Watch the show March 1st and 2nd on CTV Saskatchewan or live stream it here
Countdown show starts at 6:15pm March 1st
Ashley Callingbull is an actress, model, host and First Nation’s activist from the Enoch Cree Nation. She is an actress on Blackstone, Tribal, The Great Salish Heist and was a contestant on the Amazing Race Canada. Ashley is also an international motivational speaker and has been a keynote speaker at Harvard University, TED Talks and WE Day.
Ashley’s hard work and charity work was recognized as she received the Top 20 Under 30 Award in Canada and was named as one of Canada’s Top 10 Power Women. Ashley received the Youth First Nations Award from Indspire which recognizes outstanding achievement across Turtle Island. Ashley was honoured to be inducted into the Circle of Honour at the Esquao Awards which recognizes Indigenous female leaders and activists. For her community work Ashley received the Role Model Award from the United Nations on Global Dignity Day. On the 70th Anniversary of Her Late Majesty, Ashley was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for her dedication of public service to family, community and her country.
This past year Ashley was announced as the first Indigenous First Nations woman to become a Sports Illustrated Model. Ashley is currently an In Game Host for the Canadian Football League, the National Lacrosse League and the National Hockey League. She also recently signed her first book deal with Harper Collins publishing and will be a published author in Spring 2025.
Jill Straker was born and raised near small town Punnichy, Saskatchewan. She grew up singing at the old upright piano on the family farm with her brother, Singer/Songwriter/Piano Player Jeffery Straker, and has been singing professionally with him as his backing vocalist for over 17 years. Jill has had the pleasure of traveling across Canada with Jeffery, singing in festivals, house concerts and theatre shows.
When Jill isn’t performing with Jeffery, she works as an Administrative Assistant and is a mom to her busy, beautiful daughter. In the past few years, Jill has gained a whole other league of fans when she launched a home business of making and selling cheesecakes. As she always says, “you don’t make friends with salad!”
Growing up watching Telemiracle and having close friends benefit from the funds raised, Jill has always had a special place in her heart for the telethon. She is grateful to be back for her 14th year, and as part of the National Cast for Telemiracle 49!
Alex Brown has been delighting audiences across Canada for over a decade with her bubbly personality and quick wit as a host and news anchor on television and radio, and online as a social media personality.
From 2014 to 2024, she worked in morning television both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, in Regina, Winnipeg and Saskatoon.
In April 2024, she joined Rawlco Radio as a feature reporter and show host for 650 CKOM. She is the Saturday morning host of “Talk Shots” and you’ll hear her voice on the CKOM Morning Show and news programming.
Alex has a passion for community and human-interest stories, and is passionate about sharing the best-kept secrets of Saskatchewan.
Over the course of her career, she has hosted and emceed dozens of events and galas across Canada, highlighting community efforts.
In November of 2022, Alex was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for her services to Communications in Saskatchewan.
She currently sits on the board of governors for both the Canadian Mental Health Association – Saskatoon Branch, and the Saskatoon Sexual Assault & Information Centre.
Alex now lives in Saskatoon with her partner Brad, their curious cat Luna, and goofy dog Frank.
They love exploring the prairies, filming adventure videos and finding hidden gems around Saskatchewan.
A successful singer-songwriter, actress, model, and television host, Beverley Mahood is a dynamic entertainer, highly recognized, musically, for her solo albums, and also for her work with David Foster with award winning trio, “Lace”.
As an artist, Beverley’s career highlights include, CCMA/JUNO Award recognition, several TV shows including Pick A Puppy and Breakfast Television (Vancouver), movie roles, song-writing credits (Celine Dion, Little River Band)) and time as a celebrity model for Bootlegger.
Recently Beverley has added Producer to her resume with her work for the emerging artist, Dayna Reid.
She has performed exclusive performances for the G8 World Leaders, Canadian/USA Military, United Nations and even a performance for the Royal Family.
Add this to a commitment to community which has been recognized with her receiving the “Slaight Music” Humanitarian Award and the significance of Beverley’s career to date is clear.
Close to Beverley’s heart is her 25 + year relationship with Saskatchewan’s, Kinsmen Telemiracle. “Neighbours supporting Neighbours – There is nothing really like it” Other issues close to Beverley’s heart include supporting Canada’s Food Banks and her role as the Celebrity Spokesperson for the Pink Mitten Campaign (Breast Cancer Research).
Says Beverley “My time with these significant causes has given me an opportunity to witness the support, joy and miracles that come from the relentless work of those involved. It’s an extraordinary privilege!”
Born in Belfast, Beverley is a proud Canadian ~ “I can’t wink, I can’t whistle … but I love my hockey”
In 1991, The Johner Brothers took the Canadian country music audience by storm. Brad and Ken were named “Duo of the Year” by the Canadian Country Music Association, kicking off a string of awards including 80 Saskatchewan Country Music awards. After being crowned ‘Entertainer of the Decade’ and releasing a remarkable 26 singles from six hit albums, Ken retired from the music business in 2002. Brad continued with a hugely successful solo career, recording six highly praised albums and awarded “Male Artist of the Year” by the CCMA.
The Johner Brothers are back making music together with their new release “Bring Back the Mullet” and look forward to a busy year playing shows across western Canada. Backed by three of Brad’s sons, the show is a fresh version of what Johner fans have come to expect as they are astute professionals and true gentlemen of the stage.
Chris Henderson’s blend of a modern country sound with strong traditional roots has helped him become one of Canada’s busiest Country Recording Artists. Since his debut album released in 2008, Henderson has been touring the prairies and Canada relentlessly, and has released 4 albums, as well as 19 singles to National radio including, “Don’t Miss Your Kiss Goodbye” (peaked at #47), “I Sure Hope He Loves You” (#51), “My Regret” (#47), and many more.
The veteran singer/songwriter released his 4th studio project in October of 2019, has since released several singles, and is currently working toward a new project release in 2025. Henderson is also a 4x Saskatchewan Country Music Association award winner, including three consecutive wins for “Male Artist of the Year” (2017-19), and for “Songwriter(s) of the Year” in 2014.
The Saskatchewan native has been featured in “Country Weekly Magazine” in Nashville, “Country Music News”, and on the cover of “Lifestyles”, and the “QC”, as well as many other publications across North America.
Henderson has appeared on stages such as the Craven Country Jamboree, Big Valley Jamboree, Boots & Hearts, The Bluebird Café, Dauphin CountryFest, The Gateway Festival, the Telemiracle cast and many more.
Dione Taylor is a two-time Juno and Gemini nominated artist who has shared the stage with Patti Labelle, The Neville Brothers, Ann Peebles, David Clayton Thomas, Buffy St Marie, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks , Tom Cochrane, Jeff Healey, Blind Boy Paxton, War and Treaty, Birds of Chicago, Colin Linden, Tom Wilson, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, David Foster and Colin James . With performances at festivals and concert theatres across the United States, Canada and Asia for audiences that have included the President of the United States and Queen Elizabeth II, Taylor has made a worthy name for herself as one of this country’s most talented musicians and songstresses.
Music has always been an important and integral part of Dione Taylor’s life. A pastor’s daughter, she was born and raised in a family she describes as “really connected to the gift of song. My whole family sings and plays instruments in church,” praises Ms. Taylor, who began playing the organ at age four and by ten was the music director and organist at The Shiloh Assembly Church (Apostolic) in Regina.
Taylor was nominated for a Gemini Award for her rendition of Oscar Peterson’s “Hymn to Freedom,” which she performed alongside Oliver Jones at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala. Taylor is also the recipient of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award Mentorship Program.
Her latest album “Spirits in the Water” has received wide critical acclaim and is being played on airwaves and playlists all over the world. Dione won the award for Album of the Year 2020 from Blues and Roots Radio Worldwide, was nominated for Blues album of the Year by the Juno’s, nominated for 2 awards by the Independent Blues Awards for “Best New Artist” and “Best New Artist CD” and was awarded “Recording Artist of The Year 2021” from Folk Music Ontario.
Singer-songwriter pianist Jeffery Straker is excited to be back as part of the Telemiracle 49 cast. He grew up taking piano lessons in the small Saskatchewan farming town of Punnichy and has gone on to perform over 100 shows per year across Canada, the UK and Latin America. Serving up a rootsy-storytelling brand of song, his song-writing has the ability to transport a listener – out onto a northern lake or to the main street of a prairie town.
Across 8 albums to date critical comparisons have been drawn to the likes of Harry Chapin, Kris Kristofferson & Billy Joel while performances have seen him live on BBC radio, on theatre stages and performing to festival crowds. Named ‘Roots-Folk Artist of the Year’ in consecutive Saskatchewan Music Awards Jeffery has also been honoured with a Western Canadian Music Award. The Saskatchewan Country Music Awards have named him keyboard player of the year 4 years running and he’s also just been nominated for a 2025 Canadian Folk Music Award as “Contemporary Canadian Folk Singer of the Year”. He debuted his latest album ‘Great Big Sky’ (June 2024) with a series of unique performances in grain elevators across Saskatchewan and followed that with a showcase at AmericanaFest in Nashville, Tennessee. Following a tour of the United Kingdom (November 2024) he returns across the pond to showcase at the “Your Roots are Showing” Folk Music Festival in Killarney Ireland in January 2025.
He received royal recognition from His Majesty King Charles who was moved by a song Jeffery wrote for the Lieutenant Governor’s 2023 Coronation celebration. The King’s response and well-wishes for his UK tour made national news in Canada.
Wherever Jeffery performs he connects with audiences and to that end CBC Radio recently said: “Straker has a way of drawing us into his world and making us feel like we’re a welcome guest; an old friend he’s ready to catch up with”.
Born and raised in Moose Jaw, Lisa Franks developed a deep love for sports and the outdoors from a young age. At just 14, her life took a dramatic turn when a cluster of blood vessels burst in her spinal cord, leaving her paralyzed from the neck down. Over time, she regained the use of her arms and adapted to life using a wheelchair. It was during this period that she discovered wheelchair racing, a sport in which she quickly excelled, eventually earning six gold and one silver medal at the Paralympic Games.
Lisa’s passion for innovation and accessibility led her to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan. Her love for the outdoors sparked an interest in adaptive mountain biking, and she has since been actively involved in projects mapping outdoor trails for accessibility. During the summer months, she leads the Saskatchewan Adaptive Mountain Bike Club and in the winter you can often find Lisa surfing the waves of the west coast – all while traveling in her custom wheelchair accessible campervan.
Having lived, studied, worked, and thrived in Saskatchewan her entire life, Lisa holds a deep appreciation for the province and its community. Witnessing the unity and generosity of Saskatchewan’s people through initiatives like Telemiracle has only strengthened her pride in calling this place home.
Luc Johner is a husband, father of three, singer, songwriter, pianist, and photographer based out of Saskatoon, Canada. He is part of the band The Johner Boys with three of his brothers. For over a decade, they have performed across western Canada on their own as well as with their dad and uncle, The Johner Brothers. This is Luc’s 12th year on the Telemiracle National Cast.
Michaella Montana, is an award-winning television host, producer, journalist, model, actress, advocate, and proud member of Frog Lake First Nation. She is the first Indigenous person to be a host on Canada’s number one entertainment show, Etalk.
Previous to this, Michaella hosted the APTN series, The Other Side. She has acted in shows like Rabbit Fall and Unsettled. She has modeled in major campaigns for brands like RW&Co. and Nordstrom, where she was the first Indigenous woman to be featured on Canada’s largest billboard in Dundas Square, Toronto.
Michaella advocates and is a beacon for increased Indigenous representation within mainstream media, film, and television industries. It is her mission to uplift Indigenous voices and communities in all the work that she does.
A “Storyteller by heart,” Sabeen has certainly found her calling in the world of radio and television, as well as public speaking, professional event emceeing, and hosting. Over nearly 20 years in front of the camera and microphone, there are precious few places where Sabeen hasn’t made her presence felt – raising the level of any endeavor she involves herself in to one that is truly world-class.
Armed with poise and comportment that see her excel under any circumstance, Sabeen honed her craft early, allowing her to combine fresh, youthful energy with the refined grace and self-possession of a seasoned veteran.
The unique pairing of these skills and abilities has seen Sabeen curate a sparkling resume, the likes of which are largely unrivaled in her field. Along with working at CTV Regina, working with organizations like The Saskatchewan Rush, Roughriders Football Club, The Canadian Football League, and the Grey Cup Committee, as well as the City of Regina and Regina Police Service, just to name a few, Sabeen’s passion for her community continues to shine through with each new, decidedly large-scale project she undertakes.
A champion away from the spotlight, she also gives her time and talents to various organizations, advocating for mental health and women’s initiatives across the province.
Shailynn Taylor is a disability advocate and motivational speaker who calls Moose Jaw home.
Living with the rare disease of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) has shaped her perspective to value connection and authenticity above all.
Shailynn has been a recipient of Telemiracle’s support several times in her 28 years, helping her to obtain a degree in criminal justice and sociology. Her battle with both mental health and physical health lead her to change her path and chase her dreams.
She is thrilled to have the opportunity to give back and to be a part of the production she grew up watching.
Born and raised in the small prairie town of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Tenille Arts picked up the guitar and penned her first song at age 13 and has been performing nonstop ever since. She has racked up over half a billion streams and garnered over 750,000 digital followers in a relatively short period of time. Her critically-acclaimed Love, Heartbreak, & Everything In Between album yielded her first #1 single, “Somebody Like That,” which is certified double platinum. The single made history as the first #1 Country song written, produced and performed by all females and was the first Country song by a Canadian artist to reach #1in the U.S. since 2007 and first Canadian female to hit #1 since Terri Clark in 2004. Her Girl To Girl album was released in 2021, and her “Back Then, Right Now” single was her first to be released simultaneously in Canada and the U.S. Her 2024 14-song to be honest album leads with the stunning single, “So Do I,” written by Demi Lovato, Sasha Sloan, Laura Veltz and King Henry.
In 2022, Tenille was nominated by the ACM Awards for New Female Artist of the Year, the iHeartRadio Music Awards for Best New Country Artist, the CMT Music Awards for Female Video and Breakthrough Video of the Year, and she won the MusicRow Award for “Breakthrough Artist of the Year” and the AIMP 2022 “Rising Artist-Writer of the Year Award.” In Canada, she won the Canadian Country Music Association’s “Rising Star Award,” she has taken home three SASK Music Awards and 18 trophies from the Saskatchewan Country Music Association including the “Female Artist Achievement Award.” She has made an unprecedented three appearances performing original songs on the top-rated ABC TV show The Bachelor and has performed on the TODAY Show, Kelly Clarkson Show and more. She opened tours for Luke Bryan, Lady A, Scotty McCreery, Jordan Davis, and Lee Bricein the U.S. and Canada and for Luke Combs as part of C2C in London and Glasgow.
The Telemiracle House Band is made up of five of Saskatchewan’s elite musicians, with about 250 years (!) of combined professional experience in all styles, from country to jazz to pop/rock to blues and beyond. Led by Sheldon Corbett (saxophone/keyboard), the other members are: Jack Semple (guitar/vocals), Dave Chobot (bass/vocals), Don Griffith (keyboards/vocals) and Glenn Ens (drums/percussion). These seasoned veterans, busy throughout the year with countless musical projects, look forward to working together once again to provide the energy and dynamics of live music for this year’s Telemiracle show.
