Seniors to Compete in Star Search Talent Contest

SENIOR CITIZENS' SECRETARIAT--Seniors to Compete in Star Search Talent Contest

It's showtime for Ron Arsenault and Linda Whitehead of Halifax. They will join 17 other competitors in the first annual Star Search Talent Contest. The contest is part of the annual 50+ Expo to be held at Exhibition Park in Halifax on Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14.

Seniors will have the opportunity to compete for prizes and recognition in four different categories: instrumental, vocal, dance and other. They will be competing for the grand prize of $2,500 provided by Scotiabank's ABCs of Fraud, a project of Canadian Pensioners Concerned Nova Scotia.

Ron Arsenault is a contestant in the single vocal category. He began his singing career as a member of the Saint Vincent's Elementary School boys choir in Saint John, N.B. It was not until 1990, that Mr. Arsenault appeared on stage singing and acting with the Northwood Players. At 50 plus, Mr. Arsenault is enthused to be in Star Search.

"I am very excited to be a contestant in Star Search," said Mr. Arsenault. "My knees will be knocking, but I can't wait. I love singing because it makes me feel good."

As far as his choice of song for the competition, he is still uncertain. He jokingly confesses that he's narrowed it down to 300 songs. He enjoys listening to the music of Al Jolson, Jerry Vale and Perry Como and his favorite song is I'm Always Chasing Rainbows.

"I wish I'd been born in the '20s and '30s. I missed out on some great music," added Mr. Arsenault.

Linda Whitehead is another Star Search hopeful, although, it won't be her vocal chords that may win her the prize. Born in Halifax, Linda has danced since she was four-years-old. She has taken lessons on and off throughout her adult life and this will be her first major competition in several years.

"Listening to music and dancing always makes me feel better," said Ms. Whitehead. "You need music to put the zip in you. No music, no zip."

Ms. Whitehead enjoys tapping to swing music the most. She says it allows her the most variety in her costume. Because she has been dancing for so many years, she has built up a collection of costumes. She confesses to owning about 30 hats and has an array of feather boas, gloves, scarves and other accessories.

Ms. Whitehead says that she is not nervous about her upcoming performance in Star Search.

"I got over being nervous a long time ago," she said. "I'm going to have fun. You can't lose if you're going to have fun."

She shares her dancing talent with seniors in local nursing homes, where she performs monthly. Often, she encourages her audience to get up and move around. When she leaves a nursing home, the atmosphere is different than when she came in.

In addition to the Star Search Talent Contest, the 50+ Expo will be a weekend devoted to Nova Scotians aged 50 years or older. The event is a project of the Seniors Citizens' Secretariat and is sponsored by The Halifax-Herald and the Medical Society of Nova Scotia.

For more information contact the Senior Citizens' Secretariat toll free at 1-800-670-0065 or visit the 50+ Expo Web site at www.50plusexpo.ca .