Hospice PEI’s Dancing with the Stars
Hospice PEI Dancing with the Stars fundraising event is a fun-filled night packed with music and dancing. PEI Stars are paired with local professional dancers to show us their best moves! Various genres of dance will be highlighted throughout the night with 2 awards being given out, Judge’s Choice Award and People’s Choice Award.
Judge’s Choice Award: Awarded to the dance pair who the judges decide was the best performance.
People’s Choice Award: Awarded to the dance pair who receive the most amount of “votes” from the public.
For each $1 donation you make to Hospice PEI, you receive 1 vote for your favourite dance pair.
Tickets are $75 with a $50 charitable tax receipt. Reception begins at 6:30 PM with our show beginning at 7:00 PM at the Florence Simmons Performance Hall (140 Weymouth St, Charlottetown). All guests will be seated in theatre-style seating. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available for purchase at bars located in the lobby area of the event space.
Please notify Hospice PEI if there is a specific Star you are supporting and would like to be seated in their designated area – call (902) 368-4498 or email [email protected] to notify Hospice PEI.
Votes for your favourite dance couple will be accepted now until the end of our show’s intermission – votes can be placed through Canada Helps, by calling our Provincial Office at (902) 368-4498 or in person at our Dancing with the Stars show.
Meet Our 2024 Stars!
Rachel Parise (pronounced RAW-SHELL) is a born and raised country girl from LOT 16, but she has a City Slicker Attitude. Rachel is the proud mom to Alec, soon to be the wife of Wayne, and a bonus mom to many. She is currently in her 30th year of employment in finance with IWMC and has also been a Certified Fitness Instructor for over 17 years.
Dedicated to the principle of “PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE,” Rachel and her Fitness Group – Keeping Fit – have organized numerous fundraisers. These events aim to help families in need during Christmas (“Children at Christmas”), address various student needs in schools throughout Prince County, provide Local School Bursaries, and offer a helping hand when needed (“Random Acts of Kindness”). Rachel was awarded the City of Summerside “Good Neighbor Award” for her efforts in helping people in her community.
Rachel loves spending time with her family and friends, traveling, being outdoors, and telling a good story to make you laugh until your belly hurts.
“I’m thrilled to be part of this year’s Hospice PEI Dancing with the Stars and excited to dance with Telma. Hospice is something none of us want to need, but if we do, we’re incredibly grateful for the support it provides to affected families.”
Monika Wang currently serving as a Relationship Manager at RBC Group Advantage. With a Master’s degree from Loughborough University in the UK and over 10 years of experience in the financial industry, Monika has established a strong track record of success. In 2023, She received RBC’s highest honor, the Global Citizen Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to both the company and the community.
Beyond professional achievements, Monika is deeply committed to community service. She is board member of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation and the President of the Great Summerside Chamber of Commerce. She has been instrumental in fundraising efforts for key healthcare institutions, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, IWK Health Centre, PEI Prince County Hospital, and Ovarian Cancer Canada.
As a passionate advocate for newcomer communities, Monika was one of the main organizers of the first Asian Heritage Month Celebration and the first International Lunar New Year Gala on Prince Edward Island. These milestone events brought together community leaders from diverse backgrounds, promoting cultural understanding and unity.
A dedicated promoter of diversity and inclusion, Monika continues to champion initiatives that celebrate cultural diversity and foster a welcoming environment for all. Her leadership and unwavering commitment have made a lasting impact on both the local community and the broader society.
Jeff Cody grew up in the area of the nation’s capital, Ottawa. He is the loving husband to Penny and will be married for 35 years in August. Jeff is a family man with 7 children and 7 wonderful grandchildren. Graduating from the University of Waterloo with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics led him to build and sell a successful high-tech company in the 80s before pursuing a career as a mortgage broker. Jeff has been nominated for the Canadian Mortgage Hall of Fame and was voted the top Mortgage Broker of the Year in Canada by Canadian Mortgage Professionals in 2013. Now his son, Justin, has taken over the Ottawa office.
Last November Jeff & Penny made the move to PEI. He and his wife had always had a love for the Island and were excited to finally fulfill their dream of moving. They now reside in Margate, and he still works full-time as an active mortgage broker.
In 2005, Jeff & Penny attended a charity function and they both purchased dance lessons from Arthur Murray for the other as a Valentine’s Day present. After being introduced to dance on a cruise previously this was the spark they needed to really get into dancing. They have had a love for it ever since and have continued since moving. Jeff is excited to dance with Susan for Hospice PEI’s Dancing with the Stars and notes how needed and great of a service it is to Island residents.
Originally from Galt, Ontario, Patty’s journey has been as dynamic and inspiring as the landscapes she’s lived in. From the scenic beauty of Canmore, Alberta, in the ’90s—where she embraced motherhood with her two daughters—to returning to Ontario for the birth of her two sons, Patty has woven the fabric of her life around the principle of being the best version of herself. This pursuit was not solely for her own fulfillment but served as a beacon for her children, guiding them by example.
Patty’s first professional chapter was marked by 11 years of dedicated service as a Registered Practical Nurse, primarily in long-term care homes. There, she considered it both an honour and a privilege to support residents during their most vulnerable moments, embedding a deep sense of compassion and empathy in her approach to service.
In 2009, Patty embarked on a new adventure, relocating to PEI. The following year, she entered the real estate sector, channeling her love and commitment to excellence into providing a five-star experience for her clients. This passion for real estate and a desire to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with her peers culminated in the opening of her own brokerage in 2019. Under her leadership, the brokerage has soared to the top of performance charts, a testament to her values of Passion, Love, and Excellence.
2024 marks a thrilling chapter for Patty as she participates in Hospice Dancing with the Stars, partnered with the multi-talented Meghan Morrow. Meghan, Patty’s daughter, shines both as a Real Estate Office Administrator/Marketing Specialist by day and a Dance Instructor by evening. This collaboration symbolizes not just the unity of family but also the fusion of professional excellence and personal passion, showcasing once again Patty’s commitment to making meaningful impacts in every sphere of her life.
Pam Paquet, originally from Leoville, PEI, has lived in York since 1999. Pam’s cheering section includes her daughter Emma who graduated from Mount Allison, who she loves traveling with. Another member of her cheering squad is her partner, Steve. He is a big supporter of all her enthusiastic adventures and is now a willing participant in all her hiking activities.
After over 34 years of teaching French Immersion, Pam is retiring at the end of this school year. She has taught in Ontario for a short period, but 32 years of her teaching career has taken place on PEI. Pam has taught at Montague, Glen Stewart, Sherwood, West Kent & Westwood. She’s taught multiple elementary grades, reading recovery, resource and is finishing her career as a Primary Intervention Teacher with the Department of Education working with Grade 3 French Immersion students.
Pam is a fitness enthusiast at heart. She has dabbled in Crossfit at Court 6 Crossfit and is presently strength training at Linked Strength and Conditioning at the Spa. Pam has run many marathons and hopes to qualify for the Boston Marathon in the next couple of years.
“I’m excited to be part of this year’s Dancing with the Stars. What a fantastic event to be part of and a great cause to fundraise for. I am grateful that I can support Hospice PEI and all the families who have used their services for care and compassion.”
Irish Mythen was born in Ireland but has called Charlottetown, PEI home for the last 11 years. “This Island creates music and musicians, art and artists. I found a shift to take things more seriously when I moved here.” And she did just that.
Her latest release, Little Bones, gained her recognition around the globe, including a 2020 JUNO nomination for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year, seven Music PEI 2020 nominations, and two wins — Touring Artist of the Year and Roots Contemporary Recording of the Year, and a Canadian Folk Music Awards win for Solo Artist of the Year. Her previous self-titled album, Irish Mythen, garnered awards and nominations from Music PEI, East Coast Music Association, Folk Alliance International, and SOCAN. Write-ups in Australian Guitar Magazine, Rollingstone, and a plethora of other print and online media worldwide have helped plant Irish firmly on the map of Must-See Artists.
Irish’s live performances are a thing of raw power, emotion, and a connection with her audience that just must be seen to be believed. She performs around the world at some of the biggest festivals but dancing on stage is still going to be terrifying to her.
Kelley Lea, born and raised in Vernon River, has a love for her hometown that has kept her there for over 40 years where she now lives with her family. Her life-changing moment and her biggest achievements are the birth of her two daughters who are now 6 and 16 years old. She grew up in a hunting & fishing family which has resulted in a deep love for nature & an appreciation for the outdoors. Kelley has also step-danced for many years when she was younger, leading to her teaching young students for a few years.
Growing up, Kelley was the youngest of three, with two older brothers. She would often help her grandparents, who lived beside her, at their bed and breakfast doing odd jobs. This sparked a passion for tourism at a young age and resulted in her owning her own business today. Kelley is the sole proprietor of Do Duck Inn Cottages located in her hometown.
Kelley loves to stay active and her love of playing softball has been a joy that has stuck around for many years. She is a high-performance softball player who has won multiple championship titles at the Provincial and Eastern Canadian levels along with top pitching & MVP awards. Playing competitive softball has led her to many fun experiences, including playing in a European softball tournament in Barcelona this coming October, just a short time before dancing on the Dancing with the Stars stage on November 2nd.
Ian was born and raised in Iloilo City, in the heart of the Philippines. Living in a country surrounded by the ocean and incredible natural resources it was a no-brainer that the Atlantic Provinces would be the perfect place to live. He was chosen as one of the first successful international healthcare worker direct hires in 2014, piloted to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in the country. As a first-generation immigrant, Halifax has been his home for the last 10 years, and is still based there however, he believes that he has so much more to offer with our neighboring provinces. So, he began living in both NS and PEI for personal and professional reasons.
As an internationally educated and trained nurse, Ian works with Bayshore as their Client Development Manager where he, together with his team, ensures that families continue to stay and live a quality life in their homes—wherever home is. As he enters his 12th year in the healthcare industry, he continues to believe that touching lives and making a difference is the key to fully serving people and their community.
“Moving to PEI reminds me of home. The locals have a great sense of community and strong family values that they uphold. Having an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for Hospice PEI is one of my ways of giving back to the province. PEI has shown me so much love and acceptance and in return, I will continue to provide support and service to the community.”
Tracey has a deep passion for achievements, social interaction, interior design, women’s empowerment, and community development. One of the remarkable things about Tracey is her ability to attract people’s attention with her magnetic personality and talent for creating welcoming environments.
With a strong foundation in sales, design, and marketing Tracey excels at visually communicating, which has been instrumental in her journey as an entrepreneur and small business owner. She owns & operates Impact Marketing Solutions in four provinces and owns & directs Innovative Property Management & Decor.
Beyond her professional life, Tracey cherishes quality time spent with her husband, two adult children, adorable grandkids, and many circles of friendships who all bring joy to her life.
As a small business owner deeply ingrained in the community, Tracey is not only dedicated to her business but also to giving back. As the new Director of the PEI Chapter of Wine Women and Wellbeing, she actively contributes to societal betterment by empowering women.
She is proud of her accomplishments, including successfully designing, building/renovating, and selling 10 homes all in the Stratford area, and is currently the project manager/interior designer for Claddagh Oyster House. Tracey is committed to supporting local & promoting small businesses and remains rooted in Stratford.
Penny Cody, originally from Ottawa, spent her youth in England as the daughter of a war bride. Her first visit to PEI felt like a trip back to the English countryside, and she knew then that she would move here one day. Last year, she made that dream come true by buying a cottage in Margate, where she now feels truly blessed.
With a Hotel Management degree from England, Penny started her career in London and Bermuda before returning to Ottawa. Her love for travel led her to earn a Travel Agent diploma, setting the stage for a rewarding 30-year career in corporate travel within the high-tech industry and allowing her to explore five continents.
Penny has been happily married to Jeff Cody for 35 years. Their family includes two charming rescue dogs: Buddy, a 14-year-old chocolate lab, and Kia, a 12-year-old black lab. Dog rescue is a cause close to Penny’s heart.
In her spare time, Penny enjoys the culinary arts and loves creating delicious meals and entertaining. She and her husband Jeff discovered their passion for dance when they gifted each other a dance package at Arthur Murray Studio in Ottawa on Valentine’s Day years ago. That gift transformed their lives and became a cherished part of their routine. Although injuries and surgeries took Penny off the dance floor for a few years, she is excited to return to dancing with the support of Jack Lessard.
Penny is thrilled to be part of Dancing With The Stars Hospice PEI. Supporting Hospice PEI is deeply meaningful to her, as she values its compassion and support, knowing that one never knows what the future holds.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Watch the 11th annual Dancing With The Stars
Video by Pat Martel Video