CTVIt’s a test of endurance, both physical and mental: The Amazing Race Canada. On September 10, the season seven finale aired and revealed the winners: Dr. James Makokis, an assistant professor at the University of Alberta, and his husband, Anthony Johnson, won this season of The Amazing Race Canada.
All the pairs who compete on the show have a pre-existing relationship, usually a close platonic or familial bond. The same was true for Makokis and Johnson, but they stood out from the start. As the show’s first gay, two-spirit married couple, they had the opportunity to bring light to issues facing LGBTQ+ and Indigenous Canadians, and they took it. The work they’ve done for the wider community, both during and after the show’s airing, is a fantastic use of their newfound fame.
During the season’s run, the couple held weekly viewing parties where they met with fans and talked about their experiences on the show. Not only did this bring fans closer to their favourite contestants, it also acted as a fundraiser for a cultural healing centre for Kehewin Cree Nation, a reserve located 20 kilometres south of Bonnyville. Because of Alberta’s history with compulsory sterilization policies targeted towards Indigenous people and experiences with racism within the current provincial healthcare system, some Indigenous Albertans do not feel comfortable getting help when something is wrong. Cultural healing centres help bridge that gap, ensuring that Indigenous patients can access healthcare. Makokis, a family physician, works at the cultural healing centre three times a week, and Johnson is a project consultant. Together they’ve raised thousands of dollars for the healing centre, using their time on the show to support their community in a meaningful way.
Another way the pair caught fans’ attention was with their team outfits. The bright colours and designs reflected the team’s upbeat nature, but also called attention to social issues facing Indigenous and LGBTQ+ Canadians. The colourful skirts and red bandanas called attention to Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women, and showed support for female leaders in Indigenous communities. Their shirts, sporting the message “Water is Life,” pointed to the importance of access to clean water for ceremonial and life-sustaining purposes. Makokis, who runs a medical practice that serves transgender patients, stated that the team wore skirts to show two-spirit and transgender youth that “it’s okay to be different.” In a world where climate change is at the forefront of everyone’s minds and transgender people are at a high risk of suicide, role models like Makokis and Johnson are crucially needed.
Reality TV contestants don’t have to raise huge amounts of money for community projects, or speak out on social issues. But winning a show like The Amazing Race Canada does give a person a significant amount of influence, and it’s nice to see Makokis and Johnson using theirs to help others. The Amazing Race Canada highlights those who are capable of incredible things, and this season’s winners are just as amazing as the race itself.
