Diverse types of talent were brought out at the Lethbridge has Talent auditions over the weekend.

Many age groups showed off their different talents in the hopes of becoming a finalist in the Lethbridge Has Talent event being held on March 26. Hosted by the U of L Integrated Management Experience students, the event is a part of a class to host a local fundraiser and this year they’re raising money for The Kids Help Phone.
Dylan De Peuter, student volunteer and judge, says that there were several ideas presented for fundraisers and this one had the majority of support from the class.
“Every year we have a different sponsor. This year we have The Kids Help Phone,” De Peuter says. “We were all really excited about this idea.” When it comes to the talent in Lethbridge and area, De Peuter says there was an unexpected turnout of people to audition and that the amount of talent in the city is astounding.
“The quality of the talent is just amazing,” he says. “The quantity is too. At the beginning of the year we expected to have maybe 30 people try-out and it’s not even halfway done today and we had 63 people try out so far.”
“There have been amazing people, with amazing voices and amazing song writing and an overall great amount of talent.”
There were 87 auditions which has been narrowed down to 15 finalists.
Program co-ordinator Karla Colenutt says there has been many different auditions and everyone seemed to have something unique to offer.
“We’ve had from really young, like five years old, to over 40, just a variety of different-aged people,” she says. “The IME program is a specialized program at the university and part of the program is to do a community fundraiser every year. Non-profit organizations can apply to the faculty of management to be that organization every year and this year the Kids Help Phone was picked.”
Colenutt says the event was chosen based on the type of organization that was selected.
“This event is geared towards families and kids. It’s a family event and we’re helping to support families just as Kids Help Phone does. Especially kids in crisis.
“Our main focus is to help Lethbridge become more aware that Kids Help Phone is out there as an extra resource for kids who need help. The more financial backing they have, the longer it can stay out there for kids.”
Colenutt adds there is still a lot of work to be done. “The biggest thing we need help with right now is sponsorship from businesses. They may not think they have anything to offer, but the community is made up of families and kids. What better way to support your community than donating to events such as this?”
One hopeful and finalist (have to double check on Tuesday) Jasmine De Ala, 11, says she didn’t even know about her talent until she was playing in her backyard one day and discovered it.
“I was outside in the backyard and my mom wanted to see me do the Hannah Montana hoedown and then I ended up doing the whole thing with a hula-hoop,” she says.
She has been dancing and hula-hooping together for over a year but she and her younger brother were the winners of the Galt Gardens hula-hoop competitions over the summer. Another hopeful was Lethbridge College law enforcement student Derek Georget.
Georget has been playing the 12-string guitar for seven years as it was handed down to him from his parents.“I learned on a regular six-string just because I was interested in it then I moved up to the 12-string because you need so much more practice because it’s so much bigger and it’s a different sound.”
At the beginning of the audition Georget admits he was nervous but soon warmed up to the judges.
“I didn’t think they would have such serious auditions. I didn’t even realize it was a competition until I got here today.”
Georget also says he is a large supporter of The Kids Helps Phone and was glad to hear this was the organization the event was supporting.
 The talent show is being held at the U of L First Choice Savings Centre and the silent auction opens at 5:30 p.m. with the show following at 6 p.m. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children, seniors and students.
A family pack is also available for $20 for families of three or more and there is no charge for children under six years of age.
For advance tickets call 403-892-2311or go to the website www.lethbridgehastalent.com to pre order.