Teams of builders will be participating in a unique design competition on Friday evening and the real winners get to eat the bricks.
It's the third Canstruction event in Edmonton, a fundraiser that is sponsored by the Canadian Progress Club. The event sees teams from various local construction and architectural firms compete against each other to create the best structure out of cans of food. This year 16 teams will be on site at Southgate Centre hoping to compile more than double last year's total of 48,000 cans of food. All of the proceeds get split between the three local food banks in Edmonton, Strathcona County and St. Albert.
Whatever the result is, it will be dearly welcomed.
"This time of year donations are typically down," said Suzan Krecsy, the executive director of the St. Albert Food Bank. "Match that with a 25 per cent increase in demand and we are certainly grateful for the amount of food this event brings in."
The completed exhibit stays in place until May 23. Southgate Centre is located at 111 Street and 51 Avenue in Edmonton. To learn more about the event, visit www.canstructionedmonton.com.
Enerflex MS Walk attendance down but spirits always up
Results from this year's Enerflex MS Walk on April 25 showed that attendance dipped from the previous showing and it brought fewer pledges with it.
Kathy Mendes, the event's manager, said that more than 500 people came out on the day of the event with approximately $133,000 brought in so far — less than the $177,000 amassed in 2009. What didn't change was the overwhelmingly positive attitude of all participants, even despite the brisk Sunday morning weather.
"People were just ready to make their mark. It was really heart-warming to see everybody line up at the start line and get ready to go. People with wheelchairs or walkers … they were there. They wanted to do it."
She ended by saying the local Multiple Sclerosis Society chapter intends to bring the event back to St. Albert again in 2011.
The deadline for the rest of the pledges to be turned in is May 31. Visit www.mswalks.ca to learn more about the effort.
