The family that plays together feuds together

Elmira’s Connie Maier and relatives enjoy the experience of competing on Family Feud Canada game show

Justine Fraser

Observer Staff

HAVING BEEN TAPED

FOR AN upcoming episode of Family Feud Canada, an Elmira resident and her family are awaiting an airdate ... and the chance to see how the real-life experience translates to the television screen.

“It was amazing! From beginning to end, the whole audition process, through to the taping – it was awesome, it was so fun. It let us really just express who we were as a family and they just kept hyping it up all the time while we were there. A big highlight was meeting Gerry Dee in person,” said Connie Maier of her experience.

The family went to tape their episode in mid-November, eager to see how they stacked up against previous winners of the game show.

“It is really competitive and it’s kind of fast-paced. Our family happens to be a really competitive family. We love to do everything to the extreme, be it sports or strategy games or Euchre tournaments. We were prepped that way, but when you’re in the moment, against another family live, it’s a bit distracting because you’re distracted by being in the studio and all the excitement of that – your brain is on overdrive, just trying to think of getting answers in the moment that will be on the board.”

Connie’s niece, Stacy Keller, arranged the team, which included her husband Mark, Connie’s sister Jackie, and Connie’s nephew Matt Sparra. Connie noted they have a large family but was happy to be nominated by Stacy as an alternate. After a new member of their family was born, Connie was called in to replace the new father and help her family take a