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Elvis Stojko special guest at Comox Valley Skating Club's March 19 ice show

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Skating star Elvis Stojko will be the special guest at the Comox Valley Skating Club's March 19 ice show.

Where would you go to see a seven-time Canadian men’s figure skating champion, three-time World men’s figure skating champion, two-time Olympic silver medallist, martial arts black belt, race car driver, actor and author?

You would go to the Comox Valley Sports Centre on March 19 to see special guest Elvis Stojko in the Comox Valley Skating Club's production of Las Vegas On Ice.

The show will also feature two-time Mexican women’s figure skating champion Gladys Orozco (Stojko's wife) and skaters of the CVSC. Orozco is a star of Disney On Ice.

CVSC coach and director of skating Greg Ladret is the choreographer, coordinator and director of the show. He is also a member of the Disney family.

"Having had the wonderful opportunity to entertain as both a skater and a magician (Twiggly Wiggly) in 35 countries, my show history includes 10 years working for Feld Entertainment performing in shows such as Walt Disney’s World On Ice, Ice Follies and Holiday on Ice," Ladret says.

For the past 20-plus years Ladret has run his own entertainment company, performing his own shows and producing several family entertainment shows for theatre.

Family is also a key as to how Stojko is coming to the Comox Valley.

"Elvis and my brother Doug Ladret (Canadian pairs champion with Christine Hough in 1988) were on the Canadian World and Olympic team together in the early 1990s," Ladret says.

"I don't recall where I first met Elvis, probably at a skating competition or exhibition. In any case I have known him for many years. A few years back I talked to Elvis about the possibility of being a guest skater in a show in the Comox Valley.

"Late last summer when we decided to do a skating show at the end of this season, I contacted him again.  A short time later he phoned to say that he had a small window of opportunity in March and we got things rolling from there," Ladret recalls.

"It is not unusual for well-known entertainers to come to the Comox Valley for music festivals, and theatre, or for high-level athletes in other sports to live and train here, or come here for special events, and so we saw no reason why one of the all-time greatest figure skaters and now actor and race car driver should not come here to perform in our show," Ladret said.

There will be two performances (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.) with approximately 1,000 tickets available for each performance. Tickets are $25 and available at Daryl Robbins Notary Public 520 4th Street, Blue Heron Books 1775 Comox Ave., Gone Hollywood Video 640 Anderton Rd., Vancouver Island Visitor Centre 250-400-2882, by email at comoxvalleyskatingclub@gmail.com and at www.comoxvalleyskatingclub.com.

The show is sponsored by Daryl Robbins and created by Dawn Ladret.

"Dawn achieved Quadruple Gold level status as a competitive figure skater with the Comox Valley Skating Club," notes husband Greg.

"After several years of developing her coaching skills and seeing the country while working at various clubs throughout Canada, Dawn came home to Comox Valley.

"Dawn has coached many provincial- and national-level skaters and produced several successful ice shows for the club.

"Many of her skaters have gone on to successful ice show careers and one skater is now competing at European and World championships as a member of the German national team."

Greg notes the primary objective of the CVSC is to promote the club and raise funds to continue providing recreational and competitive skating programs for all ages of participants.

"The March 19 show is an ambitious project with a projected production cost larger than any skating show previously produced in the Valley," Ladret adds.