How exactly would you say The Amazing Race Canada stands out from the U.S. and other versions?
Well, I think it’s the embodiment of who we are as a people. First of all, the people that are on the show have a decidedly different perspective on the world in which they live. I think there’s a great bit more tolerance to the way in which they react and interact . . . The way that they race is also decidedly Canadian. They try hard, but they work together; there’s been some criticism over the years about racers not leveraging the tools at their disposal because nobody wants to be perceived as being a “baddie.” They’ve got some self-censorship as they’re running the Race . . .
Having now observed 10 seasons’ worth of competitors, what are some of the more underrated skills that tend to prove crucial to success in Amazing Race?
Well, I think the obvious stuff is there. A level of athleticism is beneficial, but it’s not paramount. The capacity to do things that are beyond your comfort zone, or at least take those steps towards the unknown, is beneficial. Some bravery, some flexible thinking — all these things are assets. But the one that might be underrated is the capacity of teams to be able to “fight nice.” You’ve got to be able to fight with your partner and get over it and move forward with some purpose — as opposed to taking it personally, wearing the disagreement like armour and having it weigh you down as you try and strategically think your way through the most difficult day of your life.
It sounds like this series could actually be quite effective as couples’ therapy . . .
[Laughs] Sure, it’s a litmus test for relationships to find out whether you’ve got the juice to go the distance — because all of those aspects of a solid relationship will be highlighted, exacerbated and a spotlight shone upon any of the deficiencies that one would want to work on with a potential life partner . . . I wouldn’t suggest coming on the show with an ex.
You’ve got a few former pro athletes in the field this year. As an athlete yourself, does that pedigree offer an edge?
The biggest thing that being an athlete would give you in terms of an advantage is the capacity to dig deep. When the going gets tough, you gotta buckle down, and I think that athletes have been exposed to that type of an environment before. If you are pushing yourself physically for the first time on the show, then you’ve got some learning to do in real time. Whereas an athlete, not because of the physicality — I don’t think that’s going to be the be-all and end-all — but the mental toughness to be able to weather the storm, to get up and try and try and try and try and try again . . .
This show is so widely beloved. What have your run-ins with fans been like?
It’s Canada, right? So nobody is going to come up to you and tell you that you suck. The only critical thing that I’ve ever heard — and it usually comes from little old ladies who don’t really care what people think of them because they’ve lived long enough, damn it, and they’re just going to tell you how they feel! — is that they really like it when we stay home and we explore Canada [as opposed to] when we leave our country to explore international destinations . . . They want to see more of their country, places they’ve been or places they would like to travel here in our nine million square kilometres that is everybody’s backyard.
The Amazing Race Canada airs Tuesdays, on CTV
MEMORABLE ROLES:
A skeleton racer who was a long-shot to even make the podium at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, this native of Russell, Manitoba, showed us there was just as much ice in his veins as there was under his sled by taking gold on home soil. That said, Jon Montgomery’s most iconic Olympic moment came after the race, as he was walking victorious down the streets of Whistler, got handed a full pitcher of beer by a fan — and didn’t hesitate to swig deeply.
CURRENT GIG:
Back in 2013, when CTV launched a Canadian leg of The Amazing Race, this charismatic athlete was a natural choice to emcee. Over a decade later, the reality competition is nearing the finish line of its landmark 10th season.