Saint John baker's sweet journey to national TV competition

At the age of 10, Saint John's Christine Campbell didn't want to go to the babysitter's after school. She wanted to go home with her 13-year-old sister.

Her mom agreed but it came with the task of helping out around the house. So Campbell would get dinner started — rifling through her mom's old cookbooks for ideas.

Campbell's pastime led to passion and now she is going to be on the Great Canadian Baking Show — the first New Brunswicker to appear on the program.

"It was bound to happen at some point, I'm just glad I get to be the first," she said.

Each season of the show features 10 Canadian home bakers, chosen from applicants across the country. 

The contestants are challenged with recipes that show off their skills, personality, baking knowledge and "wow factor.'

The eighth season, featuring Campbell, airs on Sundays, beginning Oct. 6.

Campbell said she first discovered the show's British counterpart, the Great British Baking Show, which eventually led to her finding out there was a Canadian version. She said she binge-watched them both and still watches the show almost every day. 

From the moment she started watching the show, she could tell it was special.

"People who are there to bake in the tent all love it as much as the next person," said Campbell.

"We all think we're just a little bit crazy to do it but it's the whole camaraderie. It's knowing that these people love to bake just as much as you do. 

"And they're not just my friends, now they're my baking family."

Making it to the tent

The application process draws thousands vying for a coveted spot in the tent. And Campbell said the online application is quite lengthy. Last year, they also started holding in-person auditions, something she said hadn't been happening because of COVID. 

Campbell went to the audition in Halifax in February. She said she had to bake something ahead of time to present to the producers and the culinary director of the show.

Her lucky bake? Pie-shaped blueberry-lime tarts with blueberry-lime macarons on top.

And the rest is history.

Campbell said that although this was her first time stepping foot into the tent, she felt comfortable there because of how much she had watched the show.

And this week, she'll be watching herself on the screen — sharing that important experience with her loved ones. 

"I have been extremely lucky, and very privileged, to be able to do something that not many people get to do and with nine of the most incredible people I know."