MOOSE JAW — For Moose Jaw’s Kaleigh Day, the stage has always felt like home — a place where she can tell stories, share emotion, and express herself through music, dance, and performance.
Now, after years of dedication and hard work, the 18-year-old has earned a spotlight at the Canada West Performing Arts Festival, where she will represent Saskatchewan this July in the Musical Theatre 22-and-under category.
Day earned her place on the provincial team following a standout performance at the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association’s provincial level competition, which she reached after advancing through Moose Jaw’s local festival.
“It wasn't really a surprise, because obviously I competed for the position,” she said, noting that the final competition involved her and two other performers. “I put in the work, and I hoped for a good outcome, and it came to me.”
Her recital selection — a 25-minute set — included five pieces: “I Could Have Danced All Night” from My Fair Lady, “Say the Word” from The Mad Ones, “The Honour of Your Name” from The Civil War, “Maybe This Time” from Cabaret, and “Gimme Gimme” from Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Each piece was chosen with care and intent. Day and her vocal teacher spent months narrowing down from a list of roughly 20 songs.
Day explained how she discussed her goals for the year with her instructor, and narrowed down where she wanted to be. “And then we looked at some songs… that would fit my voice and that I felt like I could story tell really well with.”
While the upcoming festival will mark her first time competing at this level, Day says she’s not focused on winning.
“I’m a little nervous, because, I mean, these are the most talented students in the west of Canada,” she said. “But at the same time… I’m not going for the competition; I’m going for the experience and the education that I’m going to receive.”
It’s that mindset that has helped her push through the mental challenges of performing — especially the ever-familiar feeling of imposter syndrome, as she described it.
“The biggest thing that I have to deal with is not convincing myself that I’m good or that I deserve anything,” she said, “but convincing myself that if I want to do this, it just comes down to that decision and working hard.”
That hard work began early. Day started dancing at age three, joined Rhubarb Productions at age seven, and has been immersed in the performing arts ever since — later joining Born to Be Academy and taking vocal training more seriously by age 14.
Now, at 18, she’s considering a future in musical theatre or dance, hoping to pursue a career that lets her continue doing what she loves most: performing.
“There was just a moment of certainty when I turned 14 … yes, I would really like to pursue a career, either in musical theatre or dance, somewhere in the arts, as long as I can express myself in this way,” she said.
For those just starting out in the arts, Day offered one piece of advice: “As soon as you feel that you’re in the right place, you need to stick with it.”
She credits her community — and especially her mother, Jennifer Day — for supporting her journey.
“She has been my number one supporter my entire life. I love my mom.”
The Canada West Performing Arts Festival will take place from July 24 to July 26 in Saskatoon, featuring top students from across Western Canada in vocal, instrumental, and theatrical disciplines. To learn more, visit CanadaWestFestival.ca.
Her name may appear on a national program, but for Kaleigh Day, it’s just the next chapter in a story that began — and is still rooted — in Moose Jaw.
