Canadians are eagerly anticipating the return of one of Canada’s most popular television shows tonight. The Amazing Race Canada Season 3 begins July 8, 2015 at 9:00pm on CTV. This year’s eclectic group of contestants are competing for prizes equaling more than $1 million.

As anticipation builds for the premiere episode, we’ve put together a list of fun facts and things that you might not know about Amazing Race Canada Season 3.

1. The Amazing Race Canada Season 3 was shot in just one month (May).

2. Locations confirmed for this year’s race include Quebec City, Toronto and majestic India.

3. Rumour has it, the contestants and situations they find themselves in this season are quite funny and there are more light-hearted, comedic moments than in previous seasons.

4. The cast will find themselves in a country that for many of the small-town contestants, will be mind-blowing. The heat will be on (literally) in India.

5. Contestant Elias Theodoru is a big softie, despite the fact that he’s a professional UFC fighter!

6. Nic La Monaca played professional soccer in Italy and retired at 20 years of age due to a shoulder injury.

7. Hamilton Elliott, 20, will be the first transgender person to appear on either the American or Canadian version of the hit show. He became his transition just before turning 16 and completed it by age 18. His partner (on and off the show) Michaelia Drever, has been by his side since they were 14 and she even assists with the challenges that come with transitioning including doctor’s appointments and administering of medication.

8. Sabrina Mercuri and Nic La Monaca speak four languages – English, French, Italian, Spanish.

9. As a full-time makeup artist, Kristin Lumsden knows how to look flawless on the go. Her go-to-brand? Murad Skincare.

10. Elias Theodoru has worked as a model and has been on the cover of 10 romance novels.

11. Dana Hayward and Amanda Johnson studied previous seasons of the show to ensure they had all of the necessary skillsets to win. Neither knew how to drive a standard car, but prior to filming, they both learned the skill.

12. Nick Foti and Matt Giunta love wrestling and are pro wrestling tag team known as Asylum Burns and The Flatliners. Nick’s day job is being an elementary school teacher and Matt pays the bills as a real estate agent.

13. 62-year-old Neil Lumsden is the oldest contestant and a CFL Hall of Famer. He’s currently a coach at the University of Guelph.

14. Simi Fagbongbe and Ope Fagbongbe immigrated to Canada from Nigeria in 2006 and Simi has a long-standing love of pizza!

15. Brent Sweeney and Sean Sweeney are both students studying design in Toronto. They moved to Toronto from tiny Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia (which has a population of less than 3,000).

16. Brian Boyd and Cynthia Boyd are long-time dog-lovers and have two of their own named Napolean and Odin.

17. Susan Hayre and Sharnjit Gill met over 16 years ago while working for Federal Corrections Canada. They initially didn’t like each other, but over the years developed an understanding and then an enduring friendship.