GingerCane returns for 17th year with more than $400000 raised for children's hospitals

E2 + Associates is opening registration Nov. 1 for the 17th edition of GingerCane, a gingerbread competition where public donations decide the winners and every dollar goes to children's hospitals. Since 2010, the event has raised more than $400,000 for three Canadian hospital foundations.

Why it matters: - GingerCane turns a design competition into a fundraiser for children's hospitals in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. - Every dollar donated to a build counts as one vote, so community participation directly drives both the contest and the fundraising total. - Since 2010, the event has raised more than $400,000 for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.

What happened: - E2 + Associates is opening registration for GingerCane on Nov. 1 for its 17th year. - The Calgary architecture and land development firm runs the annual gingerbread design competition. - Teams build with gingerbread, candy, cookies, crackers, icing, Rice Krispie squares and other materials. - The public chooses winners by donating online. - The competition covers three categories: industry professionals, the general public and kids. - Registration is open to companies, families, groups of friends, classrooms or individuals. - No baking experience is required.

The details: - Public voting starts Nov. 23 at registration and details and closes Dec. 16. - Voting happens entirely online. - Teams can build anywhere they can find a flat surface, including kitchen tables, lunchrooms and boardrooms in Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg. - The kids category is judged separately and has its own prize. - Past team names have included Dough-glas Homes, the Uncle Phil-anthropists, Melcor Sweet Developments and Candy Cane Creations. - Voting closes at a public reception at E2 + Associates’ studio at 1043 19 Avenue SE in Ramsay on the evening of Dec. 16. - Winners and the year’s total are announced at the reception. - Results are published Dec. 17. - Seventeen years of builds, totals and team names are collected at GingerCane impact. - E2 + Associates was founded in Calgary in 1986 and marks its 40th anniversary this year. - The firm works in architecture, development consulting and land intelligence and operates in more than 75 communities across Western Canada.

Between the lines: - GingerCane blends community event, charity drive and industry showcase into one annual competition. - The event’s format keeps the barrier to entry low, which likely helps draw both professional and amateur teams. - The public-voting model gives donors a visible role in the outcome while directing money to hospital needs. - The children’s hospital foundations frame the fundraiser around equipment, family support, research and specialized care.

What's next: - Registration begins Nov. 1 at gingercane.com. - Public voting opens Nov. 23 and runs through Dec. 16. - The winning builds and fundraising total will be revealed at the Dec. 16 reception and posted Dec. 17. - E2 + Associates and the hospital foundations will continue promoting the event through the registration period.

The bottom line: - GingerCane is a seasonal competition with a clear charitable payoff: the more the public donates, the more money goes to children's hospitals.