OTTAWA, December 3, 2004 -- The third annual Gingerbread House Competition will be held December 3, 4, and 5 at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's (CMHC) Montreal Road Offices. The MP for Ottawa-Vanier, the Honourable Mauril Bélanger, will attend the closing ceremony December 5 and present the winners their awards around 2.00 p.m.The design competition, a joint partnership between CMHC and the National Capital Habitat for Humanity, is aiming for 70 – 80 houses this year. This will surpass last year's 28, with three Ottawa School Boards participating this year. The purpose of the event is to raise funds to contribute to Habitat for Humanity's efforts to build homes in the National Capital area.Ottawa businesses, the region's bakeries, as well as CMHC employees, will show off their baking and design skills to build a, "Gingerbread Village", complete with electric train traveling through the winter scene. The public is invited to view the houses in CMHC's main lobby December 4 and 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Winners of the Gingerbread House Contest will be selected by a panel of judges representing CMHC, Habitat for Humanity, and the media. They will determine who wins first, second, and third prize in both the student and adult categories. In addition, a "People's Choice" award will be voted on by the general public.Offers can be made on the gingerbread houses by participating in a silent auction, held until December 5 at 3:00 p.m., from which all proceeds will be donated to Habitat for Humanity — National Capital Region.Public and media are invited to take part in the event by supporting this worthy cause and helping judge the gingerbread homes. - 30 - For further information please call:André RobichaudCMHC-SCHL(613) 748-5122arobicha@cmhc-schl.caJannine AtkinsonHabitat for Humanity(613) 749-9950 ext.223www.habitat.ca
