Mayor makes the grade during 'Test the Nation'

BY CHRISTY MARSTERS



Windsor Mayor Anna Allen, along with other mayors from across the country, placed forth out of seven distinctive groups during the live, season premier of CBC’s “Test the Nation” in Toronto March 18.

The mayor team finished the competition with a high-end average IQ level of 110, but trailed first-place surgeons, second-place millionaires and third-place fitness instructors.

It was challenging being in the studio and taking the test because the blinding lights and people talking created an atmosphere for second-guessing, Allen said.

“I thought I did pretty good, but I certainly had some wrong, like the little girl’s sweater wasn’t purple, it was green I found out later.”

Allen explained the reason for her error. A video was shown as part of the memory section for the IQ test, but contestants weren’t really concentrating on the clip because it was played without introduction, Allen said.

“Then all of a sudden, here is your first question. So many of them I guessed because I missed the whole clip, but the next time a clip was shown, the whole team was a little more alert.”

Regaining their focus, the mayors and other teams concentrated on the set time allotted for answering 60 questions about language, memory, logic, math and perception. The event, hosted by Wendy Mesley and Brent Bambury, aimed to stand not only as an individual mental test, but as a test for specific groups to challenge the preconceptions of intellectual stereotype.



Excellent opportunity

Allen thought the event was challenging, exciting and fun, but also provided an excellent opportunity.

It didn’t cost the taxpayers of Windsor anything because CBC reimbursed all expenses, but it did provide an opportunity to gain local and external publicity and put the town on the map, she said. “And I’ll do whatever I can to bring some attention to the town.”

The program was good publicity to help others learn about the Town of Windsor and it was a learning experience for Allen.

It was interesting to mingle with other people and particularly to have an opportunity to talk with other female mayors who face more difficult challenges, she said.

“I learned through this experience not to take things too seriously and to take opportunities when you can.”

And if an opportunity similar to “Test the Nation” came up again, Allen would gladly participate. “I’d do it again in a second,” she said.