Amazing Race Canada - Season 1 airports recap

With Season 2 upon us, we thought we would recap the airports that the Amazing Race Canada teams visited in Season 1.

We started with our Amazing Race Canada - Season 1 Airport Quiz. Did you try it out? How did you do? If not, take the quiz now and check your memory!.

In Season 1, The Amazing Race Canada's visited 12 Canadian airports (the links below go to our transportation guides for each):

Air Canada is The Amazing Race Canada's lead sponsor

• Calgary International Airport (YYC)
• Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
• Halifax International Airport (YHZ)
• Iqaluit Airport (YFB)
• Kelowna International Airport (YLW)
• Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
• Quebec City Jean Lasage International Airport (YQB)
• Regina Airport (YQR)
• Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
• Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
• Whitehorse International Airport (YXY)
• Yellowknife Airport (YZF)

As Season 1 unfolded, we blogged about the visits, and a bit more about the airports themselves. If you'd like to read up, here's a link to all our Amazing Race Canada Season 1 blog posts.

We also did a little feature on Toronto Billy Bishop City Centre Airport (YTZ) as, while the teams didn't visit the airport, they did visit the Toronto Islands, in the city centre, where YTZ is located (read it here).

We hope you will follow along as we blog about the airports visited on Season 2 of The Amazing Race Canada. We'll even tell you about the best ways to get to/from each, in case you are inspired to visit!

Related resources:

• 5 Busiest Airports in Canada 
• Canada's Story - Airport Councils International
• End of Days - YYZ to discontinue bus service 
• Do we really hate taxis?

Amazing Race Canada Season 2 - starts July 8th!

Oh Canada! The Amazing Race Canada is back for another season!

The new season of The Amazing Race Canada is set to kick off on July 8th on CTV.

Here are some highlights from the official press release:

Back this summer with all-new teams and exciting, edge-of-your-seat challenges, the most-watched Canadian television series on record returns for a second season of action-packed adventure. Season 1 of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA raced ahead of the pack with an average audience of 3.5 million viewers each week, and garnered two Canadian Screen Award wins for Best Photography in a Lifestyle or Reality/Competition Program or Series, and Best Writing in a Lifestyle or Reality/Competition Program or Series.

The most-watched Canadian television series on record kicks-off its heart-pounding second season in a new timeslot, airing Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT, beginning July 8 on CTV and CTV GO.

What isn't in the press release is one of the most exciting aspects of Season 2: all applicants were required to have a valid passport and be eligible to travel anywhere in the world. As much as we loved the focus on Canada least year, rumours about international travel on The Race this year are most welcome! 

What we're excited about:

• International travel - we wonder what airports the teams will visit?
• Rex Harrington will be a competitor (the retired dancer)

What we hope to see this season:

• Visits to the Canadian provinces missed in Season 1: Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island
• More Canadian flags!

Be sure you follow:

• @AmazingRaceCDA - the official show tweets
• @jonmonty - Jon Montgomery, the show's host (and Olympian!)
• @ihatetaxis - we'll be blogging and tweeting about the airports visited

Related resources:

• The Amazing Race Canada - the official CTV website
• Meet the Contestants of Amazing Race Canada, Season 2
• Read the full press release

Amazing Race Canada - Week 8: YFB, YHZ

Week 8 of The Amazing Race Canada began in Iqaluit, Nunavut.

Aerial view of Iqaluit, Nanavut, Canada.

If you missed it, our Week 7 blog post last week highlighted many of the unique challenges of air travel in this remote region of Canada, as well as the beauty and culture of this unique community.

So, onto Week 8, as the teams departed from Iqaluit Airport (YFB), and flew to Halifax, Nova Scotia, one of Canada's beautiful Maritime provinces.

As with our most recent Amazing Race Canada blog posts, we will focus on the airport and other items of interest in the region (as there are many different sites doing a great job of recapping the teams and the race itself!).

Halifax's airport has won numerous international awards.

At the beginning of Week 8, the teams arrived in Halifax International Airport (YHZ). It's officially called Halifax Robert L. Stanfield International Airport, named to honour former Nova Scotia Premier, "Honest Bob" (Robert) Stanfield.

Halifax Airport is open and bright.

If you are compelled to visit, chances are you won't get the same transportation pre-arranged as the teams did. And you'll need a transportation plan, as Halifax Airport is located 35 kilometres from the city of Halifax.

But, good news: getting to/from Halifax Airport just got much easier this week!

On September 3, 2013, the Halifax Airport Express shuttle commenced service. The shuttle will operate from YHZ airport to major hotels and universities downtown (and visa versa, of course!). You can even book online. Learn more about the Halifax Airport shuttle here.

This is in addition to the MetroX 320 airport bus. Halifax Airport bus service was introduced when the prior shuttle service closed down in October 2012, and there is definite hope that it will continue, as it offers a very economical alternative. Learn more about the Halifax Airport bus here.

You might also be interested to learn about the unique role the team at Halifax Airport played during 9/11. Just one of many Canadian airports to accept diverted flights and passengers on September 11, 2001, the role played by Halifax's airport was highlighted in a CBC news story on the 10th anniversary.

As it turns out, at the end of Week 8's episode, the teams were still in Halifax (in a bit of a "to be continued" cliffhanger), so we'll pick up our coverage here next week.

Amazing Race Canada - Week 6: YQR, YUL, YYZ, YQB

Another week, another 4 airports! In Week 6 of The Amazing Race Canada, the teams moved between two cities, via two different routes.

Teams lifted off for this leg of the race from Regina International Airport (YQR). We wrote about this airport - and it's transportation issues - in our Week 5 blog post.

Some of the teams connected through Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL), Canada's 3rd busiest airport.


Just a few teams passed through Montreal's airport...

Too bad the visit was so brief. Named a UNESCO City of Design, Montreal is one North America's liveliest cities, with historical buildings dating from the 17th century. Maybe they will come back?

Other teams connected through Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), not the first visit here during the race!

The destination for the week was the amazing, historic Quebec City.

Bonjour! Welcome to Quebec City Airport!

The teams arrived at Quebec City Jean Lasage International Airport (YQB).

If you visit, you'll enjoy this airport, twice voted Best Regional Airport in North America by the Airports Council International's Airport Service Quality (ASQ) program (2010, 2011). That's a pretty high honour! You'll find a taxi the best way to get into the city from the airport. There is a bus, but it only runs Monday to Friday, a little too inconvenient for most travellers. Fortunately, the taxi ride is short: YQB is just 11 kilometres southwest of the city.

Predictably, upon arrival in Quebec City, the Amazing Race Canada teams were faced with several language related challenges, testing their French language skills, and creativity. Great fun to watch - but don't worry, you can get along here without French (just learn a few words, as a courtesy, and the locals will welcome you.

Historic Vieux-Québec (Old Town) is divided into two parts: the Haute-Ville (Upper Town) and the Basse-Ville (Lower Town).

The fabulous funicular in old Quebec City!

While there are staircases that connect the two (!), most everyone takes the very convenient Funiculaire (Funicular). It's cheap and fun.

One of old Quebec City's amazing murals
(image source: Rambling Traveler, cc on Flickr)

Down below, in Basse-Ville, is where you can find several wonderful murals painted on the sides of old buildings, one of which was featured on the Race (do you think you could have worked out that puzzle of missing pieces, described in French?!). This is also where the teams participated in ice carving, part of the winter culture here.

The stunning Fairmont Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City

Up above, in Haute-Ville, is the stunning Chateau Frontenac. While this grand hotel only got a walk-on role in the race, it truly is a gem worth visiting, even if you can't afford to stay (try a drink in the little bar overlooking the river).

Whether you stay in the historic old city, or downtown (just outside the city walls, adjacent to the Plains of Abraham the teams visited), you'll find Quebec City to be pedestrian friendly, so no need to rent a car for your visit. Unlike the Amazing Race Canada teams, you will be able to stroll the streets at a leisurely pace...

Au revior!

Source: all photos wiki commons, except where noted

Amazing Race Canada - Week 2: What's in Store?

Like you, we wonder about the details of where the teams will go, and what they'll do. Do we know more than you? Only time will tell. What do YOU think?

Where will The Amazing Race Canada go in Week 2? Pick the best set of clues:

• A pair of sticks. An enormous tail. A dull edge. 
• A green hat. An enormous head. A sharp edge. 
• A pointy head. An enormous elastic. An uneven edge. 
• A head on a stick. An enormous song. A jagged edge. 
• A fishy stick. An enormous rope. A smooth edge. 
• A pair of dimes. An enormous bone. A bumpy edge. 
• A red jacket. An enormous beast. A razor edge.

Record your answer in the poll above... or add your own guesses to the comments section below.