‘Canada’s Got Talent’ winner looking to push musical career after taking $1M prize

Newly crowned “Canada’s Got Talent” champion Rebecca Strong says she is confident the win will bring her more opportunities to expand her career.

One day after the Indigenous singer from Prince Albert, Sask., took home the competition’s first $1-million prize, Strong said she expected the victory will help push her ambitions to the next level.

“This means a lot of musical growth and a lot of opportunities I’ve been waiting for like recording new music, and travelling and playing more cities, hopefully outside of Canada too,” Strong said Wednesday in a video call.

Strong claimed “CGT”‘s first million-dollar season in a two-hour finale broadcast live on Citytv from Niagara Falls., Ont.

In her final bid for Canada’s vote, Strong belted out Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” on Tuesday’s episode, which saw Halifax comedian Travis Lindsay, Vancouver Island dance duo Funkanometry and Mission, B.C., singer Eshan Sobti join her in the top 4.

Viewers across Canada voted on the winner of season 3’s expanded prize, billed as the biggest cash award in Canadian television history.

The 20-year-old Strong said appearing on “Canada’s Got Talent” marked her biggest audience yet.

“I’ve been singing on stages since I was five so it’s crazy to think that this is even happening,” Strong said.

She encouraged anyone with a talent to pursue it.

“If you’re having doubts, don’t even think about what other people are going to think about you, your talent, or what you want to show the world and just do what you do,” she said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2024

Alex Goudge, The Canadian Press