The Amazing Race Canada: Season 7: Back to the start.
The Canadian version of the show had, in spite of its good ratings, always had a bit of struggle with money. It’s something I’ve found with Canadian versions of foreign shows, especially reality shows. Just look at what happened to Canadian Idol to see what I’m talking about. Anyways, this is the first season since season one to stay entirely within Canada. It was disappointing, but somewhat understandable. Also disheartening is that Kenneth of Kenneth and Ryan died in a freak hiking accident just before the season ended.
This season also introduced the One-way, in which one team can choose a Detour option for another team that they have to do. It’s an interesting twist on the U-Turn, I give you that.
Also this season, fans could choose one of the teams. One of three teams from past seasons: Jet and Dave from Season 1; Brent and Sean from Season 3 and Frankie and Amy from Season 4. The winners were voted on and will be revealed below. This season was filmed between April and May 2019.
The Cast:
Lauren and Joanne: Sisters. The first team from Saskatchewan to compete in the race, these two were so much fun, Joanne especially.
Jet and Dave: Friends. Yes, of the teams that were available to vote on these two were the most popular. They bring the same goofy charm to the race that they brought last time.
Aarthy and Thinesh: Dating couple. They are opposites Aarthy is uptight and Thinesh is more relaxed. This comes out, when Aarthy starts to come undone when things don’t go her way.
Meaghan and Marie: Twins. They are fun too. But they are also a bit more reserved than Lauren and Joanne and Jet and Dave.
Dave and Irina: Married couple. These two are the villains of the season. And, according to the other racers, they were toned down from what they were like on the show. One thing I should mention is that they received death threats after the show, for “not displaying Canadian values.” I mean I don’t like them either, but death threats. Really?
Anthony and James: Married couple. These two are great. Anthony is Cree and James is Navajo. They are also Two-spirit. I don’t know the exact definition (I think it’s supposed to be a third gender), but someone can correct me in the comments.
Nicki and Aisha: Friends. These two are great. Though I do wish that they lasted longer.
Trish and Amy: Friends. They were a good team and worked well together.
Sarah and Sam: Track teammates. They were very competitive. In fact, after this they made the 2020 Canadian Olympic Track and Field Team.
Gilles and Sean: Grandfather and Grandson. These two, I feel, would have gone further if they worked together more.
The Race
Leg #1: “Fortunately, we got a map.”
Original Air Date: July 2, 2019.
Teams start in David Pecaut Square in Toronto. After getting $200, teams go to Extreme Reach Recording Studio for the Roadblock. In this Roadblock, one team member has to rehearse and record dialogue so that it syncs with the trailer of a then upcoming Disney movie. Then they have to go to the Ontario Food Distribution Terminal and find two halves of a postcard that tells them their next destination: Kamloops B.C. Team then go to Pearson International Airport and sign up for one of two flights that leave 30 minutes apart.
On arrival, teams drive to the Ajax Mine where they find another Roadblock. In this Roadblock, the team member who didn’t do the first Roadblock, has to ride a 1,000ft (300m) zipline 100ft (30m) over an open pit of the mine and successfully toss a yellow ball into a floating target. After this, teams go to Circle Creek Ranch where they have to search through the yearlings for one with an ear tag with the Pit Stop: Kamloops Bike Ranch on it.
1. Dave and Irina 2:03 P.M. Won a trip for two to Cape Town, South Africa and two Express Passes (one of which they give to Anthony and James)
2. Meaghan and Marie 2:07 P.M.
3. Sam and Sarah 2:10 P.M.
4. Lauren and Joanne 3:00 P.M.
5. Anthony and James 3:13 P.M.
6. Trish and Amy 3:45 P.M.
7. Jet and Dave 4:01 P.M.
8. Aarthy and Thinesh 4:25 P.M.
9. Nicki and Aisha 4:34 P.M.
10 Gilles and Sean 5:02 P.M. ELIMINATED.
Leg #2: “Our competition’s not that smart.”
Original Air Date: July 9, 2019.
Getting $300, teams drive to the Last Spike Monument in Craigellachie, B.C. Then teams go to Glacier House Resort in Revelstoke, where they find the Roadblock. In this Roadblock, one team member has to suit up and ride a dirt bike over a course of hills and turns in 1:50 to get their next clue. Teams then get the Detour: Plant or Paddle. In Plant, teams had to plant 40 conifer tree seedlings in a forest clearing. The seedlings must be straight, planted a specified length apart, and have no air pockets underground. Once all 40 were approved, teams received their next clue. In Paddle, teams had to paddle a pair of kayaks, tied together facing opposite directions, to collect five different colored flags from buoys scattered around the lake. Once they returned to shore with all five flags, they received their next clue.
After this, teams go to the Revelstoke Railway Museum and put together a model railroad using every track and accessory with no dead ends and fitting on the table they chose. Then teams go to Revelstoke Mountain Resort and ride a cable car to the Pit Stop: Mount Mackenzie.
1. Meghan and Marie 1:00 P.M. Won a trip for two to Madrid, Spain and an Express Pass
2. Dave and Irina 1:01 P.M.
3. Nicki and Aisha 1:12 P.M.
4. Lauren and Joanne 2:12 P.M.
5. Sarah and Sam 2:59 P.M.
6. Jet and Dave 3:01 P.M.
7. Trish and Amy 3:20 P.M.
8. Anthony and James 3:21 P.M.
9. Aarthy and Thinesh 4:12 P.M. ELIMINATED.
Leg#3: “We’ll let the peasants fight for last place.”
Original Air Date: July 16, 2019.
Receiving $350, teams fly to Edmonton, Alberta on one of two flights with the lead two teams 2.5 hours ahead of the six. On arrival, teams go to Southgate Centre and enter The Source where they both get a smart watch that will track the movement for the rest of the leg. The team with the least amount of steps wins a $5,000 gift card to The Source. Then they have to go to the High Level Bridge Street Car where the One-way is along with the Detour: Celebrate or Elevate. Lauren and Joanne One Way Trish and Amy while Sarah and Sam One-way Nicki and Aisha. Both go to Celebrate.
In Celebrate, teams had to learn the lyrics and choreography for a medley of South African songs and then successfully perform with the Kokopelli Youth Choir to be given their next clue by the choir director. In Elevate, teams had to complete two puzzles, one at the top of the funicular and one at the bottom, of the Edmonton skyline to receive their next clue from the city's poet laureate. Teams would discover that some puzzle pieces belonged to the other puzzle and had to transfer one piece at a time via the funicular. Teams then go to Old Strathcona Antique Mall and look for a bobble head of Jon. Then they head to Kurimoto Japanese Garden, Ozawa Pavilion at the University of Alberta for the Roadblock. In this Roadblock, one team member has to watch a silent demonstration of an Ikebana flower arraignment, and then replicate it, making sure that the flowers are the correct height, not touching and that their workspace is clean afterword. After that, teams search the campus for the Pit Stop: The Aga Khan Gardens.
1. Dave and Irina 12:01 P.M. Won a trip for two to Casablanca, Morocco.
2. Jet and Dave 12:03 P.M. Won the Source gift card
3. Lauren and Joanne 1:15 P.M.
4. Meaghan and Marie 1:45 P.M.
5. Sarah and Sam 2:12 P.M.
6. Anthony and James 2:18 P.M.
7. Nicki and Aisha 3:19 P.M.
8. Trish and Amy 3:50 P.M. ELIMINATED.
Leg #4: “We love geologists!”
Original Air Date: July 23, 2019.
Getting $190, teams fly to Yellowknife Northwest Territories. Once there, they have to Somba K’e Civic Plaza where they have to look for the United in Celebration statue. Then teams have to head to Rotary Park where they have to drive a snowmobile across Great Slave Lake to a Dene fishing camp. Here teams have to use a hand auger to drill a three foot (0.91m) hole in the ice, clear it of ice chips, and put a Dene fishing line on there.
Teams then go to NWT Diamond Centre for the Roadblock. In this Roadblock, one team member had to use a jeweler’s loupe to identify which six out of seven diamonds were marked with a Canadian symbol, a maple leaf. Then, they had to use a Forevermark viewer to find the identification number on each diamond. Finally, they had to sort the diamonds from heaviest to lightest to receive their next clue. From there teams go to Robertson Drive Dock for another Roadblock. In this Roadblock, the team member who didn’t do the first Roadblock has to put on a wetsuit and safety gear and swim under the ice of Great Slave Lake. Teams then go to Air Tindi Float Base where they have to locate ten rescue bases using longitude and latitude (it was around here that Sam and Sarah run into a geologists’ office while lost. They have to come back twice. Once to help with the task and again to pay their cab.) Then teams get flown to the Pit Stop: a Dene village called Dettah.
1. Jet and Dave 2:10 P.M. Won a trip for two to Dublin, Ireland.
2. Megan and Marie 2:33 P.M.
3. Dave and Irina 2:49 P.M. Penalized two hours for quitting the longitude and latitude task
4. Anthony and James 3:15 P.M.
5. Lauren and Joanne 3:33 P.M.
6. Sarah and Sam 3:34 P.M.
7. Nicki and Aisha 4:05 P.M. NOT ELIMINATED/SPEEDBUMPED.
Leg #5: “Clamaggedon continues.”
Original Air Date: July 30, 2019.
Getting $150, teams fly to Vancouver, British Colombia. Once there, teams have to sign up for a sea plane to Nanaimo, British Colombia. Teams then dive themselves to Petroglyph Provincial Park, where they pick up a Dora the Explorer backpack (which ties into the recent movie that came out) and the items that came with it. Then teams go to WildPlay Element Park, where they have to memorize the recipe for Nanaimo Bars in 60 seconds, then one team member bungee jumps while the other did a tandem primal swing off a bridge 150ft (46m) in the air. Then teams had to repeat the Nanaimo Bar recipe.
After that, teams go to Deep Bay Marine Station, where Nicki and Aisha get their Speedbump. In this Speedbump, Nicki and Aisha have to put together a 37 piece orca skeleton, including a piece in their backpack. Then they can join the other teams on the beach to find and identify: thirty manila clams, thirty mahogany clams, thirty Pacific oysters, and five butter clams to receive their next clue. Teams then go to Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park for the Roadblock. In this Roadblock, one team member has to go into the cave and take pictures with a camera they picked up on the way. Then they have to unscramble the letters on a white board: “Goats on Roof.” Which is the next Pit Stop, though if they can figure out what the carrots in their backpack were for they can write down the answer right away.
1. Jet and Dave 1:13 P.M. Won a trip for two to Machu Picchu, Peru.
2. Anthony and James 2:14 P.M.
3. Lauren and Joanne 2:34 P.M.
4. Dave and Irina 3:19 P.M. PENALIZED two hours for not completing the clamming task
5. Nicki and Aisha 3:40 P.M.
6. Megan and Marie 4:01 P.M.
7. Sarah and Sam 4:17 P.M. ELIMINATED.
Leg #6: “This muskrat is bringing you down!”
Original Air Date: August 6, 2019.
Receiving $200, teams fly to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. On arrival, teams go to the Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan to get their next clue. Teams then go to the Nutrien Cory Potash Mine, descend into the mine and nail a ventilation curtain up in a straight line with no gaps piling loose potash at the bottom to maintain a seal. After that they go to a nearby Shell gas station to get video message from their loved ones and directions to go to Champêtre County Vacation Ranch. Here they get the Detour: Dance in a Square or Walk in a Circle.
In Dance in a Square, one team member had to memorize a list of nineteen square dance moves and call the dance in time with the music while their partner had to learn and perform the dance alongside the River City Squares to receive their next clue. In Walk in Circles, teams had to search a 7,500 square foot barn board maze for four different types of cobs of corn, which they could exchange for their next clue. Teams then go to Victoria Park in Saskatoon and join a Saskatoon Rush lacrosse team practice. When they hit two targets, they go to the Pit Stop: Remai Modern Art Museum.
1. Anthony and James 11:11 A.M. Won a trip for two to Costa Rica.
2. Dave and Irina 11:29 A.M.
3. Jet and Dave 12:09 P.M.
4. Lauren and Joanne 1:03 P.M.
5. Meghan and Marie 1:28 P.M.
6. Nicki and Aisha 2:10 P.M. NOT ELIMINATED/SPEEDBUMPED.
Leg #7: “That’s a lot of balls.”
Original Air Date: August 13, 2019.
Getting $300, teams fly to Toronto, Ontario, and then take a bus with blacked out windows to Kitchener-Waterloo. On arrival, teams go to The Museum where they go into a ball pit with 30,000 green balls to find one of 12 red or yellow balls (though Nicki and Aisha to the University of Waterloo first to complete their Speedbump: test a self-driving car). Teams then get the Detour: Beer Fest or Robo Quest. In Beer Fest, teams took part in a Kitchener–Waterloo Oktoberfest celebration. They had to choose a table of ten patrons, who each ordered a different variety of beer. While pouring the beers at the taps, the patrons would get up and dance then sit in different seats. Once teams served all ten orders correctly, they received their next clue from Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. In Robot Quest, teams had to use walkie-talkies to navigate a Nao robot through a course. One team member gave directions to their partner in another room, who blindly controlled it entering the commands on a computer screen; partners could not swap roles once the task began. Once Nao completed the course and crossed the finish line, they received their next clue from Callisto, a TALOS humanoid robot.
Teams then go to The Culinary Studio for the Face Off. The team who arrived first had the choice of three dishes to prepare using
Race sponsor (yep officially a sponsor) Dempster's wheat tortillas: wraps, rolls or pizza. Both teams were given one minute to observe the completed dish, and then had fifteen minutes to re-create it without the use of a recipe. The team whose dish better resembled the example received their next clue, while the losing team had to wait for another team. The last team remaining at the Face Off had to turn over an hourglass and wait out a time penalty before moving on. After that, teams go to the Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics for the final puzzle: They had to drop a tennis ball from a balcony, then use a stopwatch to measure the time it took to reach the ground, represented by the value
t. Using this and the value
g for gravity, they had to determine on a chalkboard the value of
d, representing the distance from the balcony to the ground. If their solution was between 41 feet (12 m) and 49 feet (15 m), they received their next clue. After that it’s off to the Pit Stop: Knight-Newbrough Field at Wilfrid Laurier University.
1. Jet and Dave 11:18 A.M. Won a trip for two to Frankfurt, Germany.
2. Lauren and Joanne 11:46 A.M.
3. Nicki and Aisha 12:14 P.M.
4. Dave and Irina 12:15 P.M.
5. Anthony and James 1:01 P.M.
6. Meghan and Marie 1:28 P.M. ELIMINATED.
Leg #8: “Open your Bouche.”
Original Air Date: August 20, 2019.
Receiving $200, teams travel by train to La Malbaie, Charlevoix, Quebec. On arrival, teams have to go to Chez Chantal and peel 25 potatoes for poutine, get a sample for the road and their next clue. Teams then go to Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu for the Roadblock. In this Roadblock, one team member had to dress in formal attire and take part in a mock press conference of the 44th G7 summit, hosted in La Malbaie in 2018. They had to memorize and correctly deliver a speech in English and French, then answer three questions from reporters, one each in Japanese, German, and Italian, to receive their next clue, with several teams making several tries at it.
Teams then get the Blind Detour: This or That. In This, teams had to recreate two paintings onto emu eggs at Centre de l'Émeu de Charlevoix without removing the examples from the basket. After recreating the paintings, teams had to travel to Baie-Saint-Paul and deliver their eggs to one of the two buildings depicted on their eggs, Boutique Le Pot aux Roses or Bistro La Muse, to receive their next clue. In That, teams had to play a modified version of
pick-lit, a local game that involved hitting a wooden peg into the air before smacking it into a marked field to score points. Once teams scored 200 points, they would receive their next clue. Teams then go to the Pit Stop: Musée Maritime de Charlevoix where they are told to keep going.
1. Lauren and Joanne 1:13 P.M. Won a trip for two to Santiago, Chile.
2. Jet and Dave 1:20 P.M.
3. Dave and Irina 2:40 P.M.
4. Anthony and James 3:10 P.M.
5. Nicki and Aisha 3:11 P.M.
Leg #9: “That’s Edam Gouda.”
Original Air Date: August 27, 2019.
Getting $300, teams take a train to Toronto, Ontario. On arrival, teams have to get to the Royal Ontario Museum and find ten specific exhibits, pick up one rubber stamp at each one and then go to a common area. There they use the stamps to spell out their next destination: Thunder Bay. To get there, teams go to the Toronto Coach Terminal and sign up for a bus. Teams are then dropped off at the Terry Fox statue in Thunder Bay five minutes apart. Teams then go to a Shell Gas Station and fill up for their next clue.
Teams then go to a local game establishment called Wacky’s for the Face Off. In this Face-Off, the first team to arrive chooses one of three games (air hockey, table hockey or axe throwing) and whoever gets the most points wins. Then they get the Detour: Cutting Edge or Cutting a Wedge. In Cutting Edge, teams had to drive to the Lakehead University Faculty of Natural Resources Management Airfield, where they had to unbox a DJI Mavic 2 Zoom drone kit from The Source. Then, one racer would blindly fly the drone while guided by their partner wearing VR goggles with the drone's video feed to find four plush moose. Once teams marked the four moose locations on a board, they would receive their next clue. In Cutting a Wedge, teams had to drive to Thunder Oak Cheese Farm and locate a specific numbered Gouda cheese wheel that they had to cut into wedges between 230 grams (8.1 oz) and 270 grams (9.5 oz) before properly packaging the wedges. Once teams packaged 32 wedges, they would receive their next clue from a cheesemaker. Teams then go to the Pit Stop: Kakabeka Falls.
1. Dave and Irina 12:14 P.M. Won a trip for two to Venice, Italy.
2. Anthony and James 1:09 P.M.
3. Lauren and Joanne 1:34 P.M.
4. Jet and Dave 2:12 P.M.
5. Nicki and Aisha 3:45 P.M. ELIMINATED.
Leg #10: “He’s basically a hound.”
Original Air Date: September 3, 2019.
Receiving $150, teams fly to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Once there, teams have to go to Tangled Garden where the Roadblock is. In this Roadblock, one team member had to search the Tangled Garden for seven herbs: basil, mint, sage, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, and chives. Then, they had to taste and match seven jams and jellies with the herb used to make them to receive their next clue. Next, teams head to Elderkin’s Farm Market for the Detour: Puck or Apples.
In Puck, teams had to travel to Andrew H. McCain Arena, where they had to play sledge hockey with team members passing a puck to each other through a practice course and scoring a goal in under one minute to receive their next clue. In Apples, teams had to travel to Noggin's Corner Farm Market, where they had to sort a bin of apples into twelve varieties: Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Empire, Gala, Idared, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Ambrosia, Crispin, McIntosh, Spy, and Cortland. Once all the apples were correctly placed, teams would receive their next clue. Teams then go to Taproot Farms where they use the backup camera on their pick up to find five verses of the folk song Farewell to Nova Scotia and put them in the correct order. Then they have to take a trailer of beer to The Church Brewing Co. and perform the song with the band that’s playing there. After that, they get a picture of Jon next to a red telephone booth. They have to figure out it’s the next Pit Stop: Luckett Vineyards.
1. Jet and Dave 3:15 P.M. Won a trip for two to Singapore.
2. Anthony and James 4:01 P.M.
3. Lauren and Joanne 4:34 P.M.
4. Dave and Irina 5:15 P.M. ELIMINATED.
Leg #11: “Best job I’ve done!”
Original Air Date: September 10, 2019.
Getting $130, teams fly to Toronto, Ontario, where they sign up for one of three floatplanes to Port Carling, Ontario. On arrival, teams have to go to Muskoka Lakes Museum where they have to play a life sized trivia game with Jon, answering questions about the previous legs of the race. Once they answer questions about all the past legs, they get the next clue. After a brief, unaired, stop at the Port Carling Wall, teams go to Clevelands House for the Roadblock. In this Roadblock, one team member has to fly a hydroflying jetpack called a Flyboard at least 15 feet (4.6 m) out of the water before throwing a bean bag into a target to receive their next clue.
Teams then head to Rosseau Lake Cottage and build an 8ft (2.4m) Muskoka chair using only a small model as an example. Then teams go to Santa’s Village in Bracebridge where they find a second Roadblock. In this Roadblock the team member who didn’t do the first Roadblock has to find one of three elves with a red and yellow candy cane that they had to deliver to Santa Claus, who would give them their next clue. After that, teams go to Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh and build an irrigation system for a large section of cranberries with no leaks. Teams then head to the finish line: Camp Mini-Yo-We.
1. Lauren and Joanne WIN
2. Jet and Dave PLACE
3. Anthony and James SHOW
Review:
This is an average season, tied for fifth. The course was ok, the racers were, for the most part good, the challenges were hit and miss. The lack of funds explains most, but not all, of this. Still it was ok. Next time, back to basics on the American version.
-Globetrotting: An Amazing Race Blog on the website Reality Rewind by R. C. Anderson, September 14, 2019.