James Barber (March 23, 1923 – November 29, 2007) was an English-born Canadian cookbook author and host of The Urban Peasant, a CBC cooking show.
Barber worked as an engineer before becoming a food critic for The Province.
He immigrated to Canada in 1952.
His lifelong interest in food and writing and his increased knowledge in these areas naturally led him to become a cookbook author.
Following his retirement, he spent his remaining years on his farm in British Columbia's Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island.
An energetic and passionate man with a large personality, Barber strove to empower others to do things for themselves.
Barber was married twice and fathered five children; 3 sons and 2 daughters.
Perhaps fittingly, Barber died peacefully on November 29, 2007, at his farm of natural causes while sitting at the dining room table reading a cookbook with a pot of chicken soup simmering on the stove.
He was 84 years old and is survived by his wife and five children.