Canstruction®
Helping Wear Out Can Openers Since 1992.
Canstruction® Calgary brings together teams of engineers, designers, architects and builders to create extraordinary structures out of non-perishable food items. The structures are judged, exhibited to the public and then de-canstructed, with food going to the Calgary Food Bank. Each year, there is a theme that teams must base their design around. Since 2006, this event has provided nearly 480,468 pounds of food to needy Calgarians. Canstruction® Calgary is the local chapter of Canstruction, a global anti-hunger project founded by the Society for Design Administration, an affiliate organization of the American Institute of Architects. The event is held in more than 50 cities across North America.

BUILD DAY
OXFORD Properties Witches CAN Ghouls
October 5, 2023, at Eau Claire Tower – 600 3 Ave SW
STRUCTURES ARE ON DISPLAY FROM OCOTBER 6 TO 19, 2023
October 2023 Fast Facts
pounds of food
teams
number of cans
BUILD DAY
Alice in WonderCAN
March 16, 2023 at Southcentre Mall
Structures are on display from March 16 to 30,2023
March 2023 Fast Facts
pounds of food
teams
number of cans
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is this going to cost?
The entry fee is $100 which is not tax deductible. This money supports the event itself. The remaining cost to the team is the cans of food. If you decide to purchase the cans, estimate $1 to $2 per can. Other options are employee food drives, joint venture with other firms, employee “loonie” donations.
Can we practice beforehand?
Can we have more than five people involved?
Ok, I’m in. Now what?
After you submit your $100 entry fee, start building your team and planning your design. Sculptures can range from about 1,000 cans to 10,000 cans. Think about colour and structural support. Tip: stacking single cans 8 feet high will not work. One single large-scale piece might work better than multiple smaller efforts.
- Brainstorm some ideas. Or get inspired … google “Canstruction” to see all kinds of cool designs. YouTube offers many time lapse videos as well.
- Plan your design. Create templates to assist with stacking.
- Experiment. Pre-build difficult aspects prior to build day to ensure they work.
- Challenge yourself and have fun. You will amaze your friends and coworkers (and you will be helping a great cause)!
Will this take a lot of time?
How do we find food for our team?
How do we get a tax receipt for the food?
Get In Touch
Contact Sarah Stephens email or call 403-253-2059 ext. 292