Two Vancouver friends have made reality TV history, becoming the first B.C. team to win The Amazing Race Canada.
Jesse Harink and Jonathon Braun crossed the finish line first in Collingwood, Ontario, during Tuesday’s finale, beating out sibling duo Grace and Joe from Prince George and brothers EB and Blake from Toronto.
The win comes with $250,000, two 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS vehicles, and a trip around the world.
Vancouver’s Jesse Harink and Jonathon Braun tackle the final memory challenge during The Amazing Race Canada Season 11 finale. (CTV)
For Braun, the last sprint was filled with nerves.
“It was just like pure elation, also relief, because we were on our drive to the finish line, you know, we didn’t know if we were going the right way. We thought we were, but we thought maybe we’re messing something up,” he told Daily Hive in an interview on Thursday.
“There was just a lot of joy, a lot of elation and a lot of relief that it actually happened, and we didn’t see any other teams on the mat already.”
Harink said the finish felt surreal.
“It was all this anxiety and fear that you’ve had for an entire season that you just see coming to an end, and an ending that you weren’t expecting, and you’re so excited. It’s still… watching it, I get the shivers every time,” he said.
Vancouver roots
Although originally from Sherwood Park, Alberta, and Woodlawn, Ontario, the two now call Vancouver home.
They first met years ago at a gym, where Braun remembered Harink as “the biggest cheerleader.”
“Anytime I did like a really good workout or accomplished something new at the gym, Jesse was always the biggest cheerleader at the gym, and just really encourage you to keep going,” Braun said.
Their bond carried them through the toughest legs of the race, including the mosaic challenge in Episode 9.
“That was the moment the most in the race, where I thought we were about to go home,” Braun said.
Harink agreed, “We just really had to lean on each other and be there for each other and support each other and just not get angry at each other. And it just allowed us to refocus on just trying to get the challenge done. And we made it happen.”
A first for B.C.
The friends are the first B.C. team to ever win the show.
“It feels really amazing. We’re actually the first B.C. team to win the race,” Harink said.
“And the fact that the second-place team, like Grace lives in Yaletown, and her brother Joe lives in Prince George, so the fact that we had B.C. go one and two was really, really special and really cool.”
Weekly watch parties in Vancouver helped make the victory feel even bigger.
“They really made it feel like we were winning for everybody, that they were part of our team and cheering us on,” Harink said.
“And it just felt incredible.”
What’s next
Both winners said that they’re taking time to rest and celebrate with family.
“I work at a nonprofit that supports migrant workers in the city, and I really love that work. So, you know, I think the real answer is I’m gonna get back to providing free legal services to migrant workers,” Braun said.
“And then as far as, like, fun things with the money, I’m going to take my parents on a trip.”
Harink has his eyes set on something a little flashier.
“I am waiting for Cher to announce her finale tour, and then I would love to take my mom to go see Cher,” he said.
“That is that, you know, but Cher, we got to see those dates be released, so we are keeping our eyes peeled.”
Their advice for the next season of The Amazing Race‘s racers is to apply.
“So many people would do so well on this race, but they kind of get stuck at the ‘Oh, I don’t know if I should apply or not,’” Harink said.
“You gotta put your hand up to be able to go on a wild ride.”
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