Tova Sherman

**Tova Sherman** was a contestant on Season 1.

## Background

*Retrieved from CBC.ca*

Tova is a vivacious east coaster who has yet to meet an obstacle she couldn’t tackle. Despite being diagnosed with severe ADHD and even being kicked out of high school, Tova has dedicated her life to proving that challenges can become strengths. She is co-founder and CEO of reachAbility, a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching and empowering people with disabilities. She started her multi-million dollar philanthropic venture with just a desk and a phone. It’s her fearlessness and dogged determination that make her a hero and leader to many people.

Tova’s power of persuasion, wit and self-managing skills give her an edge in all areas of her life – she’s ready to show the nation the value of "some old fashioned street smarts".

## Episode 101

Before Tova was summoned to the stage, a clip of her and the other three contestants introducing themselves was shown. In this clip, apart from introducing herself, Tova stated that she is at her best when she is working in high-pressure and time-sensitive situations since she is all about solutions. She also stated that she applied to be on *Canada's Smartest Person* because she, as a person diagnosed with severe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), wants to prove that people with ADHD are not only wonderful, but smart too. Tova was the first contestant to be personally introduced by Jessi Cruickshank as she entered the stage, before Kiel Lemmen, Roselyn Kelada-Sedra, and Albert Tam. In the first challenge, Moving Sum, Tova got 3 correct answers in the first round, 4 in the second round, and 3 in the final round. With a total of 10 correct answers, Tova finished in 2nd place and was awarded 3 overall points.

In the second challenge, Spin-a-Speech, Tova was the first contestant to give a speech and had to give a eulogy as her speech. She said, "What can I say about the great Colin Mochrie that he himself did not say, especially after a little **vodka**? Colin, you might think, was **verbose**. I like to think of him as, I don't know, **jubilant**. And it is with great **sorrow** today that I come to you. Excuse me, there's something in my **cornea**. It is today that I come to you to speak of the **angelic** Colin Mochrie, the **exceptional**. If he hadn't have gone on that **vacation**, oh, what we could have gotten with each other. You know, his **Rottweiler**, as you could see right here with the tears in his eyes, always said to me–I talk dog. He always says to me, 'Tova, when Colin and I were **surfing** that Internet, a little **elixir** on one side, a little something on the other–'" Tova received a score of 11 words. Guest judge Colin Mochrie commented that Tova could have been a little more tender in her speech, but also stated that it was coherent and lovely and joked that it was brave of her to "kill off the person who's judging her." Colin ranked Tova in 2nd place for her overall performance and Tova was awarded 3 overall points as a result.

In the third challenge, Faces, Tova got 4 correct answers. As a result, Tova finished in 1st place and was awarded 5 overall points. In the fourth challenge, Model Mayhem, Tova selected 9 out of the 15 correct items for her model. She selected the incorrect bag, bag scarf, hat, jacket, necklace, and scarf. As a result, Tova finished in last place and was awarded 1 overall point.

In the fifth challenge, Twisty Tune, Tova received an initial time of 1 minute and 19 seconds, but due to making 15 errors, received 1 minute and 15 seconds of added time. With a total time of 2 minutes and 34 seconds, Tova finished in last place and was awarded 2 overall points. After the first five challenges, Tova had received a total of 14 overall points. As a result, she tied with Kiel for 3rd place and both were eliminated. Jessi prompted applause for Tova and Kiel in spite of their shared elimination.

After the sixth and final challenge, the Gauntlet, ended and Albert was declared the first finalist of the season, Tova and the other three contestants celebrated onstage with Jessi.

### Summary of Results

 3

  WON  This contestant won the final challenge and advanced to the finale.
  LOST  This contestant lost the final challenge and was eliminated from the competition.
  ELIMINATED  This contestant was already eliminated from the competition.
     This contestant qualified for the final challenge due to a sufficient total score.
     This contestant was eliminated from the competition due to an insufficient total score.
     Denotes a challenge that is based on linguistic intelligence.
     Denotes a challenge that is based on physical intelligence.
     Denotes a challenge that is based on musical intelligence.
     Denotes a challenge that is based on visual intelligence.
     Denotes a challenge that is based on social intelligence.
     Denotes a challenge that is based on logical intelligence.
#### Notes

1. ↑ Despite sharing a total score of 14, Tova placed 1st in one challenge and Kiel did not place 1st in any. Therefore, Tova and Kiel placed 3rd and 4th, respectively, for this preliminary episode.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 http://web.archive.org/web/20140919091043/http://www.cbc.ca/smartestperson/participants/tova-sherman
2. ↑ https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2535618049 (33:25)
3. ↑ https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2535618049