Christine Campbell | GCBS Baker Bio
Christine Campbell, 46 (she/her)
Hometown: Saint John, N.B.
Occupation: Customer Service Representative
Instagram: @christinecampbellbaker
Christine inherited her culinary chops from her grandmother, who was the pastry chef at a children's hospital and a local baking legend. She aspires to make her grandmother proud by baking every chance she gets, and by being the sweetest auntie for her niece and nephew.
Christine loves to be creative with hobbies like watercolour painting, and trying new things like learning to play piano. A full-blown super fan of the Baking Show who watches an episode nearly every single day, Christine has fulfilled a dream by becoming the first New Brunswick baker in the tent. She hopes to represent the Maritimes well through her highly decorative bakes.
When did you start baking? I've been baking since I was 10, when I was allowed to go home after school and not to a neighbourhood babysitter. My (single) Mom worked (sometimes two jobs) and if my older sister and I wanted to go home after school, we had to do chores. Getting supper started or made was my job and I loved it. I remember sitting on the kitchen floor, reading through my mother's cookbooks, trying to decide which yummy treat I would try for dessert.
One of my favourite cookbooks is a small coil-bound book that was compiled by my family and our neighbours and which is my go-to for molasses cookies or my grandmother's orange squares.
What's your signature bake? I am often asked to bring either my grandmother's vanilla cake which is so easy to adapt to other flavours like lemon or strawberry or my mom's chocolate cake which is incredibly moist and has a deliciously strong chocolate flavour.
What is your fondest memory in the kitchen? Sitting in my grandmother's kitchens watching them peel apples for pie or chop rhubarb for squares and listening to the stories that accompanied the labour of love they performed for their families.
Why do you think you can be Canada's best amateur baker? Heading into the tent I believe that we all have an equal chance to succeed. Baking in our favourite tent will be very different from baking in the comfort and familiarity of our kitchen at home. So, we are all on an even playing field.
I plan to focus on what I know how to do and have fun. It's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I am incredibly excited to be the first baker from New Brunswick to make it to the tent.
Watch The Great Canadian Baking Show on CBC Gem.
