People from across the Lower Mainland came out to audition for the upcoming Seniors Have Talent contest.
The talent show is a joint production between the Sapperton Old Age Pensioners Association and the New Westminster Lions Club.
Of 30 different acts, 14 finalists were chosen. The lineup included karaoke, poetry, authentic Chinese dancing, country music, a pianist and a dancing dog, to name just a few. Contestants ranged in age from 50s to late 80s.
“I had to check about the dog. The dog is actually a senior, too,” joked Vic Leach, a director with the Sapperton Old Age Pensioners’ Association.
The final talent show is set for Saturday Oct. 5 at the Sapperton Pensioners’ Hall, and money raised will go to the hall and the local Lions club to help pay for community projects.
Final acts include a comedy routine, three different types of dancing, bango, guitar, and musical numbers, and the aforementioned dancing dog.
“The dancing by the dog routine took a whole lot of people by surprise,” Leach said. “It was very interesting.”
The top prize is $200, and the second place contestant will receive $100, while third place gets $50. The judges are New Westminster police chief Dave Jones, Dolores Kirkwood and Tom Pate from the Lions Club. Calvin Donnelly, a former city councillor, will emcee the event.
Inspiration for the show came from Blind Beginnings, a talent show for the blind and visually impaired, that was held at the hall in June, Leach explained.
For Seniors Have Talent, audience members will get to vote for their favourite acts for a fee ($1 for one vote). The show starts at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 for adults, or $12 for students and students, available at the door, and seating is first-come, first-served. To buy tickets in advance, call the hall at 604-522-0280, and ask for Shirley.
As an incentive to go easy on the environment, the show’s organizers are offering $2 off at the door for anyone who cycles or takes transit to get to the show.
The Sapperton Pensioners Hall is at 318 Keary St. in New Westminster, about a quarter of a block from Royal Columbian Hospital.
