Forget Canadian Idol. Waterloo Region has plenty of talent right here, and they're strutting their stuff on May 2 at Waterloo Region's Got Talent, happening at Centre in the Square as part of a fundraiser for HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre.

Students from 16 high schools in our region will be representing their schools at a show down in front of a panel of local celebrity judges, including Farley Flex (yes, THAT Farley Flex, from Canadian Idol), local choreographer Trish Beahan who has choreographed the local version of Dancing with the Stars for the last two years, Robin Habermehl, the Music Director of the Ceremonial Band of the Waterloo Regional Police Service, Alex Mustakas, Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment, and local young rising star Alex Tintinalli, a high school student himself who also happens to be an independent recording artist, who released his debut blues album in 2007 at the age of 14.

Trying to keep this room full of energy under control will be MC's Fletch and Adele from 91.5 THE BEAT. They have their work cut out for them. Just look at the acts that are already lined up:

• Vocalist and instrumentalist Matt Weidinger (St. Mary's)
• Vocalist Pam Olayemi (Grand River)
• Dance and vocal group "The Muses" (Rebecca Smithers, Laura Meadows, Katelyn Hagey, Beth Robertson, and Rebecca McKay from Eastwood CI)
• Guitarist and vocalist Nicola Loghrin (KCI)
• Vocalists Kleyton Farias and Claudia Soto Solis (St Benedict CSS)
• Instrumental Duo Alex Encina and Maverick Freitas (Monsignor Doyle CSS)
• Funk/Blues/Jazz/Rock group "Eddy and the Band" (Jerrel Arai, Matt Bruzzese, Aleksej Andrijevic, Beth Culp, Esther Lee, Christian Jacobsen, Rory McLachlin, Rylan Skelly, and Ben Sheng Su from Sir John A. MacDonald)
• Singer/songwriter Emily Zawadzki (St David's)
• Vocal and Piano sibling duo Blair and Jasmine Lee (Preston HS)
• Dance and vocal R&B group "Soul'd" (Shaan Dua, John McGill, Nancy Heu, and Jenna Ducut from Waterloo Collegiate
• Super group Brian Hong, Eric Fisher, Steve Kim, Simon Clarke, Isaac Vandermeuller, and Travis Golem (Woodland Christian High School )
• Singer/guitarist Steph Sellers (EDSS)
• Bagpiper Dylan Salvisburg (Jacob Hespler)
• Dancer Axel Villamil  (Cameron Heights)
• Vocalists Heather McElroy and Jamie Anderson (Forest Heights CI)
• Participant(s) from Waterloo-Oxford DSS to be determined April 12

And they're not just playing for bragging rights. The first place winner takes home $2,500, second place $1,000 and third place $500. And whomever gets the crowd on their side will take home the "People's Choice Award", $1,000 in gift certificates donated by local merchant Waterloo Music (a division of St. John's Music).

As exciting as this is for the students, the real winners here are actually those dealing with cancer in our region, who come to HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre to find strength and support while they are facing cancer.

"We saw this as a great opportunity to both showcase the talent of the youth in our region and to get the word out about HopeSpring," says Melinda Szilva, Executive Director of HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre. "All proceeds from Waterloo Region's Got Talent are going to help us provide programs and services at HopeSpring. Patients, caregivers, friends and family all go through cancer together, and we're here to help them through what is a very difficult time."

Tickets for "Waterloo Region's Got Talent" are now on sale. Prices range from $15 to $35 and are available on line at www.centre-square.com or by phone at 519-578-1570 or 1-800-265-8977. More information about the show, judges and contestants can be found at www.waterlooregionsgottalent.ca.

HopeSpring is a not-for-profit organization funded entirely by local community donations, without grants or support from the government or larger cancer-based organizations. HopeSpring has two locations - one at 43 Allen Street West in Waterloo and one at 51 Cambridge Street in Cambridge.

Since 1995, people living with cancer in the Waterloo Region have found inspiration, information, and empowerment at HopeSpring. Programs and services are confidential, free of charge, and open to people at all stages of treatment and their caregivers. HopeSpring offers one on one and group peer support, free wigs and head coverings, gentle exercise programs, relaxation therapies such as reiki, therapeutic touch and reflexology, and workshops designed to empower those dealing with cancer as well as some that are just a good time. Friends and family are welcome, too! More information about HopeSpring is available at www.hopespring.ca.