CTV Announces First Two Teams Competing on THE AMAZING RACE CANADA

- Former military sniper and his power-house brother, and a free-spirited dating couple are first teams announced as first competitors -
- Remaining seven pairings to be announced tomorrow through Thursday -
- THE AMAZING RACE CANADA premieres Monday, July 15 -

To tweet this release:http://bit.ly/14sq8Ef

TORONTO, June 24, 2013 /CNW/ - Canadians auditioned by the thousands, but only nine teams were chosen to compete in the race of a lifetime. Now, the wait is over. Today, CTV unveiled the first two teams competing on THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, this summer's most-anticipated television series. Hosted by Olympic Champion Jon Montgomery (@jrmonty12), the first team announced to embark on the thrilling, all-Canadian race around the country is Jody, a Canadian Forces veteran from Ottawa, and his dedicated brother Cory, from Edmonton. Joining them are Kristen and Darren, a couple of avid outdoor enthusiasts in top physical condition from British Columbia, who share a passion for positive thinking and a love of all living things. In total, nine teams will compete for the historic half a million dollar grand prize, with three more teams announced tomorrow (June 25), two on Wednesday (June 26), and the final two pairings on Thursday (June 27). Set to anchor CTV's Summer 2013 schedule, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT beginning July 15 on CTV (visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times).

**Media Note** Download artwork for THE AMAZING RACE CANADA at BellMediaPR.ca

"Canadians will be blown away by how these teams interact with their partners and with each other as they race across the country," said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. "These nine teams are the best of the best, and viewers can expect an incredible amount of excitement and drama."

"With thousands and thousands of applications for THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, we had the near impossible task of picking nine teams to run the race," said John Brunton, Chairman and CEO Insight Productions. "We had so many top notch groups to choose from we could have filled multiple seasons. Canadians showed us once again why this is the best country in the world, and our cast just magnifies our diversity and spirit."

Below are the first two teams announced to compete in THE AMAZING RACE CANADA. Click on the team names for detailed bios and photography.

JODY and CORY - Brothers

Name: Jody Mitic
Age: 36
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
Current occupation: Army Sniper (Ret.)/Motivational Speaker
Twitter: @JODYMITIC, #jodyandcory

Name: Cory Mitic
Age: 32
Hometown: Edmonton, AB
Current occupation: Labour Relations Officer
Twitter: @Miticthecritic, #jodyandcory

Audition Video: http://www.ctv.ca/TheAmazingRaceCanada/Teams/JodyCory.aspx

Motto: "They are the enemy and we shall destroy them."

How will they plan to win the Race: Focus, hard work, calculated risk.

KRISTEN and DARREN  - Dating Couple

Name: Kristen Idiens
Age: 32
Hometown: Fairmont Hot Springs, BC
Current occupation: Outdoor Adventure Guide
Twitter: @KristenDarrenBC, #kristenanddarren

Name: Darren Trapp
Age: 26
Hometown: Fairmont Hot Springs, BC
Current occupation: White-water raft guide, lifeguard
Twitter: @KristenDarrenBC, #kristenanddarren

Audition Video: http://www.ctv.ca/TheAmazingRaceCanada/Teams/KristenDarren.aspx

Motto: "We believe strongly in equity for all living creatures and creating our own realities through positive thinking and sharing love everywhere we go."

How will they plan to win the Race: "Using our fitness level, logic, resourcefulness and maintaining a positive attitude towards each challenge."

Thousands of teams have entered, but only one team will run away with the historic grand prize for THE AMAZING RACE CANADA. Valued at more than half a million dollars including $250,000 in cash, the prize also features the opportunity to fly free for a year for two anywhere Air Canada flies worldwide (175 destinations) in Executive First Class (based on 10 trips for two), and two 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingrays. In total, the prize is equal to 167,224 hockey pucks, 178,572 cans of beer, and 33,356 half-liter jars of pure Canadian maple syrup.

With the knowledge that most Canadians have not travelled beyond their own province, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA gives Canadians the opportunity to race around Canada and discover the country they love in a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Teams will race to the finish line, criss-crossing up to 23,000 kilometres. A stunning depiction of the Canadian fabric, the teams will travel through both the country's urban centres as well as the most remote outposts in the land, all while exploring its broad cultural and ethnic diversity, wildlife, and iconic landmarks. Fans are encouraged to follow @AmazingRaceCDA and stay tuned to the CTV Facebook page for updates.

THE AMAZING RACE CANADA will also air TSN on Tuesdays at midnight ET beginning July 16, on RDS2 Wednesdays at 6 p.m. ET beginning July 17, and TSN2 on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET beginning July 17, as well as on demand across CTV's digital platforms: including CTV.ca, the CTV App, the CTV Mobile channel on Bell Mobile TV, and through video on demand partners such as Bell Fibe TV following the broadcast..

The four top-tier sponsors for THE AMAZING RACE CANADA are Air Canada, BlackBerry^®, INTERAC^®, and Chevrolet Canada.

THE AMAZING RACE CANADA is based on THE AMAZING RACE, the nine-time, Emmy® award-winning, hit program created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri that premiered in 2001 in the United States. van Munster, Doganieri, and Mark Vertullo are executive producers for Worldrace Productions, a division of Profiles Television. Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman are executive producers for Jerry Bruckheimer Television. The program is produced in association with ABC Studios. The U.S. version of THE AMAZING RACE was a Top 3 series last fall on CTV and is this season's #1 reality program in Canada with an average audience of 2.7 million viewers.

THE AMAZING RACE CANADA will be the 12^th international version to launch outside of the United States, joining Asia, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Israel, Latin America, Norway, Philippines, Ukraine and Vietnam as territories with an original THE AMAZING RACE production.

THE AMAZING RACE CANADA will be produced by Insight Productions in association with CTV and with the support of Profiles Television. Executive Producers for Insight Productions are John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby, and Supervising Producer is Mark Lysakowski. Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri are executive producers for Profiles Television. Robin Johnston is the CTV Production Executive. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter:
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television
@AmazingRaceCDA
#RaceCDA
@AirCanada
@chevrolet

Facebook:
facebook.com/ctv

About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned and co-produced some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, while working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, THE LISTENER, and MOTIVE, the #1 new Canadian series of the 2012/13 season. Premiering this summer are relationship comedy SATISFACTION and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, a Canadian-produced, complementary version of the hit international series. To premiere later in the 2013/14 season are the drama series PLAYED, multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT, and hit international format MASTERCHEF CANADA. Among the scripted series on Bell Media specialty channels are the two-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the recently renewed ORPHAN BLACK, and upcoming drama BITTEN. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to reality series PANIC BUTTON and BRAVE NEW GIRL, game shows MATCH GAME and POP QUIZ, and factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL, and LAST CAR STANDING. In total, Bell Media ordered 27 new original Canadian series in 2012, and put 35 scripted projects into development.

About CTV
CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada's most-watched television network for the past 12 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at CTV.ca.

About Insight Production Company Ltd.
Insight Production Company Ltd., headed by John Brunton & Barbara Bowlby has become an industry leader in the creative development, financing and production of highly rated television programs and cutting edge multiplatform content for the global market in every genre. Since 1979, it has been recognized for its reputation for outstanding quality as the recipient of numerous International awards, including multiple Gemini's. The company has created thousands of hours of groundbreaking television that continues to be broadcast over major networks worldwide. For more information visit www.insighttv.com.

Image with caption: "L-R: Jody and Cory (CNW Group/CTV)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130624_C2771_PHOTO_EN_28415.jpg

Image with caption: "L-R: Kristen and Darren (CNW Group/CTV)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130624_C2771_PHOTO_EN_28417.jpg

SOURCE: CTV

Jacqui VanSickle, CTV, 416.384.5091 or [email protected]
Jim Quan, CTV, 416.384.5311 or [email protected]
Cary Mignault, Unit Publicity Manager, Insight Productions, 416-435-9295, [email protected]