Final curtain for Dancing with the Stars fundraiser
The Dancing with the Stars fundraiser held on December 13 at the Legion Hall will retire after this sixth and final show. It has featured laughs, dance moves and brave contestants who each paired with one or more All-Stars to execute their talent and entertain the audience.
Tonya Logan’s dance group, Small Town Showstoppers, has fundraised all year for their much-anticipated Toronto trip, July 17-20, 2026. They will attend and perform at Medieval Times Dinner and the CN Tower, and more. The dancers will participate in a celebrity master class workshop, sightsee, attend a Broadway show, visit Niagara Falls, and enjoy a Toronto Harbour dinner cruise. Some plan to stay longer to see a Blue Jays game. This will be a memory-maker for all the members of the Small Town Showstoppers.
Small Town Showstoppers: Front row, from left, Evette Layton, Jamie Mehl, Kayla Paetz, Joey Mehl, Kenlee Wilson, Sadie Ross, Kacey Lee.
Second row: Janessa Stewart, Scarlett Kovitch, Hadley Opheim, Ava Kuhn, Harper Caskey, Logan McLean, Rayna Murray.
Back row: Finley Girletz, Emery Jorgenson, Harlow Fraser, Tylee Wilson, Piper Opheim, Kipton Thornton, Jersey Girletz, Cleo Caskey. Photo submitted by Toya Logan
Trio of Trouble: All-Star Amanda Yake-Kovitch, contestant Zach Hay and All-Star Ki Laughlin. Last year’s champs. Photo submitted by Toya Logan
Halftime Honeys: All-Star Chynna Kuhn and contestant Katie Berg. Two powerhouse moms who traded in kids’ schedules, farm boots, camera lenses and curling irons to pump up the jam and light up the stage. Photo submitted by Toya Logan
Flower Power: Contestant Mystery Dancer (Jarvis Smigelski) and All-Star Bella Kovitch deliberately danced as if nothing stressed them out. Photo submitted by Toya Logan
Mak Attack: contestant Makalya Kiss and All-Star Makenzie McKain. The two are no strangers to dancing together, but this was Makayla’s first shot at hip hop; she came to get down. Photo submitted by Toya Logan
Hoppin’ & a Boppin’: All-Star Tonya Logan and All-Star Fred Beynon: Both dancers had said they were done dancing with the Stars. One had retired, the other does so much backstage. But for this final show, Fred could not say no to his niece and joined her onstage to get everyone rocking. Photo submitted by Toya Logan
Pacemakers: Contestants Nirvana Hauck and Kelsey MacDonald joined All-Star Paola Salvenera. They kept the energy high, the rhythm steady, and the fun flowing. Photo submitted by Toya Logan
Marital Dispute: All-Star Marissa Mehl and her husband, contestant Spencer Mehl. This pair was ready to come back and move past second place right into first place for this final Dancing With the Stars, and they did to win the mirror ball 2025! Photo submitted by Toya Logan
In the Mood…Not the Groove: All-Star Kendra Girletz dusted off her dancing shoes for the first time in YEARS to lead her husband, Ryley Girletz, onto the big stage for his dancing debut, ready to rain on the competition. And rain they did! They were joined by Ryley’s dad, Ray and uncle Randy to complete their performance. Photo submitted by Toya Logan
Roots n Hoots: Jessica Bailey, drummer Dave Porter, Kelsey MacDonald and guitarist Gord Stoddart. PHOTO BY DIANA WALKER