Ryan and Ian, and as a proud Prince George resident, he tries to find ways to give back, “even if”, as he said, tongue in cheek, “it means strapping on a pair of dance shoes!” Many of you will know Tim as regularly being interviewed on local TV in his prominent roles as Executive Director with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Prince George and as a Trustee and Board Chair with School District 57. What you may not know are his other notable roles in our community that include President with Volunteer Prince George as well as an active volunteer with numerous local charities and events. Tim is looking forward to stepping out of his comfort zone and competing in BWTS in an effort to help raise money and awareness for mentoring in Prince George, but never fear, for he has Carli by his side, and she will be the one making her partner (in life and dance) look good, as she grew up with music and dance. Carli is a teacher with School District 57 and prior to rejoining the district in September, she spent many years preserving local history at the Huble Homestead and Exploration Place. As mother to Ryan and Ian, she believes in the values of mentoring, and for that reason she is excited to be supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters in the 2018 BWTS Charity Challenge.

 

Donate to the Charity Here!

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[expand title=”BWTS Team #3 – Dunkley Lumber – Diana & Steven” tag=”h3″]

Dancers:Steven FosterDiana Duchscherer
• Star – Diana Duchscherer
• Partner – Steven Foster
Charity: Hospice
Sponsor: Dunkley Lumber

Diana Duchscherer, born Diana Novak and raised in Prince George, is a member of the well-known, benevolent Novak Family, who own and run Dunkley Lumber, amongst many other things. She married husband Matt Duchscherer 16 years ago, and they now have two daughters and a son, ages 11, 13 & 15. Diana likes to flirt with the title “Domestic Engineer” as her profession, a very important role of course as a stay-at-home mom. She also manages to find time, get this, as Moderator for the Hell Yeah Prince George Facebook Group, as Coordinator for PGMFA Social Media and a volunteers at Canadian Cancer Society and IC School. As if that’s not enough, she is a huge supporter of home-based businesses and a Pampered Chef consultant. She organized the home-based businesses side of the Antique Fair with Hospice Society and is obsessed with Gordon Ramsay’s “Master Chef” and “Hell’s Kitchen”. After all that, Diana says she is thrilled to be fundraising and dancing for the PG Hospice Society in the 2018 BWTS Charity Challenge.

Steven Foster was born in Kelowna, and graduated from the University of Victoria with his Bachelor of Education. He and his wife fell in love with Prince George, and decided to move here in 2017. Steven currently teaches English, Foods, and Math at PGSS, and writes in his spare time (of which he has none). He has three published novels in a series called, Timeline. His wife, Sandy, introduced him to dancing while they were dating, and he grew to enjoy it. He told us he is “constantly trying to improve his dance skills, and widen his repertoire of moves”. Well, competing in the BWTS Charity Challenge with Diana representing Team #3 is a great way to do that !

 

Donate to the Charity Here!

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[expand title=”BWTS Team #4 – Wheelin’ Warriors – Haylee & Gurinder” tag=”h3″]

Dancers:Gurinder PaulHaylee Seiter
• Star – Haylee Seiter
• Partner – Gurinder Paul
Charity: BC Cancer Foundation
Sponsor: TBD

Haylee Seiter is a marketing and communications professional with a passion for food, travel and healthy living. In 2016 she graduated from the University of Northern British Columbia with a B.Comm in Marketing, and has subsequently stayed involved with the business school by coaching and mentoring the UNBC JDC West team. In her spare time, Haylee can be found cycling with her team the Wheelin’ Warriors of the North, one of several teams that participates in the Ride to Conquer Cancer. This past summer she completed her third Ride, a 250km two-day cycling event that raises funds for the BC Cancer Foundation. Haylee tells us that dance was a big part of her life growing up and she is “very excited to hit the dance floor again and make her team proud!” She adds she is “honoured to represent the Wheelin’ Warriors as a competitor with her partner Gurinder making up Team #4 in the BWTS 2018 Charity Challenge”.

Gurinder Paul was born and raised in Prince George. For the last 26 years Prince George has been nothing but a blessing for him and he is very proud to call this place his hometown. Over the last 5 years he has built a wedding photography business that has been well recognized both locally and internationally. He has also donated his time covering fundraisers and events such as Taste of India, CIBC Run for the cure, and JDC West Chillin for Charity over the last 5 years. Gurinder has recently started a new venture in business and is now helping clients find their dream home as a licensed Real Estate Agent. He said he “can’t wait to show off his moves with his partner Haylee to raise awareness and money for this amazing fundraiser at the 2018 BWTS Charity Challenge!”

 

 

Donate to the Charity Here!

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[expand title=” BWTS Team #5 – Hub City VW – Ron & Paz” tag=”h3″]

Dancers:Paz MilburnRon Gallo
• Star – Ron Gallo
• Partner – Paz Milburn
Charity: Hospice
Sponsor: Hub City Volkswagen

Ron Gallo has only ever called Prince George home, so he naturally promotes the benefits of life in this region by leading a very active lifestyle that includes hiking and biking. Ron volunteers as the PA announcer for the Prince George Spruce Kings and he helped manage the first Dream Home Lottery for the Prince George Hospice Society. Ron has raised over $17,000 cycling with the Wheelin’ Warriors of the North in the BC Ride to Conquer Cancer and his passion for cycling has taken him to competition level – he is currently training to compete in the BC 55+ Games in September. Ron now turns his talents to competing in the 2018 BWTS Charity Challenge where he tells us “I hope to raise even more money for the Prince George Hospice Society dancing with Paz representing Team # 5, Hub City”.

Paz was born and raised in the Philippines with a love for music and a passion for dance. She was heavily involved with the Prince George Filipino Club in early 80’s as event organizer and dance choreographer, and was one of the original Hula & Tahitian dancers with the Pacific Dancers. Her passion for dance continued when she joined Dance North. Paz thanks all the sponsors, stars, instructors and volunteers, as well as the Hospice and all the local Charities for joining the 2018 BWTS Charity Challenge. “This year we have a number of charities involved” Paz points out, “and our goal is to raise $100K. 2016 was our busiest to date and 2018 is promising to be even more so. BWTS wouldn’t be the success it is without everyone’s help and support and I look forward to competing with my new partner Ron who has worked hard doing his part in making this event a success”.

 

Donate to the Charity Here!

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[expand title=”BWTS Team #6 – Brink Group – Camille & Zeki” tag=”h3″]

Dancers:Zeki BasboyukCamille McDonald
• Star – Camille McDonald
• Partner – Zeki Basboyuk
Charity: Hospice
Sponsor: Brink Group of Companies

A storyteller at heart, Camille MacDonald started her working career as a Television Reporter and Anchor – many of you will, of course, have seen her
on local TV. As her horizons expanded, Camille decided to shift gears from traditional, to digital media, launching her company Pop Media in 2016. Camille loves helping local businesses and organizations share their stories and attract new customers through the power of social media. A finalist in the Prince George Chamber of Commerce 2018 Top 40 Under 40, Camille is dedicated to helping share the many reasons this community is an exceptional place to live, work, and play. That of course includes spreading the word about the 2018 BWTS Charity Challenge, and being a contestant in this year’s event.

Zeki Basboyuk has been an active member of Dance North for many years and very much enjoys his time spend socializing with this special dance group. When the opportunity presented itself to coach and compete in the BWTS 2018 Charity Challenge, Zeki was thrilled at a chance to be able to help make a contribution to the Hospice Society of Prince George. He told us “I am very much looking forward to this coming New Year’s Eve at the Prince George Civic Centre and competing with Camille”. He indicated that a donation to Team #6 will go towards ensuring the Hospice flourishes for years to come, so the team would appreciate any form of support coming their way from the many folks who care about our Hospice.

 

Donate to the Charity Here!

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[expand title=”BWTS Team #7 – Courtyard Marriott – Kyle & Andrea” tag=”h3″]

Dancers:Andrea BrownKyle Sampson
• Star – Kyle Sampson
• Partner – Andrea Brown
Charity: Hospice
Sponsor: Courtyard Marriott

Kyle Sampson couldn’t be more thrilled to be representing Team # 7 for the Prince George Hospice Society on the dance floor this New Year’s Eve with, as he says, his “incredibly talented and totally stunning dance partner, Andrea Brown”. Kyle Sampson is likely a name you’ve heard around town as Kyle is an outgoing and active member of our community and recently won a seat on City Council in this fall’s Prince George elections. In addition to his Council duties, he is the Manager of Northern BC for Pacific Western Brewing Company. He also dedicates a large portion of his time and skills to a variety of charities, non-for-profits, major events and other organizations. Kyle is part of the impressive team of people behind the inception of ‘Cariboo Rocks the North’ music festival held this past August. Since winning “Best in Dance” with his partner Colleen in the 2016 BWTS, Kyle has gone on to perform in a number of Judy Russell Presents productions including; Host of the 2017 BEA’s, The Nutcracker, Cabaret, and most recently Legally Blonde the Musical which in fact, is where he met his Boogie dance partner Andrea, right on the set of Cabaret.. Kyle is incredibly passionate about raising funds for Hospice this year and as he told us, “I would like to thank the Courtyard Marriott for their generous team Sponsorship, and also to give my thanks and appreciation to Peter and Paz who have passionately hosted this amazing event once again. And now…. me and Andrea are ready to bust a move and boogie our way to the trophy!”

Andrea Brown is so excited to be dancing with Kyle Sampson in this year’s Boogie with the Stars. Born and raised in Prince George, Andrea is a teacher-librarian at a dual track elementary school, as well as a Ballet teacher, Secret agent and puppy mommy. Andrea has been in many of Judy Russell’s Productions over the years, some of which include The Nutcracker, Who’s Tommy, Mary Poppins and Cabaret. Andrea is so thankful for this opportunity to raise money for the Hospice Society. After her auntie Enid and close friend Jolene spent time in the Prince George Hospice House last year, Andrea knows just how needed the Hospice House is in our community. As she says, “The employees of the Hospice House are angels on earth”. Andrea knows that her auntie and friend will be smiling down on Team # 7 when Kyle and herself Boogie onto the dance floor at the 2018 BWTS Charity Challenge.

 

Donate to the Charity Here!

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