Tag Archives: Insight Productions

Amazing Race Canada, Featured

Casting for Season 12 of CTV’s The Amazing Race is now open

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From a media release:

On the heels of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA’s Season 11 finale, and recent Season 12 renewal announcement, CTV has confirmed that casting is now open for the upcoming season. Beginning today, aspiring racers can apply for their chance to experience the adventure of a lifetime at CTV.ca/TheAmazingRaceCanada.

Those looking to experience an unforgettable journey are invited to pair up with a teammate – a friend, relative, partner, or anyone else they share a relationship with – and submit their application for this once-in-lifetime opportunity. Further casting details, including instructions on how to submit an application, are available at CTV.ca/TheAmazingRaceCanada, with additional updates on the show’s official accounts on TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook. 

“THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is a true test of any relationship,” said Mark Lysakowski, Executive Producer and Showrunner. “It’s an experience unlike any other in Canada and we can’t wait to see who applies for this life-changing adventure.”  

Searching for teams from coast-to-coast-to-coast, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is seeking individuals who are:

  • Adventurous and outgoing: The race is a physically and mentally demanding competition, so applicants should be comfortable with challenges, extensive travel, and have a positive attitude.
  • Strong communicators: Teams need to work together effectively and communicate clearly to solve puzzles and navigate their way throughout the race.
  • Problem solvers: The race throws unexpected curveballs, so applicants should be quick thinkers and able to adapt to new situations.
  • Passionate about Canada: The nation’s favourite summertime adventure series showcases the beauty and diversity of Canada, so applicants should be ready to explore the country.

Customized and wholly integrated brand partnership opportunities for THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, including video, digital, social, audio, and OOH platforms with first in class data opportunities, are currently available for the upcoming season. 

Hosted by Olympic gold medallist Jon Montgomery, Season 11 of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA was the #1 summer series overall (P2+ and A25-54), with a season average of 1.3 million viewers. The series also closed out its eleventh year as Canada’s most-watched summer series among A25-54. THE AMAZING RACE CANADA Season 11 also ranked as a Top 5 program on CTV.ca this summer. 

To help aspiring racers get race-ready, all previous seasons of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA are currently available for streaming on Crave, allowing fans to relive the excitement of the race from the very beginning. 

THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is produced by Insight Productions Ltd. (A Blue Ant Studios Company) in association with CTV. For Insight, John Brunton is Executive Producer and Mark Lysakowski is Executive Producer and Showrunner.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Top Chef Canada is back for Season 12 on Flavour Network

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From a media release:

Top Chef Canada is back for a milestone 12th season featuring 10 of the country’s best up-and-coming professional chefs, each with their own culinary origin story, and each fighting for the prestigious title of Canada’s Top Chef. With the esteemed panel of returning judges joined by buzz-worthy guests, this season’s never before-seen challenges will task the chefs with showcasing their skills while celebrating the rich cultural diversity of our country. Season 12 of Top Chef Canada, a #1 specialty entertainment program*, premieres Tuesday, October 14 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Flavour Network and streaming exclusively on STACKTV.

Top Chef Canada welcomes back chef, cookbook author, and longtime series host, Eden Grinshpan, along with a revered panel of returning judges: chef, fermenter and author David Zilber, powerhouse restaurateurJanet Zuccarini, chef and owner of The McEwan Group, Mark McEwan, and content creator and global food expert Mijune Pak.

For 11 seasons, Top Chef Canada has given fans a front-row seat to the country’s ever-evolving food scene and propelled its winners into Canadian culinary stars. This season will explore the essence of each competitor’s identity, tracing their unique culinary origin stories. In each episode, the chefs must elevate their skills and creativity to new heights with dishes that captivate the judges and take audiences on a culinary journey across the globe. There will be many Top Chef Canada firsts including a Bocuse d’Or-inspired elimination challenge, special events supporting Pride, an Indigenous film festival, and Restaurant Wars like you’ve never see it before. Featuring some of the best competitors in the history of the series, in the end only one chef will emerge victorious and be named Canada’s Top Chef.

The 10 chefs – Canada’s culinary crème de la crème – ready to compete for the glory and title of Canada’s Top Chef include:

  • Coulson Armstrong (He/Him) – 41, Toronto, Ont. (Our House Hospitality Company)
  • Katy Cheung (She/Her) – 33, Vancouver, B.C. (Burdock & Co.)
  • Holly Holt (She/Her) – 35, Edmonton, Alta. (Yellowhead Tribal Council & She Cooks Catering)
  • Alex Kim (He/Him) – 34, Vancouver, B.C. (Five Sails & Glowbal Restaurant Group)
  • Charlotte Langley (She/Her) – 41, Prince Edward County, Ont. (Nice Cans & Langley Foods)
  • Tracy Little (She/Her) – 39, Canmore, Alta. (Sauvage)
  • Nick Maharaj (He/Him) – 35, Victoria, B.C. (Part and Parcel)
  • Chris Pyne (He/Him) – 32, Windsor, N.S. (Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards)
  • Shai-Ann Tyson (She/Her) – 26, Toronto, Ont. (Balmy Beach Club & S.A.L.T Pop-up Restaurant Co.)
  • Anthony Vien (He/Him) – 28, Québec City, Que. (Tanière³)

During this season’s fast-paced challenges, Michelin Star chefs, culinary icons and notable personalities join the Top Chef Canada judging panel as guest judges and tasters. This includes Daniel Boulud (One Star Michelin restaurant DANIEL, and Cafe Boulud), Tawnya Brant (Top Chef Canada, Season 10 competitor), Shane Chartrand (Top Chef Canada, Season 11 competitor), Charlotte Cardin (Juno Award-winning singer), Susur Lee (Lee Restaurant, Lee Kitchen and TungLok Heen), Mei Lin (Top Chef, Season 12 winner, Chef/Owner, 88 Club & Daybird), Charlie Mitchell (executive chef/co-owner, One Star Michelin restaurant Clover Hill), Andrew Phung (actor, comedian, host of Big Burger Battle), Massimo Piedimonte (Top Chefalumni & owner of Cabaret l’Enfer), David Schwartz (culinary director, Big Hug Hospitality: Linny’s, Sunny’s Chinese, Mimi Chinese), Nara Smith (model and content creator), Chanthy Yen (Top Chef Canada, Season 11 winner), and many more.


Top Chef Canada is the homegrown version of the hit Emmy® Award-winning NBCUniversal Series Top Chef and is produced by Insight Productions (A Blue Ant Studios Company) in association with Flavour Network. Eric Abboud is Executive Producer and Showrunner along with Insight’s CEO & Executive Producer John Brunton and Executive Producer Mark Lysakowski. Co-Executive Producers for Insight Productions are Jessica Brunton and Daniel Klimitz.

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Amazing Race Canada, Featured

The race continues as CTV orders Season 12 of The Amazing Race Canada

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From a media release:

As Canadians gear up for the Season 11 finale of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, airing Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 9 p.m. on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app, and streaming next day on Crave, the network announced today the early renewal of Canada’s favourite summertime adventure for Season 12. Hosted by Olympic gold medallist Jon Montgomery, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is set to welcome a new group of racers to the starting line when it returns in 2026, with casting details to be announced. 

“THE AMAZING RACE CANADA continues to be a powerhouse for CTV,” said Justin Stockman, Vice-President, Content Development & Programming, Bell Media. “Its unique ability to showcase the beauty of our country while also celebrating the resilience and diversity of Canadians makes it a standout series that resonates with viewers. Along with our incredible partners at Insight Productions, we’re ready to deliver another unforgettable journey across our extraordinary country.” 

Customized and wholly integrated brand partnership opportunities for THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, including video, digital, social, radio, and OOH platforms with first in class data opportunities, are currently available for the upcoming season.  

On the Season 11 finale of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA (Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 9 p.m. in all markets on CTV, CTV.ca and the CTV app, and streaming next day on Crave), titled “Double Roadblock,” the final four teams head to the picturesque town of Collingwood, Ont. for a heart pounding showdown, where the ultimate test of agility, skill, and teamwork awaits. In a world-wide franchise-first Double Roadblock, racers must split up and push their limits like never before. With only their wits and instincts to guide them, this final leg of the race tests both physical endurance and nerves of steel, as speed and coordination determine which team crosses the finish line first.

The winning team of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA (Season 11) receives the grand prize of two 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS, a trip around the world, a $250,000 cash prize courtesy of FUZE Iced Tea, and the coveted title of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA champions.  The final four teams competing on the Season 11 finale of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA are: 

  • Jesse & Jonathon – Friends from Sherwood Park, Alta. and Woodlawn, Ont.
  • Grace & Joe – Siblings from Prince George, B.C. 
  • Skylene & Blair (a.k.a. Nipîy & Magoo) – Married couple from Edmonton
  • EB & Blake – Brothers from Toronto 

With final data of the full complete season yet to be reported, Season 11 of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is the #1 summer series overall (P2+ and A25-54), with a current season average of 1.3 million viewers. The series is also set to close out its eleventh year as Canada’s most-watched summer series among A25-54. To date, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA has amassed a total of 46 Canadian Screen Award nominations and 28 wins.  

To coincide with the Season 11 finale, all previous seasons of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA are available for streaming on Crave, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 16. Seasons 1-7 join those currently available, allowing viewers to relive the excitement of the race from the beginning. An encore presentation of THE AMAZING RACECANADA Season 11 finale airs Saturday, Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV2, as well as Sunday, Sept. 21 at 12 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app.   

THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is produced by Insight Productions Ltd. (A Blue Ant Studios Company) in association with CTV. For Insight, John Brunton is Executive Producer and Mark Lysakowski is Executive Producer and Showrunner.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Brandon Gonez checks in for Season 2 of CBC’s Canada’s Ultimate Challenge

There is a lot of reality competition series vying for eyeballs, and one of the most interesting is kicking off its second season on Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBC.

Canada’s Ultimate Challenge—produced by the same folks behind The Amazing Race Canada—is equal parts The Amazing Race, Survivor, and in some cases, Wipeout, making for an entertaining watch. And, serving as host is Brandon Gonez.

Gonez, who joins the series for Season 2, is well-known to audiences. Aside from founding his own online news and entertainment company, Gonez Media, he was a reporter and anchor at CP24 and Your Morning. What made him join the ranks of Jon Montgomery, Arisa Cox and Sharleen Joynt?

“I’ve had the opportunity to travel across many parts of this country as a local reporter, but now I get to showcase them,” he says. “I was like, ‘Let’s do it!” And the opportunity to host allows Gonez to show a side of him folks may not have seen when he was a reporter.

“I like to laugh, I like to giggle, and I like to get real,” he says with a laugh. “You get to feel all of those highs and lows with this gig. My job is to be the audience, to ask that question, to get to the bottom of a fight that may be unfolding.”

Each episode of Canada’s Ultimate Challenge features four strangers thrust together into a team and facing off against other teams in a country-wide obstacle course. The challenges are, of course, designed to award winners and losers, but they also demand teamwork. And, that can be tough when you have a bunch of alphas yelling rote catchphrases into the camera and at each other.

A prime example is Sunday’s return, set in St. John’s. After Gonez introduces the team members to each other they have to work together to hoist one competitor down a rope anchored at the iconic Signal Hill, to a location down the hill. Once there, they look through binoculars at nautical flags being flown on a boat, memorize them and the order they are in, get hoisted back to the top of the hill and recreate the flags in order from dozens of combinations. All bragging and posturing drops, replaced by sweat, hard work and confusion.

Each leg features one team eliminated from the competition, with the winning competitors receiving a VIP trip to cheer on Team Canada at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Future locations this season include Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Ottawa, Hamilton, Canmore, Revelstoke and Vancouver Island, offering larger-than-life settings and drama for viewers and competitors.

“When you have a show called Canada’s Ultimate Challenge, you have to go big or go home,” Gonez says. “Each part of the country that we visit, you’re going to feel that on-screen. Our landscapes, cities and towns are so different depending on which region you’re in. This country is full of ups and downs, from mountains to fields, and you’re going to see that, and feel that range of emotions as well.”

Canada’s Ultimate Challenge airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on CBC.

Image courtesy of CBC.

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Amazing Race Canada

Casting for Season 10 of CTV’s The Amazing Race Canada now open

From a media release:

Following THE AMAZING RACE CANADA’s landmark 100th episode and Season 9 finale, and the Season 10 renewal announcement, CTV has confirmed that casting is now open for the upcoming season. Beginning today, aspiring competitors can apply for their chance to experience the adventure of a lifetime at CTV.ca/TheAmazingRaceCanada.

Those looking to experience this unforgettable adventure are invited to pair up with a teammate – a friend, sibling, parent, grandparent, partner, or anyone else they share a relationship with – and submit their application for this once-in-lifetime opportunity. Further casting details, including instructions on how to submit an application, are available at CTV.ca/TheAmazingRaceCanada, with additional updates on the show’s official accounts on Facebook, X, and Instagram. 

Customized and wholly integrated brand partnership opportunities are currently available for Season 10 of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA. 

Hosted by Olympic gold medallist Jon Montgomery, Season 9 of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is the most-watched program of the 2022/23 broadcast year among total viewers and the key A25-54 demo with an average audience of 1.7 million viewers. The series is also the Top Summer Program and the most-watched Canadian Program for the 2022/23 broadcast year among total viewers and in all key demos, and ranks in the Top 5 on CTV.ca and the CTV app. 

Previous seasons of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA are available for streaming on CTV.ca, the CTV app, and Crave.

THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is produced by Insight Productions Ltd. (a Boat Rocker Company) in association with CTV. John Brunton is Executive Producer and Mark Lysakowski is Executive Producer and Showrunner. 

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