Let’s GO! CBC today announced the 24 Canadians striving for success in the new original competition reality format CANADA’S ULTIMATE CHALLENGE (8×60). Six iconic Canadian athletes each coach and mentor a team of four players through mentally and physically grueling challenges at awe-inspiring locations across the country, making strategic decisions and motivating their players to victory. The winning team will receive a trip to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 to cheer on Team Canada. Produced by Insight Productions and The Gurin Company, CANADA’S ULTIMATE CHALLENGE debuts Thursday, February 16 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC TV and CBC Gem.
The inaugural season of the competition series is hosted by sports broadcaster Nikki Reyes and professional snowboarder and CBC Sports analyst Craig McMorris, and sees the entire country turned into one giant obstacle course, with challenges in Whitehorse, YK; Squamish, BC; Kelowna, BC; Hinton, AB; Sudbury, ON; Thousand Islands, ON; and Québec City, QC, culminating with the finale on the Confederation Bridge between New Brunswick and PEI.
The superstar Canadian athletes coaching the six teams through solo, tandem, and team challenges are: sprinting legend Donovan Bailey; Olympian in water polo and advocate for Indigenous sport, Waneek Horn-Miller; six-time Olympic medallist in cycling and speed skating and mental health advocate, Clara Hughes; three-time Olympian in speed-skating, Gilmore Junio; former captain of Canada’s Olympic bronze medal-winning rugby sevens team, Jen Kish; and NFL Super Bowl Champion with the Seattle Seahawks, Luke Willson.
Meet the 24 Canadians who have stepped up for CANADA’S ULTIMATE CHALLENGE:
Team Red – Coached by Donovan Bailey
- Dilpreet Bhattal (she/her), 31, a personal trainer and fitness instructor from Toronto, ON
- Lori Campbell (she/her/Two-Spirit), 50, a university associate vice-president from Regina, SK
- Chris Cederstrand (he/him), 42, an athlete, public speaker and firefighter from Okotoks, AB
- Franz Wellington (he/him), 52, a lifestyle and fitness coach from Toronto, ON
Team Yellow – Coached by Waneek Horn-Miller
- Victoria Coman (she/her), 24, a student and personal trainer from Ottawa, ON
- Em Donkers (he/them), 27, a fitness influencer and trainer from Kingston, ON
- Kate Fabien-Ferrol (she/her), 34, a fitness and wellness coach from Yellowknife, NT
- Chris “Cuddly” Lewarne (he/him), 38, a former lawyer and personal trainer from Toronto, ON
Team Blue – Coached by Clara Hughes
- Jesse Benjamin (she/her), 41, a Mi’kmaq matriarch and former veterinarian from Kjipuktuk, NS
- Skylar LeBlanc (he/him), 27, a single dad and football player from Halifax, NS
- Zalie Tshuma (she/her), 30, a chef, business owner and fitness instructor from Toronto, ON
- Mitchell Wendland (he/him), 27, a retail worker, spin instructor and cheerleader from Edmonton, AB
Team Orange – Coached by Gilmore Junio
- Christian Oberegger (he/him), 37, a firefighter and paramedic from Fort McMurray, AB
- Julie “Juls” Tower (she/her), 46, an auto worker and fitness competitor from York, ON
- Meaux Redhead (she/her), 37, a flight attendant and fitness trainer from Toronto, ON
- Vincent “Vinny” Rojas (he/him), 28, a personal trainer and fitness instructor from Montreal, QC
Team Green – Coached by Jen Kish
- Kimberly “Kimber” Bernhard (she/her), 35, a tattoo artist and roller derby skater from Saskatoon, SK
- Dustin Seidler (he/him), 33, a real estate agent and paramedic from Toronto, ON
- Stiva Sinanan (he/him), 47, a fitness instructor from Toronto, ON
- Rachael Spurling (she/her), 31, a hairstylist and kickboxer from Sooke, BC
Team Black – Coached by Luke Willson
- Bradley Farquhar (he/him), 36, a businessman and adventurer from Mahone Bay, NS
- Kenny Ho (he/him), 23, a marketing coordinator and track and field coach from Vancouver, BC
- Devon MD Jones (she/her), 44, a stretch therapist and reflexologist from Toronto, ON
- Alana Warnick (she/her), 42, a firefighter from Winnipeg, MB
Alternates
- Mina Abd-Al-Ahhad (she/her), 33, a customer service associate and student at McMaster University from Hamilton, ON
- Louis Ngo (he/him), 39, a yoga teacher, personal trainer and massage therapist from Vancouver, BC
For all things Canada’s Ultimate Challenge, including team bios, interviews and updates, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/television/canadasultimatechallenge
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