Southcentre Mall under 'canstruction': 30,000 cans of food used to for art installations
After a two year hiatus, engineers, designers and students gathered at Southcentre Mall on Thursday to create structures composed of non-perishable food items.
Dubbed "Canstruction," the 16th version of the event saw five teams convert the mall's centre court into expositions made of canned goods, all adhering to the same theme: Welcome To The Jungle.
The City of Calgary, Suncor, Maple Reinders Inc., Calgary Co-op and St. Michael School represented the competing teams. When completed, the art installations will be judged and a winning entry will be named. Judging categories include structural integrity, best use of labels, best original design and people's choice.
After dismantling, the 30,000 cans of food will be donated to the Calgary Food Bank.
The donation will help fill over 8,500 food hampers in one month.
"We see people coming every day that have used up all of their resources," said Shawna Ogston of the Calgary Food Bank.
"Now, with increased expenses – whether heating or fuel costs – their budgets are too stretched. Food is the first thing to come off the budget list, but this event will provide a great deal of help," she said.
Alexandria Matos, an instructor at St. Michael School, says the importance of the food donation was not lost on her group of students.
"We have members of our community that also use the food bank, so they understand they are helping both the greater public and their classmates," said Matos.
"They understand very well how they are helping."
The Canstruction exhibit is open to the public at Southcentre's Centre Court until March 17.
The event has raised over 455,000 pounds of food for needy Calgarians since 2006.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lanny McDonald and a few old Flames take the Stanley Cup on a surprise visit to the man who saved his life
The Stanley Cup was passing through town Friday, and Lanny Legend took it upon himself to take it for a surprise visit.
Bathroom break nearly derails $22 million project at city council meeting
A brief break during Wednesday's city council meeting in Saskatoon nearly cost the city dearly.
Chad Daybell sentenced to death for killing wife and girlfriend’s two children in jury decision
Jurors resumed deliberations Saturday on whether a man should be sentenced to death after being convicted days earlier of the murders of his wife and his girlfriend’s two youngest children in Idaho.
Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Father who killed one-year-old son with axe may be allowed to travel in southwestern Ontario
A Mennonite father who killed his one-year-old son with an axe may be allowed to travel to parts of southern Ontario in the coming months
'It feels like freedom': Why some Albertans like going nude in nature
Few people can say they accidentally purchased a nude beach — but Shelley can. When she saw a piece of land she could fondly remember camping on was up for sale, she inquired about it and ended up purchasing it. She soon found that there were already inhabitants on it.
This Calgary home has a giant tree in the middle, and it's for sale
There's a luxury 'tree home' for sale in Calgary.
China lands spacecraft on the moon amid growing space rivalry with U.S.
A Chinese spacecraft landed on the far side of the moon Sunday to collect soil and rock samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side.
Pedestrian dies after being hit by train in Brockville, Ont.
Brockville Police says a pedestrian has died following a collision with a train that was heading to Toronto.