On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, the highly anticipated Season 5 premiere of “Canada’s Got Talent” took place on CityTV, showcasing an array of talented performers competing for the grand prize of $1 million. Among the notable contestants were the country duo from Chatham-Kent, Meg and Pat Whalen, known as Deep Southwest, and Markham-based comedian Sai Kit Lo.
Deep Southwest was one of the standout acts performing that evening. The duo got their audition opportunity after announcing a new partnership with Bell for their musical comedy series. As Meg explained, “When we announced that we had our TV show partnership with Bell, Canada’s Got Talent reached out to us and they invited us to audition for them.” Their journey to the audition included several online trials, after which they were invited to perform in front of superstar judge Shania Twain at Casino Rama. “Meg and I have been on stage before, but nothing could have prepared us for that moment when just, 100,000 lights, so many cameras, and Shania Twain is just looking you in the eyes,” said Pat, expressing the overwhelming excitement of performing in such a high-stakes environment.
Notably, Tuesday night also featured Cassandra Star from Fort Frances, who put her talents on display for the judges, which include Howie Mandel, Kardinal Offishall, Katherine Ryan, and Shania Twain—the last of whom has quickly become a fan favorite. The judges remarked on the impressive level of talent this season, promising that audiences would be entertained by a diverse range of performances.
Katherine Ryan, in particular, expressed her excitement about joining the show as a judge alongside Twain. “I’m thrilled to be here, sharing my opinions and supporting the contestants,” she said in a pre-show interview. The addition of Ryan has been seen as a refreshing new dynamic for the judging panel, which continues to garner high expectations from viewers.
Sai Kit Lo, a comedian who has had prior performances at JFL Toronto and the Danforth Comedy Festival, is another contestant to watch out for. Lo, whose unique perspectives stemming from a multicultural upbringing resonate throughout his comedic performances, expressed hopes to challenge misconceptions about Asian immigrants in the comedy world. “Comedy discovered me. I never watched stand-up growing up. I went through a lot of confusion, setbacks, and wrong turns before stumbling upon it. But once I did, everything just clicked,” said Lo. He hopes his participation in Canada’s Got Talent will serve as a breakthrough opportunity, and if he wins, he plans to take bolder risks in his career.
Alongside Lo, Ottawa’s very own KP Stone performed, presenting his own local flavor to the competition. Like the others, Stone was there to showcase his talent, eager to earn a chance to win that million-dollar prize.
The enthusiasm around this season of Canada’s Got Talent is palpable, and viewers are already in suspense about which contestants will steal the spotlight in the weeks to come. With a commitment to showcasing varied talents from across the nation, the show aims to captivate its audience by highlighting stories of ambition, creativity, and the pursuit of dreams.
This promising season commenced at 7PM CST with a line-up that keeps raising the bar in Canadian entertainment. The performances, combined with the backing of star judges, are certain to make this season’s competitive spirit engaging for viewers at home.
The episode set the stage for the upcoming releases related to Deep Southwest. Their six-part series is set to air on Bell Fibe TV1 starting March 20, 2025, and singles from the show will follow with a release on March 22, 2025. As the contestants move towards the next stages of the competition, all eyes will be on the impressive talent pool that this season promises.
