The auditions took place in front of the judges and a live audience. At any time during the audition, the judges showed their disapproval of the act by pressing a buzzer, which lights a large red "X" on the stage. If all the judges pressed their buzzers, the act must end. Voting worked on a majority-of-three basis, where three positive votes from the judges were required. The Golden Buzzer is placed in the center of the stage, and each judge (or the host) can only press the Golden Buzzer once each, sending an act straight to the semi-finals.
In the final audition episode before the semi-finals, the dance troupe The Renegades received a special collective golden buzzer from all four judges and Ell.[3] This was only the second time in the history of the franchise in North America that this occurred, following young singer Victory Brinker in the 16th season of America's Got Talent.[4]
Semi-finals
The semi-finals and final were broadcast through three episodes, two semi-finals and one finale. Judges could still end a performance early with three X's. The acts competed for two judge votes that send them straight to the finals, and the rest compete for a Canada-wide vote that dictates the rest of the finalists. The judges were asked to express their views on each act's performance. Phone lines, Twitter, Facebook, texting and online voting platforms opened for a one-hour after all acts performed. The public voted for the act they thought was the best. Voters could submit a total of fifty votes (ten in each platform). After the votes were counted, the act that polled the highest number of public votes, automatically was placed in the final. The judges then chose between the second and third most popular acts, with the winner of that vote also gaining a place in the final. All other acts were then eliminated from the competition.
It was announced in October 2021 that Kardinal Offishall, Trish Stratus, Lilly Singh and Howie Mandel would serve as judges for the show, with Lindsay Ell as host.[5] The semi-finals later would employ a reduced panel with actor/director Jason Priestley sitting in for both Offishall and Stratus;[6] Stratus reported on her Instagram account that she had contracted COVID-19 the week of the semi-finals taping and thus had to isolate,[7] while Offishall was away for undisclosed reasons.
Simon Cowell, the creator and executive producer of the franchise and a judge in the British and American editions, is not a regular judge of the competition but appeared on the judging panel for the finale.[1]
Season overview
Winner | Runner-up | Third place
Finalist | Semi-finalist | Golden Buzzer (Auditions)