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. 

Childs’ persistence in auditioning for The Great Canadian Baking Show comes from her drive to take on a challenge. “It's a challenge and it's an opportunity for me to improve my skills, and I think if there's anything that you want to get better at, then you have to challenge yourself, and you have to take chances.” 

The show’s emphasis on quality baking, rather than drama, appealed to her. “They're really aiming for just quality baking, all the people on it have seemed really kind, and I've met many over the years, after auditioning for eight years, bakers are just really lovely people, and I wanted to do it for the challenge, but also the experience of getting to be involved and just to geek out with bakers,” she says. 

The journey to get on the show started with a detailed application process, which included an application form to fill out about your baking history and why you love it, and what you'd like to bake, an optional video to submit, a phone or virtual interview with the producers and cast, and an online presentation where you get to bake live. 

This year, the show had an open audition in Vancouver, and Childs had the opportunity to present her baked goods in person. The in-person audition in Vancouver required her to transport her creation carefully on the ferry, making sure it survived the trip. That meant she needed to present a baked good that would be sturdy enough to make it all the way there. 

All the effort was worth it for the chance to connect with fellow bakers and receive valuable feedback from professionals says Childs, and now viewers will be able watch her on the show. 

Childs says filming the show was an intense experience, with long days in the tent. Filming interviews and all the baking, but the baking time is strict, so when the show says it's two hours of baking, it's only two hours, she says. 

“One of my biggest takeaways is that it really shows you what you're capable of. That's why I love a challenge. You push yourself,” Childs tells Tasting Victoria.

The series brings together 10 amateur bakers from across Canada to compete in a series of themed baking challenges that celebrate their diverse backgrounds, families and communities. The bakers are tested on their skills in baking everything from cookies, pastries, and cakes, often with a focus on Canadian ingredients or traditions.

Each episode features three rounds: the signature bake, the technical bake, and the showstopper. After the judges taste and critique the bakes, they crown one star baker and ask one baker to leave the competition. The final three bakers compete for the title of Canada’s best home baker.

The new season premiered on CBC earlier this month, and Childs won the first technical bake in the competition, as well as the star baker in the premiere episode. For those who have already seen Childs’ baking in action, she shared her recipe for Almond, Lemon and Elderflower Cake with Saskatoon Berries. Let us know if you bake it.

Looking ahead, Childs hopes to dive deeper into teaching and workshops. She used to do baking workshops at the Victoria Public Market and at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre and says she would love to get back into it. She’s excited to explore more baking commissions and to continue creating for her family and friends. 

In the meantime, you can follow her journey on Instagram, where she shares her baking adventures. Feel free to send her a message and make an order, she does a very limited number of baking commissions in a year, but there’s always something sweet in the works.

You can also catch Jen at Bolen Books on Nov. 12 at Bruno Feldeisen’s book presentation event and bake-off.

The Great Canadian Baking Show airs Sundays at 8pm on CBC, and can be streamed any time on CBC Gem.

Instagram: @jen.m.childs