Edmonton's developers, builders, architects, designers, engineers, and planners are constantly working to shape the future of the city. Although each discipline has specific roles and obligations, collectively, their job is to determine how buildings that are implanted into Edmonton's urban fabric address the surrounding streetscape, strengthen the public realm, and impact view corridors, among other major civic issues. For the seventh year in a row, Edmonton's city-builders have the opportunity to imagine their own innovative new structures — in edible form. The 7th Annual GingerCane Gingerbread House Design Contest, organized by Evans 2 Design Group, invites the new home building industry to trade in their pencils and drafting tables for fondant and colourful candies as they fashion creative gingerbread masterpieces.

The finished 'Santa's Place,' image by Forum contributor Das Ponto

The contest, which is conducted entirely online, opened on November 28 and will close on December 15. The entries with the highest number of votes — serving as donations to the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation and Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation — will be declared the winners. The top three teams in the 'Corporate' and 'Kids Only' categories will receive the 'Sweet Award.'

Santa Claus hoists the Stanley Cup, image by Forum contributor Das Ponto

SkyriseEdmonton's very own Forum contributor Das Ponto, along with his colleagues at Select Engineering Consultants Ltd., has created a delicious-looking reproduction of Rogers Place, with some playful alterations to the landmark arena. Santa Claus has replaced Wayne Gretzky at the front of the venue, hoisting the Stanley Cup high as the Edmonton Oilers logo adorns the rooftop. The 'Select Sweets' team has also brilliantly renamed the facility 'Santa's Place.'

An edible version of the Select Engineering Consultants logo, image by Forum contributor Das Ponto

You can keep track of the contest standings, which are refreshed every minute, and vote online at this link. The contest has been favourable to Select Engineering Consultants in their previous three years of participation — the group has won each time and hope to complete the sweep this go around. Their past entries are pictured below.

House with Street Scaping was Select's 2015 submission, image by Forum contributor Das Ponto

The 2014 entry depicted Frozen's Ice Castle, image by Forum contributor Das Ponto

Gru's House from 'Despicable Me' was submitted in 2013, image by Forum contributor Das Ponto