The Amazing Race Canada

The Amazing Race Canada is a Canadian adventure reality game show based on the international Amazing Race franchise. Following the premise of other versions of the format, the show follows teams of two as they race across Canada and around the world. The Race is split into legs, with teams tasked to deduce clues, navigate themselves in foreign areas, interact with locals, perform physical and mental challenges, and travel by air, boat, car, taxi, and other modes of transport. Teams are progressively eliminated at the end of most legs for being the last to arrive at designated Pit Stops. The first team to arrive at the Finish Line wins a grand prize of CA$250,000 , and additional prizes from the show's sponsors.

The Amazing Race Canada
GenreReality competition
Created byElise Doganieri
Bertram van Munster
Creative directorShannon McGinn
Presented byJon Montgomery
Theme music composerJohn M. Keane
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons7
No. of episodes79 (and 6 reunion specials)
Production
Executive producersJohn Brunton
Barbara Bowlby
Running time60 minutes
Production companiesInsight Productions
Bell Media
Release
Original networkCTV
Picture format720p (HDTV)
Original releaseJuly 15, 2013 (2013-07-15) 
present
Chronology
Related showsInternational versions
External links
Website

Commissioned and broadcast by CTV, The Amazing Race Canada is hosted by former Olympian Jon Montgomery, produced by Insight Productions in association with Bell Media and with the support of Profiles Television.

After the season 7 finale, it was announced that the show was renewed for an eighth season.[1] Originally expected to premiere in 2020, the season's production was postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.[2]

The Race

The Amazing Race Canada is a reality television competition between at least nine teams of two. The race is divided into a number of legs wherein teams travel and complete various tasks to obtain clues to help them progress to a Pit Stop, where they are given a chance to rest and recover before starting the next leg twelve hours later. The first team to arrive at a Pit Stop is often awarded a prize while the last team is normally eliminated from the race (except in non-elimination legs). The final leg of each race is run by the last three remaining teams, and the first to arrive at the final destination wins CA$250,000, two vehicles of any Chevrolet model cars and unlimited air travel for a year with Air Canada (seasons 1–3).

On the airdate of the first season finale it was announced that CTV Bell Media had ordered another season of The Amazing Race Canada.[3] Casting began in fall 2013 and the second season aired in summer 2014. New to the eligibility requirements for season 2 were clauses that applicants must possess a valid Canadian passport, and be able to travel not only within Canada but around the world; this meant that, unlike the first season, the race travelled to destinations outside of Canada, closer to its American counterpart.[4]

In the second season, Petro-Canada was the fuel sponsor with the team winning a lifetime supply of gasoline from Petro-Canada, and Scotiabank was the financial sponsor. In the third season, the Bank of Montreal (BMO) replaced Scotiabank as the financial sponsor. In the fourth season, Hotels.com replaced Air Canada as the trip sponsor with the team winning a 'once-in-a-lifetime' trip for two around the world with Hotels.com, and the fuel sponsor was removed. In the fifth season, Sinorama replaced Hotels.com as the trip sponsor with the winning team winning a 'once-in-a-lifetime' trip for two around the world with Sinorama. In the sixth season, the financial and trip sponsors were removed, and Dempster's Bakery began their sponsorship. In the seventh season, Shell Canada's V-Power was the fuel sponsor.

Teams

Each team is composed of two individuals who have some type of relationship to each other. A total of 71 teams, or 142 contestants, have participated in The Amazing Race Canada.

Route Markers

Route Markers are yellow and red flags that mark the places where teams must go. Most Route Markers are attached to the boxes that contain clue envelopes, but some may mark places where teams must go in order to complete tasks, or may be used to line a course that the teams must follow.

Clues

Clues are found throughout the race in sealed envelopes, normally inside clue boxes. They give teams the information they need and tasks they need to do in order for them to progress through the race.

  • Route Info: A general clue that may include a task to be completed by the team before they can receive their next clue.
  • Detour: A choice of two tasks. Teams are free to choose either task or swap tasks if they find one option too difficult.
  • Roadblock: A task only one team member can complete. Teams must choose which member will challenge the task based on a brief clue about the task before fully revealing the details of the task.
  • Fast Forward: A task that only one team may complete, allowing that team to skip all remaining tasks and head directly for the next Pit Stop. Teams may only claim one Fast Forward during the entire race.
  • 150 Challenge: A series of special challenges during season 5 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada. They had no effect on the gameplay mechanics of the "Race", except for their relevance in the Final Memory Challenge that season.

Obstacles

Teams may encounter the following that may affect their position during the race:

  • U-Turn: An obstacle where a team can force another trailing team to complete the other option of the Detour they did not select. Teams may use their ability to u-turn another team more than once throughout the race (as opposed to the American version, which allows only one), as shown in season 3 when Gino & Jesse u-turned two teams.
  • One Way: An obstacle where a team can force another trailing team to complete one specific option of the Detour.
  • Face Off: An obstacle which has all the teams, two at a time, compete against each other in a specific task. The winning teams are gradually given the next clue, while the final losing team must wait out a 15-minute penalty before receiving the next clue.

Legs

At the beginning of each leg, teams receive an allowance of cash, usually in Canadian dollars, to cover expenses during the race (except for the purchase of airline tickets, which are paid-for by credit cards provided to the teams).

Teams then have to follow clues and Route Markers that will lead them to the various destinations and tasks they will face. Modes of travel between these destinations include commercial and chartered airplanes (which for the first three seasons were generally provided by sponsor Air Canada), boats, trains, taxis, buses, and rented vehicles provided by the show, or the teams may simply travel by foot. Each leg ends with a twelve-hour Pit Stop where teams are able to rest and where teams that arrives last are progressively eliminated from the race until only three teams remain. Most legs comprise three or more challenges, often a Roadblock, Detour and a Route Info Task. The first teams to arrive at the Pit Stop win prizes, usually from the show's sponsors.

  • The Express Pass, awarded to the winners of the first legs of seasons 1 and 2, allows that team to skip any task they want during the race. In Season 1, Kristen & Darren won this pass, one for themselves and gave the second one to Vanessa & Celina; Kristen & Darren ultimately did not use theirs. Vanessa & Celina used their Express Pass to bypass the Detour in Leg 4. In Season 2, Natalie & Meaghan won this pass, one for themselves and gave the second one to Pierre & Michel; Natalie & Meaghan used their Express Pass to bypass the Detour in Leg 3. Pierre & Michel used their Express Pass to bypass the Roadblock in Leg 6.
In seasons 3 and 4, the Express Pass was given out in an optional task in Leg 2 right before the Detour, allowing any team to possibly win it rather than it being a definite award for a first-place finish on the leg. In Season 3, Hamilton & Michaelia won this pass, one for themselves and gave the second one to Brent & Sean; Hamilton & Michaelia immediately used their Express Pass to bypass the Detour in Leg 2. Brent & Sean used their Express Pass to bypass a task in Leg 7. In Season 4, Steph & Kristen won this pass, one for themselves and gave the second one to Frankie & Amy; Steph & Kristen ultimately did not use theirs. Frankie & Amy used their Express Pass to bypass the Roadblock in Leg 6.
In Season 5, three separate Express Passes were available to be found during the Roadblock in Leg 2, allowing any three teams to possibly win one; or a team could win more than one Express Pass, but they must give the other(s) away by the end of Leg 3. Kenneth & Ryan found all three passes, they gave one to Karen & Bert as a reward for help in a task later in Leg 2, and gave the other to Megan & Courtney early in Leg 3. Kenneth & Ryan used their Express Pass to bypass the Detour in Leg 3; Karen & Bert used their Express Pass to bypass a task in Leg 3; Megan & Courtney ultimately did not use theirs.
In Season 6 (Heroes Edition), three separate Express Passes were available to be found during a task in Leg 2, allowing any three teams to possibly win one. Todd & Anna, Leanne & Mar and Nancy & Melissa each won one. Todd & Anna and Leanne & Mar used their Express Passes to bypass the same task in Leg 3; Nancy & Melissa used their Express Pass to bypass a later task in Leg 3.
In Season 7, three separate Express Passes were awarded; two to the winners of Leg 1, and one to the winners of Leg 2. The team who won two Express Passes on Leg 1 must give one away by the end of Leg 3. Dave & Irina won Leg 1 and two passes; Aarthy & Thinesh won the third pass as a reward for winning Leg 2. Dave & Irina gave their other pass to Anthony & James early in Leg 3. Dave & Irina used their Express Pass to bypass the second Roadblock in Leg 4; Anthony & James used their Express Pass to bypass the first Roadblock in Leg 4; Aarthy & Thinesh ultimately did not use theirs.

Non-elimination legs

Each race has a number of predetermined non-elimination legs, in which the last team to arrive at the Pit Stop is not eliminated and is allowed to continue on the race. The non-eliminated team is required to do a Speed Bump – a penalty task that only the team saved from elimination on the previous leg must complete before continuing on.

Rules and penalties

Most of the rules and penalties are adopted from the American edition.

Seasons

The show first aired in 2013 with the first season premiere airing on July 15, 2013 and ending on September 16, 2013.

Season Premiere Finale Winners Teams Comments
1 July 15, 2013 September 16, 2013 Tim Hague, Sr. & Tim Hague, Jr. 9
2 July 8, 2014 September 21, 2014 Mickey Henry & Pete Schmalz 11 First season to feature international travel.
3 July 8, 2015 September 23, 2015 Gino & Jesse Montani 12 Introduced the Face Off.
4 June 28, 2016 September 13, 2016 Steph LeClair & Kristen McKenzie 10
5 July 4, 2017 September 12, 2017 Sam Lambert & Paul Mitskopoulos Featured challenges related to Canada 150.
6 July 3, 2018 September 11, 2018 Courtney Berglind & Adam Kovacs Heroes Edition: Featured teams of "heroes", including those nominated by viewers.[5]
7 July 2, 2019 September 10, 2019 Anthony Johnson & James Makokis Featured teams who overcame challenges and reinvented themselves – and included one returning team from a previous season, voted into the Race by Canadians.[6] Introduced the One Way. Second season to only travel within Canada.
8 Production postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

Places visited

Provinces and territories visited in The Amazing Race Canada as of Season 7.
Countries visited in The Amazing Race Canada as of Season 7.

As of the seventh season, The Amazing Race Canada has visited all of Canada's provinces and territories, in addition to eleven foreign countries in Asia, Europe, South America and North America.1

The following are the number of times places (including Canadian provinces and territories) are featured in The Amazing Race Canada.

Canada

Rank Jurisdiction Seasons Visited Pit Stops
1  Alberta 7 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) 72
 British Columbia 7 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) 142
 Ontario 7 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) 124
4  Quebec 6 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7) 63
5  Nova Scotia 4 (1, 3, 4, 7) 4
 Saskatchewan 4 (1, 3, 5, 7) 4
7  New Brunswick 3 (2, 4, 6) 3
 Northwest Territories 3 (1, 4, 7) 1
 Yukon 3 (1, 2, 6) 3
10  Manitoba 2 (2, 6) 2
 Newfoundland and Labrador 2 (1, 5) 2
 Prince Edward Island 2 (2, 6) 2
13  Nunavut 1 (1) 1

International

Rank Country Continent Seasons Visited Pit Stops
1  China Asia 2 (2, 5) 35
2  Argentina South America 1 (3) 1
 Chile South America 1 (3) 1
 Cuba North America 1 (4) 1
 France Europe 1 (2) 2
 India Asia 1 (3) 2
 Indonesia Asia 1 (6) 1
 Mexico North America 1 (6) 1
 Panama North America 1 (5) 1
 Thailand Asia 1 (5) 1
 Vietnam Asia 1 (4) 2
Notes
  1. ^ This count only includes provinces that fielded actual Route Markers, tasks & challenges, or Pit Stops. Transport stopovers and connecting flights are not counted or listed.
  2. ^ Includes 1 Finish Line.
  3. ^ Includes 2 Finish Lines.
  4. ^ Includes 3 Finish Lines.
  5. ^ Including the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong (2) and Macau (2).

Reception

Ratings

Season Timeslot (ET) Episodes Premiered Ended Rank Viewers
(in millions)
Date Premiere
Viewers
(in millions)
Date Finale
Viewers
(in millions)
1
Monday 9:00 PM
10
July 15, 2013 (2013-07-15)
2.986[7]
September 16, 2013 (2013-09-16)
3.056[8] #1 2.851[9]
2
Tuesday 9:00 PM
12
July 8, 2014 (2014-07-08)
2.764[10]
September 21, 2014 (2014-09-21)
3.026[11] #1 2.751[12]
3
Wednesday 9:00 PM
July 8, 2015 (2015-07-08)
2.596[13]
September 23, 2015 (2015-09-23)
2.601[14] #1 2.541[15]
4
Tuesday 8:00 PM
June 28, 2016 (2016-06-28)
2.053[16]
September 13, 2016 (2016-09-13)
2.144[17] #1 UND
5 11
July 4, 2017 (2017-07-04)
1.888[18]
September 12, 2017 (2017-09-12)
1.961[19] #1 UND
6
July 3, 2018 (2018-07-03)
1.771[20]
September 11, 2018 (2018-09-11)
1.989[21] #1 UND
7
Tuesday 9:00 PM
July 2, 2019 (2019-07-02)
2.029[22]
September 10, 2019 (2019-09-10)
2.134[23] #1 UND
8 Production postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

Awards and nominations

Canadian Screen Awards

YearCategoryNomineeResultReference
2014Best Cross-Platform Project, Non-Fiction - The Amazing Race Canada InteractiveChris Skinner, CJ Hervey, James Milward, Pietro Gagliano, Ryan AndalWon[24]
Best Photography in a Lifestyle or Reality/Competition Program or SeriesPeter Rieveschl, Ryan ShawWon
Best Writing in a Lifestyle or Reality/Competition Program or SeriesMark Lysakowski, Rob BrunnerWon
2015Best Direction in a Reality/Competition Program or SeriesRob BrunnerWon
Best Picture Editing in a Reality/Competition Program or SeriesJonathan Dowler, Al Manson, Kyle Martin, Seth Poulin, Michael TersigniWon
Best Reality/Competition Program or SeriesEric Abboud, Mike Bickerton, Barbara Bowlby, John Brunton, Mark LysakowskiWon
Best Writing in a Lifestyle or Reality/Competition Program or SeriesRob Brunner, Mark LysakowskiWon
Golden Screen Award for TV Reality ShowWon
2016Best Host in a Variety, Lifestyle, Reality/Competition, or Talk Program or SeriesJon MontgomeryWon
Best Direction in a Reality/Competition Program or SeriesRob BrunnerWon
Best Photography in a Lifestyle or Reality/Competition Program or SeriesRyan ShawWon
Best Picture Editing in a Reality/Competition Program or SeriesJonathan Dowler, Ben O'Neil, Burak Ozgan, Seth Poulin, Michael TersigniWon
Best Reality/Competition Program or SeriesDaniela Battistella, Mike Bickerton, Robyn Bigue, Barbara Bowlby, John Brunton, Ann Camilleri, Guy Clarkson, Sarah James, Mark Lysakowski, Kyle Martin, Catherine PetersenWon
2017Best Reality/Competition Program or SeriesJohn Brunton, Barbara Bowlby, Mark Lysakowski, Mike Bickerton, Sarah James, Kyle Martin, Robyn Bigue, Guy Clarkson, Ann Camilleri, Steff Millman, Catherine PetersenWon[25]
Best Direction in a Reality/Competition Program or SeriesRob BrunnerWon
Best Photography in a Lifestyle or Reality/Competition Program or SeriesRyan ShawWon
Best Picture Editing in a Reality/Competition Program or SeriesMike Tersigni, Al Manson, Jonathan Dowler, Dave McMahon, Ryan Monteith, Cynthia FlengerisNominated
Mike Tersigni, Ben O’Neil, Burak Ozgan, Jonathan Dowler, Allan HughesWon
Best Sound in a Non-Fiction Program or SeriesMark KrupkaNominated
Best Writing in a Lifestyle or Reality/Competition Program or SeriesMark Lysakowski, Rob Brunner, Jennifer PrattWon

References

  1. "CTV Announces Renewal Of The Amazing Race Canada". www.ctv.ca/. CTV. September 11, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  2. The Amazing Race Canada [@AmazingRaceCDA] (June 23, 2020). "On your mark. Get set. GO! The #AmazingRaceCanada returns for an all new season next year on CTV. #CTVHomefront" (Tweet). Retrieved July 7, 2020 via Twitter.
  3. Chris Jancelewicz (September 17, 2013). "'Amazing Race Canada' Season 2: CTV Announces Second Run". Huffpost Canada TV. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  4. "The Amazing Race Canada: Eligibility Requirements And Detailed Application Information". CTV.ca.
  5. "Season 6 Casting". CTV. October 27, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  6. "Canada's Choice: Fan Votes Decide Which Team Gets the Ultimate Second Chance on Season 7 of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, This Summer on CTV". Bell Media. March 21, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  7. "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) July 15–21, 2013" (PDF). BBM Canada. July 26, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 3, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  8. "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) September 16–22, 2013" (PDF). BBM Canada. September 27, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  9. "TV Top 10: What Canadians Watched in 2013". newswire.ca. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  10. "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) July 7–July 13, 2014" (PDF). Numeris. July 22, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  11. "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) September 15–September 21, 2014" (PDF). Numeris. September 30, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  12. "TV Top 10: What Canadians Watched in 2014". bellmedia.ca. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  13. http://assets.numeris.ca/Downloads/July%206%20-%20July%2012,%202015%20%28National%29.pdf
  14. "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) September 21 - September 27, 2015" (PDF). Numeris. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  15. "TV Top 10: What Canadians Watched in 2015". bellmedia.ca. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  16. "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) June 27 - July 3, 2016" (PDF). Numeris. July 11, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  17. "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) September 12 - September 18, 2016" (PDF). Numeris. September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  18. "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) July 3 - July 9, 2017" (PDF). Numeris. July 18, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  19. "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) September 11 - September 17, 2017" (PDF). Numeris. September 26, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  20. "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) July 2 - July 8, 2018" (PDF). Numeris. July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  21. "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) September 10 - September 16, 2018" (PDF). Numeris. September 25, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  22. "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) July 1 - July 7, 2019". Numeris. July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  23. "Top Programs – Total Canada (English) September 9 - September 15, 2019" (PDF). Numeris. September 24, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  24. "Awards Database". academy.ca. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  25. "2017 TV Nominees - Academy.ca". Academy.ca. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
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