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Celebrity Dance Off

Glamour, Courage, Beauty. A movie-star performance at the 2019 Celebrity Dance Off

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If you combine the type of courage you see in the movies with the type of beauty you see in Hollywood, you’ll get something like the Celebrity Dance Off performance of April Ferguson.  Over the years many celebrity dancers have described their journey to their performance as “life-changing”.  It’s a really big deal.  These community titans raise tens of thousands of dollars, learn an incredibly complex dance, and then perform it in-front of a sold out crowd in a dazzling manner.  Somehow they manage all this on top of a regular fast-paced lifestyle.  April had an even bigger challenge this year.  Enjoy this remarkable performance by Marilyn Monroe.. eh hem.. April Ferguson and her professional partner David Joseph.  Seldom have we seen someone go to bat for their community and the Friends of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre the way April did.   April deserves the key to the city… Do we do that here?

My Story…

Ask anyone who knows me for one word that would describe me and it would be perseverance.

I’ve lived in Central Alberta my entire life and started my career in finance 20 years ago. My husband Chris Ferguson started Acclaim Insulation in 2008 while we were raising our beautiful three children Colby 22, Mackenzie 20 and Jaiden 16.

I am a Wealth Advisor with the Zukiwsky Group, Scotia Wealth Management in Central Alberta. My partner is Dion Zukiwsky, the branch manager and director of Scotia Wealth Management.

I am very passionate about empowering women and it has been an honour to serve on Women of Excellence for last two years.

On August 28, my life changed when my husband died in a road accident. I am now President of Acclaim Insulation. Chris was very proud of me when I accepted the challenge to dance for Friends of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre. So while this is a lot on my plate, I have support of the community.

After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

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Celebrity Dance Off

The Friends of the Red Deer Regional Hospital play a critical role in patient comfort

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There are a lot of moving parts (excuse the pun) in Red Deer’s annual Celebrity Dance Off.  But in the end, Dance Off sets out to accomplish two goals with each performance.   One is to raise funds for a much needed cause in our region.   Two is to raise the profile of that same cause.  In the long run, the second goal is probably more important.  A higher profile can mean more ongoing support from volunteers and through donations.

In 2019 the Celebrity Dance Off partnered with the Friends of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.  Here’s what Dance Off Chair Christine Moore said when the partnership was announced.

“With roots going back to 1904, this group of dedicated volunteers have fundraised to support the care and comfort of patients at our hospital. Over the last 38 years, they have raised over $7 million. They exemplify everything about volunteerism and giving back to the community. They are the unsung heroes of our hospital.”

And this comes from the Friends website: “our mission is to facilitate innovative fundraising programs for equipment and services that benefit patient care and comfort in the Red Deer Regional Hospital… 

Our fundraising dollars are geared to the purchase of medical furniture and fixtures, and to patient care and comfort up to a maximum of $4,999.00 per item. The Friends Centre assists with the provision of day-to-day supplies and comfort items. This includes personal grooming items, nursing supplies such as blood pressure monitors, blanket warmers and furniture for the units to share.”

Sometimes though it’s just best to ask those who see the benefits the Friends bring every day… Please enjoy this video.

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Celebrity Dance Off

Travolta and Newton-John wrap up the Celebrity Dance Off

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Trevor Sopracolle went from watching the Celebrity Dance Off last year, to being front and centre this year!  Trevor was the first “Oil Man” in the Celebrity Dance Off.  Hopefully the first of many.  He’s also one of the toughest looking Travolta’s you’ll ever see.  Trevor and his pro partner Alex McPherson wrapped up the show with a brilliant choice of music from Grease.  “Olivia” was amazing.. and “John” turned the world upside down.  See for yourself. .. 

My Story…

I was born in Goodsoil, Saskatchewan and moved to Alberta when I was in grade 3 and spent most of my youth in Consort.

I lost my Dad to cancer when I was in high school and so I grew up fast. At 17 I secured a loan for a 2-bedroom house with a dirt floor basement. To make ends meet, I worked as a tire technician at the local tire shop while attending high school. One of the only benefits of owning your own place in high school is having the coolest parties after the high school dances!

I moved to Red Deer in 1999 at the age of 19 and began working at Fountain Tire. Not long later a local snubbing company hired me. Over a 10-year period I worked my way up becoming a senior supervisor overseeing most of the higher-class pressure jobs and many overseas projects. In 2008, Garrett Radchenko and I started Goliath Snubbing Ltd., and we haven’t looked back.

I have also been blessed with the best kids a Dad could ask for. Being a single Dad with three kids under 8 definitely keeps me busy.

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