Go to main content

EDMONTON’S JOSHUA WILLIAMS ADVANCES TO THE FINALE OF CBC’S CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON SEASON 3

- Six new competitors battle it out Sunday, Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. (8:30NT) on CBC for their chance to win the “Canada’s Smartest Person” title and new this season, a $20,000 donation will be made in the winner’s name to a charity of their choice - 

- World-renowned film producer Ivan Reitman to appear as celebrity guest -

Following an evening of mind-bending challenges, Edmonton youth program director Joshua Williams became the second competitor to advance on CBC’s hit series CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON. He will join Stephanie Harvey of Québec City in the finale, where he will continue to battle for the title of “Canada’s Smartest Person” and, new this season, a $20,000 donation to a charity of the winner’s choice. The search continues next week with six new competitors going head-to-head Sunday, Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. (8:30NT) on CBC for the third coveted spot in the season finale, with the help of celebrity guest judge, world-renowned film producer Ivan Reitman (Animal House, Stripes, Ghostbusters).

The third episode’s six new competitors, representing regions from across Canada, are: Rebecca Bromwich, 39, a lawyer from Calgary, AB; Frankie Cena, 24, an international speech and debate coach from Vancouver, BC; Ryan Coelho, 30, a millennial consultant from Toronto, ON; Gwyneth Foster, 16, a high school student from Uxbridge, ON; Maria Samson, 33, a national team rugby player from Calgary, AB; and Vanessa Vakharia, 35, a math tutor and entrepreneur from Toronto, ON.

Each week on CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON, host Jessi Cruickshank (The Goods), with special guest judges, guides the competitors and viewers through the hour-long competition series, which illuminates how Canadians are smart based on the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. In each of the first five episodes, six competitors go head-to-head in a series of fun and revealing challenges that test six areas of intelligence: linguistic, physical, musical, visual, social and logical, with one winner advancing to the championship finale. Then, in the climactic season finale, five finalists will battle it out to claim the title of CANADA'S SMARTEST PERSON and a $20,000 donation made in their name to the charity of their choice.

New this season is CSP SmartPlay, where viewers can join in on the fun from home by playing along in real-time during the broadcast, and CSP LIVE, an exclusive behind-the-scenes interactive show, hosted by Joe Motiki and streamed live Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET – both accessible via the CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON Facebook page.

Find CANADA'S SMARTEST PERSON:
Website: cbc.ca/smartestperson
Twitter: @CanadasSmartest #SmartestPerson
Facebook: facebook.com/canadassmartestperson
Instagram: CanadasSmartest

-30-

About Media Headquarters
Media Headquarters is a leading Canadian television and digital media production company founded by executive producer Robert Cohen. The company is recognized worldwide for producing popular and innovative original content. Media Headquarters' productions have earned dozens of international awards and the company consistently makes the Realscreen 'Global 100' List celebrating the world's best non-fiction producers. Media Headquarters specializes in the creation of unscripted series, formats, drama and children's programming. For more information visit mediahqs.net/.

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. We are Canada's trusted source of news, information and Canadian entertainment. Deeply rooted in communities all across the country, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also provide international news and information from a uniquely Canadian perspective.

For more information including series synopses, press releases, hi-res images, video clips and bios, please visit the CBC Media Centre at cbc.ca/mediacentre. Follow CBC's publicity team on Twitter @CBC_Publicity.

For more information or to request interviews, please contact:
Simon Bassett, publicist
[email protected]
416.205.8533

Discover

3 hours ago

The Tragically Hip to release live album and CBC to air The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration Concert in full

Relive the night Canada stood still for the live broadcast of The Tragically Hip’s 2016 Man Machine Poem Kingston show, re-broadcasting and streaming commercial-free on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 7 p.m. local time on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio and CBC Music’s YouTube page.
May 4th at 11:05

Son of a Critch Gets Ready to Graduate as Cameras Roll on the Final Season of the Coming-of-Age Comedy

As production begins on Season 5 of Son of a Critch (12x30), co-creator, executive producer and star Mark Critch announced today that the upcoming season will be the series’ last.
April 23rd at 11:29

CBC and BBC Northern Ireland Greenlight New Romantic Comedy Series Committed, Starring Dustin Milligan and Diona Doherty

CBC and BBC Northern Ireland today announced the greenlight of new original comedy series Committed (10x30), starring Dustin Milligan (Schitt’s Creek, Hot Frosty) and Diona Doherty (Derry Girls, Blue Lights).
April 21st at 10:40

New to CBC Gem in May 2026

Highlights of programs new to CBC Gem this May include the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards, hosted by Andrew Phung on May 31; the Asian Heritage Month Collection featuring documentary series Our Ocean Table (May 1) with journalist Hannah Sung and marine biologist and filmmaker Sonya Lee; and new CBC Kids original series Tralala (May 19), following the musical adventures of a seven-year-old frog and her dad. 
April 14th at 5:55

CBC Launches New Spring/Summer 2026 Podcast Slate

CBC, the #1 Canadian podcaster, is launching a new spring/summer slate of original podcasts, including in-depth investigations, candid personal revelations, and lighthearted comedy.