Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Windsor Essex Central is excited to announce the inaugural launch of CANstruction®. This is a fun and unique event engaging local schools and businesses to use their talents to design & build giant structures (CANArt®) made entirely out of nonperishable items and compete for awards in the following categories: Best Meal, Structural Integrity, Best Original Design, Most Cans, Best Use of Labels, and People’s Choice awards. Winners from each local competition then go on to complete internationally in these same categories.

This event raises funds, food, and awareness for the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Windsor Essex Food Security Program and the 27 conferences (food banks) and special works projects that operate under our umbrella. Together, you can “Help Us Help Others” and as we work towards fostering a future without hunger.

Food and funds received will help fill our inventory gaps, purchase food required to meet diverse dietary needs and help keep the truck & warehouse operational.

Each team must send in their structure description and size (length, width & height), can count and a drawing (pdf) of the structure they plan to build. A drawing is required to know where to position the structure at Devonshire Mall.

Each team is responsible for acquiring their canned food.

How to obtain the canned food:

• Request food donation from a food manufacturer/distributor/grocer/wholesaler.
• Host a food drive (employee food drive)
• Solicit corporate sponsorship, donations from contractors, sub-contractors, and vendors.

How to transport the food to Devonshire Mall on May 17th:

• Contact a local moving company.
• Contact a local courier.
• Ask individuals with vans/trucks.
• Contact vending machine servicing companies.

Each team will supply the committee with a complete list of all canned foods, the number of cans and number of boxes to ensure the delivery is complete on arrival at the mall before moved to the build location (across from the Bay)

Build-out begins at 9:30am on May 19th and ends at 5pm

Teams should have all prefabricated building materials kitted prior to the event and should practice building their structure ahead of time.

Teams should bring plenty of tape, scissors, etc. with them to the build-out.

Teams should also bring ladders if needed to assemble their structure.

Devonshire Mall requires Liability Insurance for all teams. If your organization does not have this please be sure to notify the committee so we can ensure you are covered under our policy.

Build Out Rules & Regulations:

• Structure size maximum= 10’long x 10’tall x10’wide (10′ or 3M)
• Maximum team size= 5 builders at a time
• Maximum build out time= 7 hours

Food/Beverage:

Non-Permissible Items:

•  NO glass containers or alcoholic beverages
•  NO junk food (e.g. candy, chips, etc.) or pet food
•  NO opened, exposed, or expired food/beverage
•  NO covered, removed or altered can/ product labels.
•  NO empty cans or plastic bottles/containers

Permissible Items:

• Full, unopened, canned food of all sizes with labels intact/unaltered
• Full, unopened, beverage cans of all sizes with labels intact (NO alcoholic beverages)
• Full, unopened, plastic bottles/containers of food/beverages with labels
  intact/unaltered
• Use of boxes, bags, packets of food is acceptable; however, cans must be used for the majority of the structure.

Permissible Items:

• Velcro, magnets, zip-ties, tape, silicon
• Rubber bands, nylon strings, wire mesh or wire
• Wood or steel rods, PVC pipe, threaded metal rods
• Leveling materials (templates) not greater than¼” thick (6mm). examples of approved leveling materials are cardboard, foam core, Masonite, MDF, plywood, plexiglass, and fibreglass.

Building Materials
Non-Permissible Items:

• NO wood or metal beams, struts, steel tubing or bracing materials
• NO leveling materials (templates) greater than ¼” thick (6mm)
• NO sheet metal, steel plates, Fiberock, or glass
• NO permanent adhesive or bonding process (soldering, etc.)

Permissible Items:

• Velcro, magnets, zip-ties, tape, silicon
• Rubber bands, nylon strings, wire mesh or wire
• Wood or steel rods, PVC pipe, threaded metal rods
• Leveling materials (templates) not greater than¼” thick (6mm). examples of approved leveling materials are cardboard, foam core, Masonite, MDF, plywood, plexiglass, and fibreglass.

Structures MUST be supported internally and externally by canned food and/ or beverage cans between leveling materials.

Props:

Props may be used; however, it is best to solve design problems with food items (if you must use props try to make them out of food items such as tea or coffee bags, condiment packets, etc.). Lighting, mirrors, electronic devices are acceptable but may reduce a structure’s chance at winning the International Competition.

Theme:
Open for all themes to be chosen by the teams.

Structures will be on display for the public to vote on the People’s Choice award up until June 1st.

On June 2nd the SSVP and the volunteers will deCANstruct® the structures and move the food to the various conferences/special works (food banks/ warehouse) for dispersal to those in need.

The plan is that any sculpture’s canned food items will remain in the community from which it originated. As the Society has 27 conferences/special works across the county and the city this will be able to ensure teams that the food will return to their local neighbourhoods.