Edmonton teams join Amazing Race Canada

An Enoch Cree woman who was the first aboriginal woman to win the Mrs. Universe international title has teamed with her stepdad as one of the 10 teams competing in this year’s Amazing Race Canada.

Ashley Callingbull and her stepfather, Joel Ground, are one of two teams from the Edmonton area in this year’s series, which premières June 28 on CTV.

Callingbull, 26, is an actress and motivational speaker who describes herself as “confident, fast learner and hard worker,” but she admits to a phobia about bugs. Since winning the Mrs. Canada title last year — she was also the first Canadian to win — she has become a voice for First Nations issues. Ground, 42, who lives in Enoch, is an automotive mechanic whose phobia is heights.

According to the show’s website, they “hope their presence will be a positive influence on First Nations people.”

Twins Rita and Yvette Yakibonge, who live in Edmonton, are French-speaking sisters. Born in Montreal, the 23-year-olds just graduated from university and are described as “sassy twins known for being loud and having fun.” Rita is an account representative and Yvette a Service Canada agent. Their phobias are heights (Rita) and large bodies of water (Yvette).

A third Alberta team is Lowell and Julie Taylor from Lethbridge. He’s a 34-year-old psychologist who is legally blind. Julie, 22, is a speech pathologist.

The other contestants include a teacher, a dairy farmer, a fitness instructor, an opera singer, a lawyer and a barber.

The winners take home $250,000. The series attracted 2.6 million viewers each week last summer and is the most-watched Canadian television show ever. Dory, voiced by comedian Ellen DeGeneres, is determined to find her parents in the Finding Nemo sequel, Finding Dory.