Joanne Mandet (OS 1999) has won Season 9 of The Great Canadian Baking Show! Filmed and aired in Canada at the end of last year, Joanne, baked up a storm and beat off the rest of the compeittion to win the coverted trophy! We caught up with Joanne about her memories of her time at SGS: 

What do you remember of your time at school?
I look back on my time at SGS with great fondness. In junior school I loved the simple joys of playground life. School trips to Wasdale and Mull were particularly memorable, helping to build confidence, independence and friendships. 

I remember clearly making sausage plait in home economics in the early 90's when I was 12 or 13. My family ate it for dinner that night and it was fantastic, a proud moment - I remember juggling my basket of ingredients alongside numerous sports kits and text books on the bus journey to school and back and around school all day! This memory inspired one of my bakes on the show, I made mini versions of the sausage plait as part of a brunch spread in week 4. 

I threw myself into whatever I could, clubs wise whilst at SGS, mostly sports - I played on the netball team and also participated in athletics, (sprinting and long distance running) I loved being active and the sense of teamwork and discipline that came with it.

What have you gotten up to since leaving school? 
My journey since leaving school has been anything but linear. I spent 12 years living and working in the Middle East and the last 11 in Canada. My career has spanned media, real estate, retail and events with a focus on sales, business development and leadership roles. I am married and have four children.  My eldest daughter is in her second year at university at UBC here in Vancouver while my youngest just started junior school. 

What skills do you feel SGS has equipped you with, that you took with you in life and onto the show?
Time management, resilience and trusting my instincts have stayed with me throughout my career and definitely came into play on the show. Balancing multiple commitments at school prepared me well for high pressure situations.  Most importantly I have learnt to approach challenges with curiosity and creativity which has guided both my professional choices and my experience in the tent. 

Have you come across any other Old Stops on your journey?
Yes, I met up with several classmates whilst I was living in the Middle East and even travelled as far as Australia to visit old friends.  We mostly keep in touch through social media now - particularly as I haven't lived in the UK since the early 2000's.  Recently my daughter Jasmine made friends at school here in Vancouver with someone who had relocated from the UK, I was astonished to discover she too had attended Stockport Grammar - a very small world moment!

What was your favourite part about appearing on the show?
Without a doubt the people, the camaraderie, laughter and shared nerves. Winning was incredible, of course, but the shared experience and the bonds we formed during the competition are what I treasure most. 

What was your least favourite part about the show? 
The pressure was intense and the early starts meant sleep was sometimes hard to come by.  Being away from my family for such a long time was tough and emotions often ran high.

What advice would you give to other Old Stops/current pupils that you’ve learned from your time on the show? 
Be bold, embrace challenges and trust that the experiences you have now will shape opportunities in unexpected ways.  Don't be afraid to make mistakes and try to identify your strengths - so you know where to focus your energy while staying open to learning and growth.