OUTLOOK - An impressive young dancer with ties to the riverside community is hoping to win an online competition that requires daily votes from the public.
Twelve-year old Hailey Green of Martensville, whose parents Trevor and Stephanie Green (nee Ofstie) both have homegrown family roots in Outlook, is hoping to catch a wave of momentum and collect as many votes as possible as a participant in Colossal's Youth Athlete of the Year competition.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that hopes to inspire people to advocate for themselves and those who may be in need. Through online competitions such as this one, the company offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.
The competition is also benefiting two organizations; the V Foundation (Victory Over Cancer) and the Why Not You Foundation.
The Youth Athlete of the Year competition works as follows: after parents and guardians sign up their young athletes, it's up to them to get the word out by sharing their profile pages online in order to spread the word and try to collect as many votes as possible. Voting once per day is free, but people can also choose to cast many more while at the same time, benefiting the two organizations listed. These include 10 votes for a donation of $10, 25 votes for a donation of $25, all the way up to an option of 250 votes for $250.
People can also customize their voting and donation choice.
The grand prize will not only see the winner collect the title of Youth Athlete of the Year, but they'll also appear in a 3BRAND advertisement in Sports Illustrated magazine and win a cash prize of $25,000.
Green, who's been making a big impact in a long list of dancing events since she started at a very young age back in 2017, is noticeable not only for her skills, but for a unique facial birthmark encompassing her right eye that Hailey has never let get in the way of anything that she pursues in life. Practicing for more than 20 hours per week, she's described as someone who "lives and breathes dance".
A part of every participant's online profile in the contest includes a Q&A section that gives people the chance to get to know each athlete a little more. Hailey's profile, filled out by her parents, includes the following:
What do they love most about playing their sport(s)?
"Hailey has a true passion for performing and thrives in the energy and artistic beauty of dance. She finds joy and excitement competing in group routines, as well as solo performances. Hailey is constantly training and refining her technique, focusing on body alignment, strength and flexibility. She loves learning new choreography and acrobatic movements. Hailey loves all styles of dance - jazz, tap, acro, hip hop—and holds a special love for ballet, where her grace and beauty truly shines."
Who inspires them—on or off the field—and why?
"Hailey draws inspiration from many places—music, her dance friends, and especially her instructors at La Danse, who have played a major role in shaping her journey, fueling her passion and pushing her to grow. Her deep sense of musicality is something she shares with her mother, who plays the piano and has a love for classical music. Hailey also draws special inspiration from Cassandra Naud, a Canadian professional dancer and actress with a similar birthmark to her own."
What’s one moment in their athletic journey that makes you proudest?
"It has been an incredible journey watching Hailey grow into the passionate and talented dancer she is today. Although she has won many awards and scholarships at competitions, most recently she was accepted into the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Professional Division’s summer program. After three weeks of intensive training, Hailey was offered a place in their full-time program for the 2025–2026 school year, bringing her one step closer to her dream of becoming a professional company dancer."
For those who may be interested, people can check out Green's online page and vote for her by going to THIS LINK.
Voting for the top 20 in the competition wraps on Thursday evening, August 7 at 7:00 pm.
