În her first foray into the amateur gingerbread building competition Amy Rice rose to the occasion, scoring the coveted People’s Choice Award.
The Greater Victoria baker also earned Best Use of Skill and Technique for her entry titled Christmas at Home in the 16th Annual Gingerbread Showcase – a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity Victoria.
Presented in partnership with Peninsula Co-op, and hosted for the second year by the Hotel Grand Pacific, the event raised a record-breaking $125,235 to support Habitat’s mission to provide home ownership options for area residents.
The more than 18,300 votes cast for the People’s Choice Award seem to indicate the bakers brought to life this year’s theme, Through a Child’s Eyes.
Rice received the blue ribbon, a prize package from Hotel Grand Pacific and bragging rights in her first time entering the showcase.
During the November kick-off, judges also named The Power of Imagination by Jessica Hoehne as Best First Impression. Best Interpretation of the Theme went to Can't See the Tree for the Presents by the team of Elspeth Rodger, Pamela Parton, Deb and Lily Alfawicki as well as Patricia and Elizabeth Hardcastle. Most Creative and Original went to Green Thumbs from Outer Space by Jude Somers, and Sarah Rachel Hoffman earned Most Diverse Use of Ingredients for the entry Boundless Imagination.
Alongside the bragging rights, the annual tradition raises funds for Habitat Victoria which has built 34 homes and served 39 families in the Capital Regional District since inception in 1990. Through volunteer service, funding support and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds safe and affordable houses which are then sold to qualifying partner families and financed with affordable mortgages.
Learn more about the organization at habitatvictoria.com.
