Six professional ribbers have fired up their smokers at Esquimalt Ribfest this weekend, but only one can truly call Vancouver Island home.
Grizzly BBQ, owned by brothers Oliver “Ollie” Briggs and Penner Briggs, is taking on some of the biggest names on the Canadian Ribfest circuit in front of its hometown crowd.
Now, the team is asking Greater Victoria residents to support local, grab some ribs and help Grizzly secure its first People’s Choice victory in Esquimalt.
“This is a hometown show,” Grizzly BBQ operator and front-of-house manager Cat Browning told Victoria Buzz.
“When we travel in BC, we are one of the only rigs from BC and the only rig from Vancouver Island. Being local is a really big part of this for us.”
From seasonal workers to their own rib rig
The story behind Grizzly BBQ began long before the team’s familiar bear-branded rig started rolling into festivals.
Ollie entered the Ribfest world in 2011, when he and Penner began working as seasonal employees for another barbecue team.
What started as a summer job quickly became something much bigger.
“They really got into it by chance,” Browning said. “They fell in love with being part of the seasonal crew and all the fun that came with it. It’s really a collective of come-as-you-are people, and you get to meet so many different personalities.”
The brothers went on to work throughout Ontario and BC, eventually becoming operators of a different barbecue rig called Misty Mountain alongside several other partners.
Then, in 2018, they decided it was time to build something of their own.
“They basically said, ‘You know what? Let’s just do this, the two of us,’” Browning said.
That is when Grizzly BBQ was born.
Deep Vancouver Island and rugby roots
Grizzly BBQ may travel throughout the summer, but its roots are firmly planted on Vancouver Island.
The Briggs family has lived on Vancouver Island for five generations, and Ollie grew up in Greater Victoria before graduating from Oak Bay High School.
The family also has a deep connection to the James Bay Athletic Association, better known as JBAA.
Ollie’s grandfather, Tillman Briggs, was a celebrated rugby player and BC Hall of Fame coach who helped turn JBAA into a dominant force in Canadian rugby.
Between 1973 and 1982, the club captured eight provincial championships, ten Vancouver Island championships and a Canada Club Championship under his leadership.
That rugby history also inspired the Grizzly BBQ name.
The Grizzly name was drawn from the bear featured in JBAA’s logo and the phrase “You can’t stop the bear,” which has long been connected to the club and the Briggs family.
The same phrase can now be found across Grizzly BBQ’s banners.
The family’s connection to Esquimalt Ribfest is also deeply personal.
Ollie’s mother, Cindy Briggs, and his aunt, Richelle Briggs, played important roles in establishing and organizing the festival’s volunteer operation.
Today, the neon pink shirts worn by Ribfest volunteers carry the words “In Memory of Cindy and Richelle Briggs” across the back.
That makes returning to Esquimalt about much more than trophies or sales for the Grizzly team.
Secret recipes and plenty of smoke
Of course, the ribs remain the star of the show.
Grizzly BBQ’s signature sauce leans toward the sweeter side, but anyone hoping to recreate it at home may be out of luck.
The team is keeping both its sauce and dry rub recipes firmly under wraps.
When it comes to smoking the meat, Grizzly prefers using fruitwood, with cherry typically being the team’s first choice. Right now, however, the smokers are being fired with plum wood.
That barbecue is served with a healthy helping of personality.
Browning is now in her seventh year working on the Ribfest circuit and her fourth with Grizzly BBQ. She said creating a welcoming and memorable experience is every bit as important as what comes out of the smoker.
“When people visit us, we want them to feel at home and feel welcome,” she said.
“We want them to know we’re thankful they’re here because every person who gets in line is supporting our dream and making what we do work.”
Grizzly’s crew is made up of friends and family, including siblings, cousins, couples, former college roommates and longtime teammates.
“At one point, half my college cheer team was out, and half of Ollie’s rugby team was here,” Browning said.
“We’ve put so much love, passion and work into Grizzly BBQ. Our staff believes in us and our dream so much that they show up every weekend and share that with our customers.”
Friendly rivals competing for the title
Although the six ribbers at Esquimalt Ribfest are competing against one another, there is plenty of respect behind the scenes.
Many of the teams have known each other for more than a decade and spend their summers travelling between festivals together.
“We’re absolutely in competition, but a lot of us have known each other for 10 or 15 years,” Browning said. “We learn from each other, and we travel together all summer.”
Grizzly BBQ has built an impressive trophy case in recent years.
The team has been named Best Ribs at Comox Valley Ribfest for four consecutive years, winning the title in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Grizzly also captured Best Sauce at Esquimalt Ribfest in 2025 before delivering a clean sweep at Kamloops Ribfest this summer.
“We took every trophy on the table,” Browning said.
Grizzly left Kamloops with Best Ribs, Best Sauce and the People’s Choice Award.
But one title continues to elude the team: People’s Choice in Esquimalt.
“We haven’t gotten a People’s Choice here yet as Grizzly BBQ, and we would really love that win this year as the hometown team,” Browning said.
“We have some pretty stiff competition. They’re great and we love them, but People’s Choice is a pretty big deal in Esquimalt. Please come out, support us and vote for us. That would mean the world to us.”
Here’s how to vote for Grizzly BBQ
Voting is free and open to Ribfest attendees.
Ballots are available at the volunteer and information booth located beside the giant inflatable pig at Bullen Park.
Visitors can write down their favourite ribber and drop the completed ballot into the box.
It only takes a moment, and all ages can participate.
So, if Grizzly BBQ earns your vote, make sure you stop at the information booth and help Vancouver Island’s hometown team bring home the People’s Choice title.
Grizzly could soon be available beyond Ribfest
Esquimalt marks Grizzly BBQ’s final Ribfest appearance of the season, but the team is exploring ways to serve its food closer to home throughout the year.
Catering is currently in the works, and Grizzly owns a smaller smoker trailer that can be taken to private events.
Anyone interested in booking the team is encouraged to contact Grizzly BBQ through Instagram. Browning said she and Ollie will respond and determine whether the team can accommodate the event.
The team is also exploring future pop-ups and hopes to make its signature sauce available for purchase as early as next season.
For now, fans can purchase Grizzly tote bags at the festival and watch the team’s social media pages for occasional merchandise releases and future announcements.
More than just ribs
Browning is quick to point out that the entire Esquimalt Ribfest deserves the community’s support.
Admission is free, with donations collected to support charitable projects and organizations in Esquimalt.
The festival also features live music, a lively dance floor, local breweries, cideries and wineries, dessert vendors and other food trucks.
“Every time someone walks through that gate, they’re supporting so many non-profits and phenomenal work that gets done in the community,” Browning said.
“You really can’t go wrong with anyone you visit because everyone has trophies on their table, and every team brings its best every weekend.”
But for residents hoping to support a small, family-run Vancouver Island business, Grizzly BBQ offers a particularly local choice.
Esquimalt Ribfest continues Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Bullen Park.
Come hungry, look for the Grizzly BBQ rig and remember to cast your ballot at the white information booth beside the giant pig.
As the team’s banner says, “You can’t stop the bear.”
Greater Victoria now has the chance to prove it.
For updates, catering inquiries and future appearances, follow Grizzly BBQ on Instagram or emailing grizzlybbqltd@gmail.com
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