Every year in downtown Toronto an innovative food drive concept called Canstruction turns donated canned goods into memorable and imaginative artistic structures. The whimsical installations are part of a larger international fundraiser that currently features teams competing in 200 cities and tens of millions of pounds of donated food.
This year, Canstruction is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the event in Toronto by highlighting the design skills of local architectural and engineering firms. The teams will collect food and staples to create pieces of art, while engineering for a great cause. The structures that were built last year donated over 52,000 pounds of shelf-stable food to Daily Bread ? which was distributed to member agencies and fed approximately 120,000 people. Since every build is its own mini-design project that requires project management, design, storytelling, fundraising and administrative skills, Canstruction is a unique experience for teams Teams are encouraged to use cans from a list of high-priority items needed by Daily Bread keeping in mind that junk food is prohibited.
Winning entries are recognized in six categories: Best Design, Best Use of Labels, Structural Ingenuity, Best Meal, Honorable Mention and People?s Choice.
As Toronto prepares to welcome 25 teams to build projects at their 2019 event, the volunteer board reflects on their favourite structures from previous competitions below:
Eran Goldenberg, Former Canstruction Co-Chair

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