Dancing with the Easter Seals returns to Barrie with remarks from celebrity guest judges
![Barrie Dancing with Easter Seals Stars The group of participants in this year's Barrie Dancing with Easter Seals Stars at Liberty North on Fri. April 12, 2024 (Mike Lang/CTV News Barrie).](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/4/12/barrie-dancing-with-easter-seals-stars-1-6845642-1712973999010.png)
Some of Simcoe County's most familiar faces put their best foot forward Friday to help children with disabilities have a life-changing experience.
On Friday, Liberty North hosted the annual Dancing with Easter Seals' Stars event again. The gathering puts some prominent personalities' dance skills to the test, bringing in thousands for the organization that supports children and youth with disabilities.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
"This is a great cause for this amazing charity," said 16-year-old Shamil Sohail, an Easter Seals ambassador. "This money is going to send so many kids to camp; it's going to give so many kids the equipment that they need to reach their goals to the fullest."
Some local celebrities have been preparing their routines for weeks, matched up with professional dancers. Their moves will be judged by a roster of celebrity judges, including CTV News Barrie Senior Anchor Sarah Freemark.
The goal this year is to raise $110,000. Those funds go towards providing essential equipment for youth across Ontario facing various disabilities.
"For our Easter Seals kids, their equipment is their wheelchairs, their walkers and their commodes," said Charlene Myke, Easter Seals Ontario district manager. "Equipment is one word to some, but for them, it's their lifeline, and that only happens with events like this."
The dollars collected will also go towards sending Easter Seals youth to a life-changing camp, which will provide a unique and much-needed escape and sense of community.
"Some kids talk about Disney World [but] not our Easter Seal kids," said Myke. Our Easter Seal kids will tell it best: They get ten days away from their parents, and nobody tells them the word no!"
Sohail, an organization ambassador, has visited the camp before and is one of the approximately 600 who have registered to return this year.
"I'm looking forward to making new memories, getting to meet my new friends, getting to meet some old friends and making lifelong memories," Sohail said.
For more details on the event, held in communities across Ontario, click here.
With files from CTV's Mike Lang.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6971795.1721511907!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Workplace habit of 'coffee badging' prompts reported new policy at Amazon
The term 'coffee badging' has gained some new significance this week with multiple outlets reporting Amazon is allegedly taking measures to counter the workplace trend it refers to.
Trudeau and family head to British Columbia for vacation in unnamed location
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will head to British Columbia on Sunday, where he will be on vacation with his family until Aug. 1.
A 12-year-old girl is accused of smothering her younger cousin over an iPhone
A 12-year-old girl in Tennessee has been charged with murder, accused of smothering her eight-year-old cousin as the younger girl slept. A relative said they had been arguing over an iPhone.
Stranger sexually assaulted Surrey woman while she was asleep in her home, RCMP say
A woman in Surrey's Newton neighbourhood woke up to a stranger groping her early Saturday morning, according to local police.
Alberta town takes action fighting crime, addressing homelessness, addictions issues
In Cold Lake, Alta., drivers leaning through windows at the McDonald’s drive-thru have been ambushed by people running by and snatching food right out of their hands.
'I took a bullet for democracy': Trump holds first rally after assassination attempt
Donald Trump is holding his first campaign rally since he survived an attempted assassination, returning to the battleground state of Michigan alongside his new running mate.
Democratic consensus solidifies around Harris, should Biden step aside
No one quite knows what the process of picking a new nominee would be if Joe Biden did step aside – but many Democrats say that any process is likelier than ever to quickly end with Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee.
Here are the signs you're ready to downsize your home
Amid the cost-of-living crisis, many Canadians are looking to find ways to save money, such as downsizing their home. But one Ottawa broker says there are several signs to consider before making the big decision.
investigation Prominent Vancouver lawyer accused of moving criminal cash dies before hearing
Vancouver lawyer Michael Bolton likely defended thousands of people over 50 years of practice. But in the end, he would not get a chance to defend himself.