Burnaby students had enough talent to sell out Michael J. Fox Theatre Wednesday night and raise $6,300 to support local refugees.
Burnaby’s Got Talent, an annual fundraiser put on by the district student advisory council, blew away the group’s $5,000 fundraising goal this year.
“What an amazing night,” DSAC technology and publicity rep Owen Yin told the NOW. “We saw an overwhelming demand for tickets – huge lineups before doors even opened.”
In 2013, the talent show generated $5,700 for the Burnaby Task Force On Homelessness; last year, it raised $3,600 for the Burnaby Children's Fund.
This year the money is earmarked for the Kinbrace Community Society, a group that supports refugees by providing housing, orientation and education.
Besides ticket revenue, DSAC raised money through donations, a silent auction and a concession.
The talent competition saw each Burnaby high school contribute two performers who strutted their stuff in front of about 600 audience members and three guest judges – actors Colin Foo and Denalda Williams, and dancer Angela O'Reilly.
The judges selected four finalists: Burnaby Mountain magician Paulo Ferronato, Byrne Creek singer Harrison Park, Moscrop slam poet Alex Montinola, and Burnaby South musicians Lhoda, Grace and Sam Kim.
The audience then picked their favourite, Alex Montinola, as Burnaby's Best Talent of 2015.
Montinola is also part of a team representing Vancouver at the upcoming YouthCanSlam national slam poetry competition in August.
For more information and photos, visit the Burnaby’s Got Talent Facebook page.
To sign up for notifications about next year’s show, go to bit.ly/bgtsignup.
