After watching the American television reality show The Amazing Race for 22 seasons, Innisfail's Pierre Cadieux is finally realizing a dream come true for himself and best friend – Airdrie's Jamie Cumberland.
For years they wanted to be contestants on the U.S. show but were told they had to be American citizens or residents. And then one day Cumberland heard the news that Canada was making its own distinctly Canadian version.
“Jamie saw a CTV commercial one night and phoned me instantly and said, ‘You won't believe what is coming to Canada. The race is coming. We have to apply,” said Cadieux.
And that they did, and the pair are now one of nine teams competing for $250,000 in prize money for this year's Amazing Race Canada. The 10-episode show begins Monday, July 15 on CTV.
Cadieux, 38, said he and Jamie applied with a firm conviction they had to be distinct from the rest of the contestants. Both men are gay, having met 15 years ago through an Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association fundraising dance.
“We've seen different personalities make the show. Our opinion was, ‘Where else do you find a couple of gay cowboys?' We can openly come out of the closet and say, ‘I like country and western lifestyle and I am also gay. They've had cowboys but not gay cowboys,” said Cadieux, emphasizing that while he and Cumberland, who grew up in Red Deer, are best friends and partners on the show they are not life partners.
“At the end of the day we wanted to tell our story. I think the public perceives a cowboy stereotypically as somebody who is hard as nails and goes out everyday and ropes calves, does all the things a cowboy does. Part of him also wears his heart on a sleeve.
“I think it is important that we push the barrier just a little bit, and say, “they are that and there is so much more,” added Cadieux, who did all the filming for the show with Cumberland throughout the month of May. “Just because you are a cowboy doesn't mean that you can't be gay and have feelings.”
Cadieux can't speak about where the show was filmed or who ultimately won but he is more than willing to say the entire process was extraordinary.
“This experience was the most rewarding yet challenging, yet incredible, yet amazing all wrapped up in one incredible package,” said Cadieux. “This show catches you with some really big highs. Some days things go your way, and everything is great, and some days things just don't go your way and catches you at a very low point where you are vulnerable, exhausted and you are tired - all those things.
“I'm not going to give any more away other than the ride was one that was rocky at times,” he added. “But like the sport of rodeo there are good days and there were bad days, and on the bad days you just pick yourself up and get back on the horse.”
While Cadieux adores the cowboy and western lifestyle he loves Innisfail even more. He came to area in 2007 with his life partner Dwayne Sparks. They were living happily near Gleniffer Lake with their two teenage boys, Wyatt and John, until 2010 when Dwayne tragically passed away from a heart illness. Cadieux, who is an executive with ATB Financial corporate head office, then moved to Innisfail with his two beloved boys.
“This community has been awesome. I have never had a problem. I have never encountered one single instance where I felt anything negative towards me because I am a gay man,” said Cadieux. “Innisfail has been a wonderful home to raise our children.”
And he hopes with all his heart that his performance on Amazing Race Canada – win or lose – will make Innisfail and all of Central Alberta proud.
“I hope everyone enjoys the experience and goes through the journey with me on television. That's what these reality shows do,” said Cadieux. “I really hope that my kids, family members and anybody who knows me in town or if they don't know me, will enjoy the little bit of comic relief, the humour, the fun, the Canadianism that was what this show was all about.”
