By 2016, MasterChef Canada had firmly established itself as one of Canada’s top cooking competition shows. For its third season, the pressure was on: with new format tweaks, ambitious home cooks, and a hunger (literally and figuratively) from viewers, Season 3 delivered both drama and deliciousness. This season would also make history by crowning the show’s first female winner. Let’s take a closer look at how it all played out.
Season Timeline & Format
- First Aired: February 14, 2016
- Finale / Last Aired: June 19, 2016
- Number of Episodes: 15
- Network: CTV
As with prior seasons, the format included Mystery Box challenges, invention tests, team challenges, pressure/elimination tests, and culminated in a final three-course showdown between the last two contestants. One tweak for Season 3: only 14 contestants instead of 16.
Judges
The judging panel for Season 3 remained the familiar trio:
- Michael Bonacini
- Claudio Aprile
- Alvin Leung
These judges evaluated based on flavor, technique, presentation, creativity, and consistency — especially under pressure challenges and final cook-offs.
Contestants (Top 14)
Here’s a table of the main contestants who made it into the Top 14, their ages, hometowns, occupations, and how far they went:
| Contestant | Age | Hometown / Region | Occupation | Elimination / Final Status |
| Mary Berg | 25 | Toronto, Ontario | Insurance Broker | Winner (June 19, 2016) |
| Jeremy Senaris | 34 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Building Plan Examiner | Runner-Up |
| Matthew Astorga | 25 | Pitt Meadows, British Columbia | Digital Design Consultant | Eliminated June 12 |
| Veronica Cham | 35 | Toronto, Ontario | Lawyer | Eliminated June 5 |
| April Lee Baker | 38 | Calgary, Alberta | Homemaker | Eliminated May 29 |
| Shawn Karls | 29 | Montréal, Québec | Doctor | Eliminated May 8 |
| Terry Adido | 33 | Edmonton, Alberta | PhD Law Student | Eliminated May 1 |
| Jennifer Baglione | 23 | Maple, Ontario | Salon Manager | Eliminated April 24 |
| Jacqueline Clark | 29 | Abbotsford, British Columbia | Accountant | Eliminated April 17 |
| Michelle Nault | 37 | Bolton, Ontario | Teacher | Eliminated April 10 |
| Julia Mark | 30 | Burnaby, British Columbia | Makeup Artist | Eliminated March 27 |
| Sean Hickey | 47 | London, Ontario | Auto Worker | Eliminated March 20 |
| Vince Spitale | 41 | Pickering, Ontario | Contractor | Eliminated March 13 |
| David Young | 32 | Moncton, New Brunswick | Carpenter | Eliminated March 6 |
Winner, Runner-Up & Prize Money
- Winner: Mary Berg, a 25-year-old insurance broker from Toronto.
- Runner-Up: Jeremy Senaris, building plan examiner from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
- Prize Money & Awards: The grand prize was CAD 100,000, plus the MasterChef Canada trophy and the title.
More About the Winner: Mary Berg
Mary Berg’s win is notable for several reasons beyond just taking home the prize. Here are some of the highlights of her journey and what she did afterwards:
- She was the first woman to win MasterChef Canada.
- Prior to joining the competition, she worked as an insurance broker. The show gave her an opportunity to shift toward her passion in cooking.
- In the finale, the competition was very close. Mary’s final dishes (especially her dessert) were praised for their sophistication, balance, and creativity. One of her dessert creations was a blueberry financier with brown butter crumb, kettle corn, blueberry sauce, and buttermilk corn ice cream. That dessert played a critical role in clinching the win.
- After the show, Mary leveraged the win in many ways: she expanded into food-media, became a recurring cooking expert on Canadian TV shows(Your Morning, The Social, The Marilyn Denis Show), and eventually hosted her own shows (Mary’s Kitchen Crush (2019-2020), Mary Makes It Easy (2021–present)). She has also authored cookbooks and continues to be a visible personality in the Canadian culinary world.
Highlights & Memorable Moments
- The competition was intense. Mary Berg and Jeremy Senaris were both consistently strong, and the final cook-off was widely regarded as one of the more competitive finales in the show’s history.
- There was a format change: fewer contestants (14 instead of 16). Also, auditions were tougher – contestants needed unanimous “yes” from all three judges to immediately move forward; otherwise they had to compete in a “second chance” battle.
- The finale’s dessert round was especially scrutinized. Mary’s blueberry financier dessert with complex components was often contrasted with Jeremy’s more experimental dessert, but Mary’s were judged more cohesive and well-balanced.
Legacy & After the Win
Mary’s ascent from insurance broker to television host and cookbook author demonstrates the kind of trajectory MasterChef Canada can provide. Her win opened doors beyond the kitchen; she became a respected food media figure in Canada, offering approachable cooking, often with a homey, comforting flair. Her personality, style, and cooking resonated with viewers, helping her crossover beyond just cooking competitions into hosting, book publishing, and lifestyle programs.
Hello, I’m Kapil Kumar, a seasoned SEO expert and blogger at WinnersList.in. My mission is to spotlight exceptional individuals and organizations across various domains. Through curated lists, profiles, and inspiring stories, I aim to celebrate outstanding achievements and inspire the next generation of champions. Join me in this journey.