Fort St. John rancher reflects on MasterChef Canada experience following season finale

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John’s Marianne Smeaton says she is grateful for her time on MasterChef Canada after finishing among the final three contestants, but falling just short of the top prize in the season finale.

Smeaton, who reached the season eight finals as the sole contestant to be a current resident of B.C., told Energeticcity.ca the experience was challenging but positive, made even more meaningful by the support she received from the Peace region.

Smeaton is a cattle rancher from Fort St. John who previously left her career as a registered nurse to take on parenting and ranching full-time.

“Looking back, it’s been such a great experience,” she said. “I’m just overwhelmed with the community support. It was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

Smeaton expressed gratitude to her husband, who encouraged her to audition.

“I certainly never really wanted to be on national television, but I’m so happy my husband encouraged me to do it,” Smeaton said. “Overall, I would do it again.”

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The finale concluded with Veronica Wu winning the competition over Smeaton and Liz Worndl, after a challenge which saw contestants prepare their dream three-course menu in three hours.

“I’m super proud of Veronica. She definitely deserved it,” Smeaton said. “And I’m excited for Liz as well. I think for all of us, it’s just the beginning of our culinary adventures.”

Looking ahead, Smeaton says she is planning to bring her cooking back to the Peace region through pop-up dinner events hosted under Rootstock Ranch.

“If people want to experience something in the future, that’s the place where they can follow me,” she said. “I’m excited to let my community get a little taste of my cooking.”

MasterChef Canada aired its season finale on December 16th on CTV and it is available to watch now on Crave.