Canstruction Waterloo Region returns to Conestoga Mall during March Break, March 8 to 16. The week-long event—hosted by The Food Bank of Waterloo Region— increases awareness about food insecurity in our community, raises food and funds in support of The Food Bank, and brings local businesses and community groups together to use their creativity to help build a future without hunger.

Once again, this year’s event is presented by Cohen Highley Law Firm, a multidisciplinary law firm that provides exceptional legal services to personal and corporate clients throughout Ontario. Their dedication to success not only spans 50 years but also extends beyond the court/board room and into the community. As the presenting sponsor for Canstruction, Cohen Highley is helping to ensure that no one in Waterloo region goes hungry.

“We’re a part of the larger community here in Kitchener-Waterloo and we want to lead by example,” explains Aesha Patel, a lawyer at Cohen Highley. “We’ve had success in the community, we’re a growing firm, and any opportunity we can get to give back is something we’re always willing to do. It’s a cause that’s near and dear to our hearts. We’ve been sponsoring Canstruction for a while now and it’s something that’s important for us to be a part of.”

To help fight hunger in our community, 15 teams are participating in Canstruction, putting their talent and skills to the test to build awe-inspiring structures using more than 35,000 unopened cans of food! All the food used in the structures is donated to The Food Bank and then distributed to the 54 organizations in the Community Food Assistance Network that provide direct food support to the more than 73,600 people in Waterloo region accessing food assistance.

Aesha and Stephanie Sutherland, another lawyer at Cohen Highley, joined our panel of judges to help hand out awards for Best Original Design, Structural Ingenuity, Best Use of Labels, Most Cans, Best Meal, and Judges’ Favourite.

“The structures were incredibly impressive,” Stephanie says. “Very creative. You can tell that the teams really put a lot of thought into their builds.”

But they’re not the only ones who get to judge the structures. The public will also determine an award winner. Between March 8 and 16, community members can visit the mall, view the structures, and donate to The Food Bank to vote for their favourite build. The structure with the most votes wins the People’s Choice Award. Every dollar donated can help provide two meals for someone facing hunger.

Both Aesha and Stephanie encourage residents in Waterloo region to check out Canstruction.

“We’re glad that we can participate in something that helps residents in Waterloo region,” Stephanie says. “The fact that about 25,000 kids live in a food-insecure household is heartbreaking. I like that we’re doing a little bit to help give back and make sure that people in the region are able to eat and get the food that they need.”

To see all the structures, be sure to drop by Conestoga Mall between March 8 and 16 and donate to The Food Bank to vote for your favourite build to help decide the People’s Choice Award. You can also donate to vote online.

To learn more about The Food Bank’s sponsorship opportunities and how your business can help ensure no one in our community goes hungry, visit our website or contact our development officers, Shannon Jaklitsch at shannonj@thefoodbank.ca and Chris White at chrisw@thefoodbank.ca.