For the past 29 years, local exhibitions on Prince Edward Island have been inviting talented Islanders between the ages of 13 and 21 to participate in the P.E.I. Youth Talent Search competitions held every summer at various fairs, festivals and exhibitions on the Island.
The competitions continue to be a crowd favorite and draw a large audience at each event.
Under the umbrella of The Prince Edward Island Association of Exhibitions (PEIAE) and sponsored by P.E.I. Mutual Insurance, the competitions are held at 10 fairs, festivals or exhibitions during the summer. Winners from each competition receive $300 in prize money and will participate in the provincial championship held on Friday, Aug. 30 at L’Exposition agricole et le Festival acadien in Abram-Village. The winner of the provincial finals will take home $750.
"Traditionally song and dance has been the mainstay of our Island culture," said provincial youth talent co-ordinator Jean Tingley. "Providing competitions at 10 of our various events helps sustain that culture by providing a platform for the young people to learn how to perform and become comfortable on the stage before a live audience."
Tingley noted that numerous participants have gone on to have very successful careers in the entertainment business.
There are eight categories for the youth to enter. If contestants do not win at the event they participated in, they are encouraged to register at the next competition.
PEIAE president Paul Jackson is grateful for the continuous sponsorship support from P.E.I. Mutual Insurance.
PEIAE has a long-time relationship with P.E.I. Mutual Insurance Company of Summerside especially in the Youth Talent segment of our events, he said.
"Our fairs and festivals are organized and operated by volunteers, and the continued support we receive from P.E.I. Mutual Insurance is greatly appreciated by our membership each year."
