Two Mississauga families selected for popular reality TV show

If you regularly watch Family Feud Canada on the CBC, you might be happy to hear that two local families were selected to compete on the wildly popular reality show.

In fact, one family’s episode aired on Feb. 3. 

Hosted by comedian and actor Gerry Dee, Family Feud Canada will feature–by the end of its season–approximately 70 families from across Canada. The families were selected from thousands of applications and hundreds of in-person auditions across 16 cities from coast-to-coast-to-coast.

On Feb. 3, the Varughese family appeared on the show to face off against the McGeough family.

Heidi, Liz, Jobin, Hinta and Hilda 

The Varughese family members are first-generation South Asian-Canadians who have been watching Family Feud since the 1970s. The team consists of a family physician, environmental biotechnologist, real estate broker, and a CFO of a cannabis-infused beverage company. Another interesting fact? The girls’ names all start with “H” due to a South Indian custom of naming kids with the same letter.

If you missed the Varughese family (who will not be advancing to the next round, unfortunately), do not fret–another Mississauga family is set to appear on the show on Feb. 11. 

Hasina, Adeola, Huda, Melinda and Zaahira

The Joseph sisters–Hasina, Adeola, Huda, Melinda and Zaahira–are “strong and fierce ladies who will go the distance to get a win.” All adventurous athletes, one is a former Toronto Argonaut’s cheerleader and pro gymnast, one played professional soccer, one is a yogi, and another sister is a dragon boat racer. 

For those who have yet to check out the show, it’s broadcast four nights a week (Monday through Thursday) on CBC. It can also be streamed on CBC Gem. 

“It has been an incredible experience meeting the families, hearing their stories and of course, actually playing Family Feud Canada,” said host Gerry Dee in an earlier news release. 

“The level of energy and outpouring of positivity from the contestants has been amazing to witness. I’ve had a number of families tell me they are organizing viewing parties in their communities with their loved ones and hometowns rallying behind them, which is something that I think Canadians do so well.”

As for how the show works, winning families can return to play three nights in a row for the opportunity to win up to $30,000 in money per family. 

First introduced in the U.S. in 1976, the much-loved game show has been picked up in 72 international markets to date including the United Kingdom, Australia, France, India, Indonesia, and the United States.

Family Feud Canada is taped in front of a studio audience at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto.

Almost 2,000 families applied from coast-to-coast-to-coast (that’s 10,000 individuals) and 575 families were invited to audition in person. Mississauga was one of the top five cities with the most applications.