Canadian Olympic gold medalist and host of Amazing Race Canada, Jon Montgomery spoke to a crowd at Keyano Theater as part of the Wood Buffalo Regional Libraries (WBRL) Centre Stage speaking series.
Montgomery won his gold medal in Men’s Skelton at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. In celebration, he walked through a snowy Whistler village, chugging a pitcher of beer. A moment that now serves as a symbol of Canadian lore.
Proudly Canadian, Montgomery acts as an ambassador for the country as he showcases the Canada’s most beautiful sights as host of Amazing Race Canada. A position that he says has given him an even greater appreciation for the country.
“I already had a profound sense I was a lucky man to be Canadian, but doing this show, you get to meet other Canadians, you get to see how they interact with the racers and a sense of commonality amongst the people,” said Montgomery.
Recently Fort McMurray was featured in an episode of season five, that was shot almost a year after the 2016 wildfire.
Montgomery told MyMcMurray that he had a heavy heart during filming while the community was trying to rebuild. He described the feeling as being bittersweet and absolutely necessary.
“The bitter part was the fact that there was so much devastation and so much hardship, but the sweet part was the sense of community, comradery and how people banded together,” said Montgomery.
“We needed to show Canadians what was happening up here and what a community that rallies around a tragedy like that can be like and what it can be like for moving forward. That’s something I think every Canadian should watch, know about and at least realize exists here in the north.”
The episode aired on Tuesday, July 11, but can still be watched on TELUS TV on demand.
In his genuinely funny and inspiring talk, Montgomery shared his Olympic journey and important lessons on teamwork, leadership, and dreaming big. Fans got to ask him questions about his career, and the show and some even got to wear his gold medal around their neck.
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