Canada's Drag Race

Casting occurred in mid-2019 with production starting in fall 2019.[8] The inaugural season consisted of ten one-hour episodes.[1] In June 2020 it was announced that the series would be carried by BBC Three in the United Kingdom.[9] Early coverage of the production announcement indicated that the series would also air on OutTV.[2] It was later announced on December 3 that there would be a marathon of the series on December 5, along with all episodes being available for streaming as of December 3, on OutTV's subscription service, OutTV Go.[10]

In the United States the series premiered on WOW Presents Plus, the streaming service of RuPaul's Drag Race production company World of Wonder, concurrently with its Canadian debut. It was subsequently added to the schedule of Logo TV, premiering on that service on July 27, 2020.[11]

Separately from the production of the series, all of the queens from the season participated in a special edition of Fierté Montréal's Drag Superstars show, which was broadcast on August 14 on YouTube.[12] Although produced by a separate company, the webcast received some production assistance and sponsorship from Crave and the Canada's Drag Race production team.

During the series run, producers and competing queens spoke out against online bullying, after Bowyer-Chapman and some of the competing queens were subjected to campaigns of harassment on social media.[13] Bowyer-Chapman's critics focused on purportedly unfair comments in his role as a judge, while several queens were attacked for simply having done better in challenges or lipsyncs than other more popular queens with bigger fanbases.[14]

Following the conclusion of the season, the cast announced a cross-Canada tour, to be performed at drive-in venues due to the ongoing social distancing restrictions remaining in place during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.[15] Brooke Lynn Hytes hosted, and Priyanka, Scarlett Bobo and Rita Baga were scheduled to appear at every date on the tour, while other cast members would perform at selected dates based on availability;[16] ultimately, however, both Priyanka and Brooke Lynn Hytes had to miss a couple of later dates after being forced to self-isolate due to potential COVID-19 exposure.

Priyanka, Scarlett Bobo, Rita Baga and Jimbo also participated in an online panel as part of the 2020 Just for Laughs festival.[17]

In January 2021, it was announced that the show was renewed for a second season.

On September 26, 2019, it was announced that the judges panel will include RuPaul's Drag Race season 11 runner-up Brooke Lynn Hytes, actor Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and fashion model Stacey McKenzie.[18] Bell Media personality Traci Melchor appears as a recurring cast member, with the title "Canada's Squirrel Friend";[18] her role entails participatory support in challenges, including co-judging the Canada Gay-M mini-challenge, hosting a sheTalk red carpet segment prior to Snatch Game, and serving as one of the judges of the Miss Loose Jaw pageant. Melchor also appeared as the special guest host for the season finale.

Hytes was the first prior competitor in the RuPaul's Drag Race franchise to appear on the judge's panel on any edition of the show.[19]

Several guests appeared in episodes, but did not judge on the main stage. Photographer Matt Barnes appeared in Episode 1. Singer Ralph and choreographer Hollywood Jade appeared in Episodes 3 and 10. Episode 5 featured Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan, interior decorators and television presenters. Crystal, a contestant from the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK appeared in Episode 6. The seventh episode featured actor and producer Stefan Brogren as well as drag queen Michelle DuBarry. Comedian Sabrina Jalees appeared in Episode 9.

Ages, names, and cities stated are at time of filming.

  The contestant won Canada’s Drag Race

  The contestant was a runner-up.

  The contestant won the challenge.

  The contestant received positive critiques and was ultimately declared safe.

  The contestant received critiques but was ultimately declared safe.

  The contestant received negative critiques but was ultimately declared safe.

  The contestant was in the bottom two.

  The contestant was eliminated.

  The contestant returned as a guest.

All lip sync songs used through the season were written and/or performed by Canadians. One performance ("If You Could Read My Mind") used the 1990s pop/dance cover by American singers Ultra Naté, Amber and Jocelyn Enriquez rather than the Gordon Lightfoot original, and one used Céline Dion's cover of the American-written "I Drove All Night", while all other songs in the season were both written and performed by Canadians.

  The contestant was eliminated after their first time in the bottom two.

  The contestant was eliminated after their second time in the bottom two.

  The contestant was eliminated after their third time in the bottom two.

  The contestant was eliminated after the final lip sync of the season.

In its December 2020 year in review, the Canadian film and television industry magazine Playback named Canada's Drag Race the Unscripted Series of the Year.[21]

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