Chelan Howard-Gibbon is in first place in this round of the online Greatest Baker Challenge and she'd like to keep it that way with local residents' continued support.
This is the third round of the competition and deadline is Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. for people to cast their free vote for the local baker who started in her grandmother's kitchen.
Howard-Gibbon went through to the third round in first place and that first-place ranking carried through as she's still holding strong in first.
"I cannot believe it," Howard-Gibbon said, who was born and raised in Prince George.
"Just a few days ago I was in seventh place and going into the next round in first would be a great advantage because the next round only takes the first place person into the semi-finals and then first only goes to the finals."
It all started when Howard-Gibbon saw the post on her Instagram and Facebook feed.
"I have a rule that if it comes up on my feed three times I will take a look at it," she said.
"It was late one night and when I read about it I thought I may as well just go for it."
Howard-Gibbon got support from her sister Meagan who works for a local production company and had professional photos taken to use to best showcase her baking talents.
"I was taking photos on my phone but it just wasn't the same," Howard-Gibbon said.
"So every day I post a different photo so people can see me and my baking."
Howard-Gibbon thought back to what got her started on her baking adventure.
"When I was little my grandparents used to live right behind us and I would spend a lot of time with my grandma and she taught me how to bake," Howard-Gibbon said. "She passed away when I was 13 so that's kind of when I started baking a little bit more to honour those fond memories I had of baking with her in her kitchen, rolling out cookies and making muffins," Howard-Gibbon said.
Nowadays she gets inspired by family and friends.
"I just like to make people happy," she said. "Nothing beats the look on someone's when they see the cake I've made just for them and maybe that's the first time they've ever had a cake made just for them - that's priceless."
One of her favourites to make is a triple chocolate cake with a whipped fudge filling. Yum!
The contest continues until December 10 when the Greatest Baker is named.
Grand prize is $10,000, a year's supply of Stuffed Puffs and a feature in Bake from Scratch Magazine.
To keep Howard-Gibbon in first place vote by visiting https://greatestbaker.com/2020/chelan-howard-gibbon
