The first season of Canada's Drag Race premiered on July 2, 2020. The cast was announced on May 14, 2020. The winner of the first season of Canada's Drag Race was Priyanka, with Rita Baga and Scarlett BoBo as runners-up.Suzanne Lapointe, "‘Canada's Drag Race’ makes herstory with its first ever Queen of the North" . eTalk, September 3, 2020.
The season consisted of ten one-hour episodes.
The Season 1 queens participated in a Canada's Drag Race Anniversary Extravaganza reunion special, airing on Crave September 6, 2021, in advance of the second season launch.Chantal Cyr, "Une émission spéciale de Canada’s Drag Race en septembre" . Fugues, August 30, 2021.
Production Casting occurred in mid-2019 with production starting in fall 2019. On September 26, 2019, it was announced that the judges panel will include RuPaul's Drag Race season 11 runner-up Brooke Lynn Hytes, actor Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and fashion model Stacey McKenzie."Three fabulous judges, and one squirrel friend, are ready to preside over ‘Canada’s Drag Race’" . eTalk, September 26, 2019. Bell Media personality Traci Melchor also appeared as a recurring cast member, with the title "Canada's Squirrel Friend"; her role entailed participatory support in challenges, including co-judging the Canada Gay-M mini-challenge, hosting a sheTalk red carpet segment prior to Snatch Game, and serving as one of the judges of the Miss Loose Jaw pageant. Melchor also appeared as the special guest host for the season finale.
The series was shot in Hamilton, Ontario.
Contestants
Ages, names, and cities stated are at time of filming.
+ Contestant Age Hometown Outcome Priyanka 28 Toronto, Ontario Rita Baga 32 Montreal, Quebec Scarlett BoBo 29 Toronto, Ontario Jimbo 36 Victoria, British Columbia 4th place Lemon 23 New York City, United States 5th place Ilona Verley 24 Vancouver, British Columbia 6th place BOA 24 Windsor, Ontario 7th place Kiara 22 Montreal, Quebec 8th place Tynomi Banks 38 Toronto, Ontario 9th place Anastarzia Anaquway 37 East York, Ontario 10th place Kyne 21 Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario 11th place Juice Boxx 31 Essex, Ontario 12th place
Notes
Contestant progress
Lip syncs Legend:
Episode Contestants Song Eliminated 1 Juice Boxx vs. Lemon "I Really Like You"(Carly Rae Jepsen) Juice Boxx 2 Kyne vs. Tynomi Banks "If You Could Read My Mind"(Amber, Jocelyn Enriquez, Ultra Naté) Kyne 3 Anastarzia Anaquway vs. Tynomi Banks "Absolutely Not (Chanel Club Mix)"(Deborah Cox) Anastarzia Anaquway 4 Ilona Verley vs. Tynomi Banks "Girlfriend"(Avril Lavigne) Tynomi Banks 5 Kiara vs. Priyanka "I Drove All Night"(Céline Dion) Kiara 6 BOA vs. Ilona Verley "Scars to Your Beautiful"(Alessia Cara) BOA 7 Ilona Verley vs. Priyanka "Hello"(Allie X) Ilona Verley 8 Lemon vs. Rita Baga "You Oughta Know"(Alanis Morissette) Lemon 9 Jimbo vs. Rita Baga "Closer"(Tegan and Sara) Jimbo Episode Final contestants Song Winner 10 Priyanka vs. Rita Baga vs. Scarlett BoBo "You're a Superstar"(Love Inc.) Priyanka
Guest hosts The guest host of a Canada's Drag Race episode performs much of RuPaul's role in a regular Ru-hosted season, including the introductions to the runway and Lip Sync for Your Life segments, and delivers commentary as a judge, but does not have a direct say in determining the winners or losers of the challenges and lip-syncs.Bianca Guzzo, "Canada, Start Your Engines: IN Chats With The Judges Of Canada’s Drag Race" . IN Magazine, June 30, 2020. Season 1 guest hosts included:
Elisha Cuthbert, actress Jade Hassouné, actor, dancer and singer Deborah Cox, singer-songwriter and actress Evan Biddell, designer Mary Walsh, actress, comedian and actor Tom Green, comedian and actor Allie X, singer-songwriter Amanda Brugel, actress Michelle Visage, American singer and main judge on RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag Race UK Traci Melchor, television personality
Special guests Guests who appeared in episodes, but did not judge on the main stage.
Episode 1 Matt Barnes, photographer
Episode 3 and 10 Ralph, singer Hollywood Jade, choreographer
Episode 5 Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan, interior decorators and television presenters
Episode 6 Crystal, contestant from RuPaul's Drag Race UK Series 1
Episode 7 Stefan Brogren, actor and producer Michelle DuBarry, Canadian drag queen
Episode 9 Sabrina Jalees, comedian
Episodes
Post-production Drag Ball and Drag Superstars Separately from the production of the series, all of the queens from the season participated in Pride events for both Pride Toronto and Fierté Montreal, presented as online streaming specials due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. The Toronto event, Drag Ball presented by Crave, was streamed on June 27,Pahull Bains, "11 Virtual Pride 2020 Events Taking Place Across Canada" . Fashion, June 25, 2020. and the Montreal event, Drag Superstars, was streamed on August 14.André-Constantin Passiour, "Une édition canadienne toute spéciale de Drag Superstars". Fugues, August 9, 2020. The Toronto special was directly produced by Crave; the Montreal event was produced by a separate company, but received some production assistance and sponsorship from Crave and the Canada's Drag Race production team.
Canada's Drag Race Live at the Drive-In Following the conclusion of the season, the cast announced a cross-Canada tour, to be performed at drive-in venues due to the ongoing social distancing restrictions remaining in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.Peter Knegt, "All hail our queen: A conversation with Canada's Drag Race winner Priyanka" . CBC Arts, September 10, 2020. Brooke Lynn Hytes hosted, and Priyanka, Scarlett Bobo and Rita Baga were scheduled to appear at every date on the tour, while other cast members would perform at selected dates based on availability;Tyler Jadah, "Canada's Drag Race is coming to Montreal's drive-in venue this month" . Daily Hive, September 10, 2020. ultimately, however, both Priyanka and Brooke Lynn Hytes had to miss a couple of later dates after being forced to self-isolate due to COVID-19 exposure.
Priyanka, Scarlett Bobo, Rita Baga and Jimbo also participated in an online panel as part of the 2020 Just for Laughs festival.Jenelle Riley, "For Montreal’s Just for Laughs, the Show Will Go On(line)" . Variety, October 2, 2020.
Awards +AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryNomineesResultCanadian Screen AwardsMay 17–20, 2021 Best Reality/Competition Program or Series Michael Kot, Laura Michalchyshyn, Betty Orr, Mike Bickerton, Pam McNair, RuPaul Charles, Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, Randy Lennox, Tracey PearceVictoria Ahearn, "‘Canada’s Drag Race’ earns victory lap with leading five Canadian Screen Awards" . Toronto Star, May 17, 2021. Best Host or Presenter in Factual or Reality/Competition Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Stacey McKenzie Best Casting Heather Muir Best Direction in a Reality/Competition Series Shelagh O'Brien — "U Wear It Well" Best Writing in a Reality/Competition Series Mike Bickerton, Elvira Kurt, Jen Markowitz — "Welcome to the Family" Best Sound in a Non-Fiction Series John Diemer, Scott Brachmeyer, Daniel Hewett, Dane Kelly, Sarah Labadie, Carlo Scrignaro, Rob Taylor — "U Wear It Well" Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Non-Fiction Series Peter Faragher — "Eh-Laganza Eh-Xtravaganza" Best Supporting Performance in a Web Program or Series Priyanka — Drag Ball Best Host in a Web Program or Series Traci Melchor — Drag Ball Audience Choice Award Priyanka "2021 CSA Audience Choice Award Nominees" . ET Canada, March 16, 2021. April 10, 2022 Best Variety or Entertainment Special Canada’s Drag Race Anniversary Extravaganza Greg David, "Corner Gas Animated, The Hardy Boys, Mary Berg and Canada’s Drag Race win during Night 3 of the 2022 Canadian Screen Awards". TV, eh?, April 6, 2022. American Reality Television Awards July 8, 2021 International Reality Series Canada's Drag Race
References