CFL player, scientist, poet and teacher vie for title; viewers can play along in real time with CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON app
Gerry Dee, the award-winning comedian and star of CBC Television’s MR. D, will host CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON, the groundbreaking two-hour television special that will reveal that there is more to intelligence than having a high IQ score or being a whiz at math or trivia. CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON airs on CBC Television on Sunday, March 18 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT).
In 2011, Canadians had the opportunity to nominate themselves, or someone they know, as CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON. Drawing on the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, show producers used interviews and tests to narrow the field to four participants with well-rounded intelligence profiles.
Airing on Sunday, March 18 at 8 p.m., CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON will feature Hamilton Tiger Cats offensive linesman, Peter Dyskowski; high school science teacher, Dr. Marshall Carroll; 23-year-old student and gamer, Laura Suen; and spoken word poet, Greg Frankson participating in a series of fun and spectacular challenges aimed at testing six areas of the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. The person who proves that they have the most versatile smarts will earn the title of CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON.
CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON will also feature a lineup of special guest appearances by Arlene Dickinson (DRAGONS’ DEN), comedians Naomi Sniekus, Matt Baram and Sean Cullen!
Play along during the broadcast
On the night of the broadcast, CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON viewers can put their own wits to the test and play along simultaneously with the challenges online at cbc.ca/smartestperson or with an innovative app (for Apple iOS) created for the show. Available in early March, the play along app will help audiences discover more about their own intelligence and see how they compare to the four TV participants.
It’s not about how smart you are, rather how you are smart!
Beginning today, CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON viewers can prepare for the broadcast by taking a “How Are You Smart?” Facebook test designed to identify primary and secondary intelligence strengths. Users can share their “intelligence identity” on social media platforms and invite others to take the test as well. ‘Like’ the show at Facebook.com/canadassmartestperson or follow us on Twitter for more information.
Participant info
- Vancouver-born Peter Dyskowski is a 27-year-old offensive linesman for the Hamilton Tiger Cats. The first Canadian-born athlete to sign a scholarship with Louisiana State University, Dykowski balances his athleticism with his Mensa qualified intelligence.
- At just 23 years old, Laura Suen from Mississauga already has a double major Honours BSc in physics and cellular and molecular biology as well as a minor in mathematics. In her free time, Suen plays video games competitively and has won over $30,000 in gaming competitions.
- Dr. Marshall Carroll is a high school science teacher from Winnipeg who is educated as a theoretical quantum chemist. Also a singer-songwriter and a stand-up comedian, Carroll has been inspiring students for over 20 years.
- With an ability to create poetry at the drop of a noun, Toronto’s Greg Frankson is a spoken word artist. Following a career in education in Montreal, Frankson moved to Ottawa where he became a policy analyst for the Federal Government before pursuing a full-time career as a performance artist, emcee, mental health advocate and arts educator.
CANADA’S SMARTEST PERSON is an original Media Headquarters production produced in association with CBC Television. Created by Robert Cohen, executive producers are Robert Cohen and Shari Cohen. Louise Wood is the producer.
ABOUT MEDIA HEADQUARTERS
Media Headquarters is an internationally award-winning independent production company founded in 1999 by brother-sister team Robert Cohen and Shari Cohen. Recognized for producing high-quality and innovative programming for worldwide markets, the company’s diverse slate includes factual, dramatic, documentary and children’s programming. For more information visit mediahqs.net.
ABOUT MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES THEORY
Dr. Howard Gardner, a psychologist and professor of Cognition and Education at Harvard University, pioneered the theory of multiple intelligences in 1983. The theory proposes all humans have several kinds of intelligence that reflect different ways of interacting with the world and solving problems. Each person has a unique combination or profile of intelligences. Today, the application of multiple intelligence theory is widely embraced around the world and has had a significant impact in the realms of education, work and personal achievement.
ABOUT CBC/RADIO-CANADA
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, plus seven languages for international audiences. In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada is celebrating 75 years of serving Canadians and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada.
For more information contact:
Shauna Simons / Matt Juniper
PRAXIS
shauna@praxispr.ca / matt@praxispr.ca
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Renee Weekes
Veritas Communications
weekes@veritascanada.com
(416) 640-4155 (office) / (416) 894-7209 (cell)
