The fourth season of Canadian Idol began in February 2006 ran until September 2006. Zack Werner, Jake Gold, Sass Jordan, and Farley Flex returned to judge, and Ben Mulroney returned to host, with Elena Juatco as the new roving reporter. The season premiered on May 29, five days after the finale of American Idol Season 5. The Canadian Idol title was awarded to competitor Eva Avila on September 17, 2006.
Auditions Auditions were held in eleven cities in the Winter and early Spring of 2006 in the following order: February 18 & 19: Edmonton February 23: Yellowknife (advance city) February 25 & 26: Vancouver March 4 & 5: Regina March 11 & 12: Winnipeg March 17 & 18: Montreal March 25 & 26: Ottawa April 8 & 9: Halifax April 18: St. John's April 22 & 23: Kitchener, Ontario April 28 & 30: Toronto
Notable auditioners Leo Johnson: It was their 4th audition for the show; they are notable for farting just as they were about to sing, and then gasping "I totally just farted!", which sent the judges into a laughter frenzy. This infamous moment later aired on Most Outrageous Moments, and is very popular on YouTube.
Top 22, the semi-finals For the fourth season, the format of the preliminary rounds was changed, based on American Idols Top 24. The wildcard round was abolished; instead, the Top 22 was divided into a group of 11 men and another group of 11 women. Two competitors were eliminated from each group for three weeks, resulting in a 5 male and 5 female Top 10 for the finals.
The Toronto elimination rounds were aired in a two-hour broadcast on June 20. One original member of the Top 22, Philip King, dropped out for unspecified personal reasons and was replaced by Chris Labelle.
Those who were eliminated before the finals are listed below.
Males eliminatedSheldon Elter, 27, is from Edmonton, Alberta and an accomplished local theatrical writer and actor. His one-man play, Metis Mutt, which was performed at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival in 2002, won him two local awards. He is the first aboriginal competitor in the program's history.Keith Macpherson, 27, is from Winnipeg, Manitoba, but auditioned in Toronto. An English major at the University of Winnipeg, he sings in the local pop group Easily Amused.Chris Labelle, 24, is a bar server from Ottawa, Ontario. He was originally cut from the Top 22, but was named to the semi-finals after Phil King quit.Greg Neufeld, 22, is from Abbotsford, British Columbia, and auditioned in Vancouver. He is a member of the band Di Marco. Greg auditioned again for Canadian Idol Season 5 and made the Top 10.Jeremy Kozielec (or simply Koz), 26, is from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and the lead singer of independent band Floor 13. He made the top 50 for Rock Star: INXS in 2005.Nathan Brown, 26, is from Dewberry, Alberta, and auditioned in Edmonton. He is a former cruise ship singer and has built his own personal recording studio in his home.
Females eliminatedAshley Coles, 16, is from Caledonia, Ontario, who auditioned in Kitchener. She is a Grade 11 student at McKinnon Park Secondary School.Nancy Silverman, 19, is from Thornhill, Ontario, and auditioned in Kitchener. She is a student of musical theatre at Sheridan College.Alisha Nauth, 19, is from Kitchener, Ontario, and a student at Humber College. She has performed at several local events and competitions in her career.Alyssa Klazek, 17, is from Calgary, Alberta and auditioned in Edmonton. She is a Grade 11 student at Bishop Carroll High School.Anna-Belle Oliva, 20, is from Montreal, Quebec, and a recent graduate of a musical school. Her audition video centered around the recent death of her brother. When she was 16 years old, she was in the TV series Mixmania in Quebec, in a group called Aucun Regret.Valérie Jalbert, 21, a music teacher from Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, who auditioned in Montreal, Quebec, is the first competitor in Canadian Idol history to reach the semi-finals in two different seasons. She was eliminated in the first voting round in Season 2.
Top 22 Men OrderContestantSong (original artist)Result1Jeremy Koz"It's Only Love" (Bryan Adams & Tina Turner)Eliminated2Craig Sharpe"What Hurts the Most" (Rascal Flatts)Safe3Nathan Brown"A Change Is Gonna Come" (Sam Cooke)Eliminated4Brandon Jones"Lady" (Kenny Rogers)Safe5Rob James"Let's Stay Together" (Al Green)Bottom 46Keith Macpherson"Collide" (Howie Day)Safe7Chris Labelle"Walking in Memphis" (Marc Cohn)Safe8Tyler Lewis"Here Without You" (3 Doors Down)Safe9Sheldon Elter"Gonna Move" (Paul Pena)Bottom 410Chad Doucette"Tonight I Wanna Cry" (Keith Urban)Safe11Greg Neufeld"You and I Both" (Jason Mraz)Safe
Women OrderContestantSong (original artist)Result1Ashley Coles"Alone" (Heart)Safe2Kati Durst"Drift Away" (Dobie Gray)Safe3Alyssa Klazek"Ready for Love" (India Arie)Bottom 44Valerie Jalbert"Remember Me This Way" (Gary Glitter)Eliminated5Steffi D"I Only Have Eyes for You" (Ella Fitzgerald)Bottom 46Sarah Loverock"Since I Fell for You" (Barbra Streisand)Safe7Alisha Nauth"Always" (Bon Jovi)Safe8Eva Avila"Angel" (Sarah McLachlan)Safe9Nancy Silverman"Could I Be Your Girl" (Jann Arden)Safe10Anna-Belle Oliva"Someone Like You" (Linda Eder)Eliminated11Ashley Coulter"Bring It On Home to Me" (Sam Cooke)Safe
Top 18 Men OrderContestantSong (original artist)Result1Greg Neufeld"Rocket Man" (Elton John)Eliminated2Tyler Lewis"Mama, I'm Coming Home" (Ozzy Osbourne)Safe3Chris Labelle"We Shall Be Free" (Garth Brooks)Eliminated4Craig Sharpe"This I Promise You" (NSYNC)Safe5Sheldon Elter"Moondance" (Van Morrison)Bottom 46Chad Doucette"Save the Last Dance for Me" (The Drifters)Safe7Rob James"Heaven" (Bryan Adams)Bottom 48Brandon Jones"Somebody to Love" (Queen)Safe9Keith Macpherson"Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)" (Vertical Horizon)Safe
Women OrderContestantSong (original artist)Result1Ashley Coulter"I'm the Only One" (Melissa Etheridge)Bottom 42Eva Avila"Killing Me Softly" (The Fugees)Safe3Alisha Nauth"Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" (Mariah Carey)Eliminated4Sarah Loverock"I Don't Want to Be" (Gavin DeGraw)Safe5Steffi D"White Flag" (Dido)Safe6Kati Durst"I Hope You Dance" (Lee Ann Womack)Safe7Ashley Coles"Misery" (Pink)Bottom 48Alyssa Klazek"Magic Carpet Ride" (Steppenwolf)Eliminated9Nancy Silverman"Fallin'" (Alicia Keys)Safe
Top 14 Women OrderContestantSong (original artist)Result1Steffi D"Kiss Me" (Sixpence None the Richer)Safe2Ashley Coles"Think" (Aretha Franklin)Eliminated3Ashley Coulter"Crazy" (Patsy Cline)Safe4Nancy Silverman"Stupid" (Sarah McLachlan)Eliminated5Eva Avila"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell)Safe6Sarah Loverock"She Talks to Angels" (The Black Crowes)Safe7Kati Durst"Not Ready to Make Nice" (Dixie Chicks)Safe
Men OrderContestantSong (original artist)Result1Craig Sharpe"Bohemian Rhapsody" (Queen)Safe2Brandon Jones"Easy" (Commodores)Safe3Keith Macpherson"Tempted" (Squeeze)Eliminated4Chad Doucette"Iris" (Goo Goo Dolls)Safe5Sheldon Elter"Hard to Handle" (Otis Redding)Eliminated6Tyler Lewis"Old Time Rock and Roll" (Bob Seger)Safe7Rob James"Chariot" (Gavin DeGraw)Safe
Top 10, the finals After the Semi-Finals, the final 10 competitors are faced with a new theme challenge every week. Based on public voting, one finalist is eliminated each week. The season finale of Canadian Idol took place on September 17, 2006. It was moved from its usual Tuesday result show to Sunday to help CTV premiere their new fall TV shows like The Amazing Race. Eva Avila from Gatineau, Quebec, is 2006 Canadian Idol.
FinalistsEva Avila (born February 25, 1987, in Gatineau, Quebec, 19 years old during the season), is a postal clerk from Hull, Quebec, who auditioned in Ottawa. She was a former winner of the Jeune Diva du Quebec contest. She is the 2006 Canadian Idol.Craig Sharpe (born September 23, 1989, in Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador, 16 years old during the season), is from Upper Island Cove, Newfoundland, and auditioned in St. John's. He is a Grade 11 student at Ascension Collegiate School.Tyler Lewis (born July 3, 1986, 20 years old during the season), is a waiter from Rockglen, Saskatchewan, and auditioned in Regina.Chad Doucette (born August 3, 1988, 18 years old during the season), is from East Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia, and auditioned in Halifax. He made the Top 48 in Season 3, but was cut in the last round before the semi-finals. In Season 4, he became known for a "wardrobe malfunction" in the early rounds in which his shirt got stuck in the zipper of his pants during the middle of a song.Steffi DiDomenicantonio (known as Steffi D) (born April 28, 1989, in Orleans, Ontario, 17 years old during the season), is from Ottawa, Ontario. A student at Ecole secondaire De La Salle, she has been a stage performer at several Ottawa-area venues. She is known for the trademark bow in her hair.Ashley Coulter (born April 26, 1983, in Emeryville, Ontario, 23 years old during the season), is a supermarket cashier from London, Ontario, who auditioned in Kitchener. She was a singer in a local rock band called Nemesis.Rob James (born October 30, 1977, 28 years old during the season), is from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was a former member of the pop group McMaster & James who auditioned for Season 4 after his group's album deal expired. He has also written a song for the debut CD of Season 1 winner Ryan Malcolm.Brandon Jones (born June 17, 1989, in St John's, Newfoundland, 17 years old during the season), is from Quispamsis, New Brunswick, and auditioned in his birthplace of St John's, Newfoundland. He is a Grade 11 student at Kennebecasis Valley High School.Sarah Loverock (born June 11, 1981, 25 years old during the season), is a supermarket supervisor from Gibsons, British Columbia, who auditioned in Vancouver and has performed in Nashville. She made it to the Top 48 in 2005's Season 3 before being cut. Sarah released a single entitled The Dreamer with America's Hot Musician winners that was certified Gold by the CRIA on November 4, 2009.Kati Durst (born December 12, 1979, 26 years old during the season), is an automotive detailer from Goderich, Ontario, who auditioned in Kitchener. Despite having a severe cold when auditioning, she was still put through to the next round.
Finals Top 10 – Canada Rocks! OrderContestantSong (original artist)Result1Sarah Loverock"Life Is a Highway" (Tom Cochrane)Safe2Rob James"Hurts to Love You" (The Philosopher Kings)Safe3Steffi D"Alone in the Universe" (David Usher)Bottom 34Tyler Lewis"Too Bad" (Nickelback)Safe5Kati Durst"It Makes No Difference" (The Band)Eliminated6Brandon Jones"California" (Wave)Safe7Craig Sharpe"Losing Grip" (Avril Lavigne)Safe8Ashley Coulter"American Woman" (The Guess Who)Bottom 29Chad Doucette"The Other Man" (Sloan)Safe10Eva Avila"Powerless (Say What You Want)" (Nelly Furtado)Safe
Top 9 – The Rolling Stones OrderContestantSongResult1Rob James"Start Me Up"Safe2Eva Avila"Wild Horses"Safe3Tyler Lewis"Paint It Black"Safe4Sarah Loverock"I Got the Blues"Eliminated5Brandon Jones"Jumpin' Jack Flash"Safe6Ashley Coulter"Gimme Shelter"Bottom 27Chad Doucette"You Can't Always Get What You Want"Safe8Steffi D"Miss You"Bottom 39Craig Sharpe"Time Is on My Side"Safe
Top 8 – The 80s OrderContestantSong (original artist)Result1Brandon Jones"I'll Be There for You" (Bon Jovi)Eliminated2Craig Sharpe"Wind Beneath My Wings" (Bette Midler)Safe3Rob James"You Give Love a Bad Name" (Bon Jovi)Safe4Steffi D"It's My Life" (Talk Talk)Safe5Chad Doucette"Never Tear Us Apart" (INXS)Bottom 26Eva Avila"White Wedding" (Billy Idol)Bottom 37Tyler Lewis"Here I Go Again" (Whitesnake)Safe8Ashley Coulter"Eternal Flame" (The Bangles)Safe
Top 7 – Classic Rock