Esquimalt resident is a contestant on The Great Canadian Baking Show’s new season

Jennifer Childs and judges. Photo: Geoff George, courtesy CBC. 

The popular cooking competition series—The Great Canadian Baking Show—is back for its eighth season and one of the bakers, Jennifer Childs, is from Esquimalt. Childs auditioned for the show every year since its first season. Over the past eight years, auditioning became a cherished tradition for her, her husband, and their three kids. Her persistence paid off this year, earning her a spot in the competition. We chatted with her about her baking background, her experience on the show, and what’s next. 

Childs’ journey as a baker began early, growing up in a home where baking was a family tradition. “I think I was baking cookies with my mom before I can even remember,” she tells Tasting Victoria. Inspired by TV shows featuring icons like Martha Stewart and Anna Olson, Childs developed a love for ambitious baking projects. One standout memory was building a gingerbread house replica of her own home in high school. 

For her, baking was not just about food, it was a way to experiment and push the boundaries of what was possible, all while having fun. Now, as a mother herself, she’s passing on the tradition to her children, who love baking with her. “They’d rather bake themselves or decorate what I make, and it’s become a fun family activity,” she says. 

When it comes to what she’s baking, Childs says her favourite items to bake are whatever the favourites are of the people she’s baking for. For her it’s about who she’s baking for, not what the actual bake is. Then she says she likes to add her own flair to the final product, and that’s what makes it fun for her.