January 7, 2013

Canada’s National Gingerbread Showcase raises more than $16,000 for Habitat for Humanity Victoria

Jan. 7, 2012, Victoria, BC - Canada's National Gingerbread Showcase, the fourth annual event held at Victoria's Inn at Laurel Point, has raised $16,097 for Habitat for Humanity Victoria - more than three times the amount collected in 2011.

Fans of Gingerbread houses flocked to the annual display and donated while voting on their favourite design. Fittingly, all the funds raised are used to support Habitat for Humanity Victoria and its efforts to make affordable homeownership possible for low-income families living in the Victoria region. Voting reached a feverish pitch when images of the creative gingerbread homes went viral on blogs and even got picked up by ABC News. For images of the gingerbread houses, visit www.laurelpoint.com/photos.

And with more than 4,000 votes cast "Up, Up & Away" by Vicki Prince with DFH Real Estate Ltd. was declared the winner of the 2012 People's Choice Award. Prince joins Children's Choice winner Chef Nikolai Miller of the Blue Crab Bar & Grill; Kick-off Kudos and Professional category winner Wendy Okopski of the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa; and Amateur category winner Sarah Jones, Love One Hair Studio.

"Our goal is to celebrate Canada's creative professional and amateur chefs and this year we feel we have truly thrown down the gauntlet," says Ian Powell, managing director of Inn at Laurel Point. "Next year we hope to expand to include chefs from across the Canada knowing they get exposure and the opportunity to support a very worth cause."

About Inn at Laurel Point
Inn at Laurel Point is an elegant, Pacific Rim-inspired waterfront hotel located downtown on Victoria's Inner Harbour. It was the first carbon-neutral hotel in BC and, Condé Nast Traveler has rated the Inn as one of the top 25 hotels in Canada. For more information about Inn at Laurel Point, visit www.laurelpoint.com.

About Habitat for Humanity Victoria
Habitat for Humanity Victoria works in conjunction with Habitat organizations from around the globe to create a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. The organization believes in housing for all, human dignity, partnership, diversity and inclusiveness. The charity works to achieve these objectives by mobilizing volunteers and community partners to help build affordable homes for purchase by local hard-working, low-income families in the Greater Victoria region. For more information, visit www.habitatvictoria.com.

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Note to editors: High resolution images of the gingerbread houses are available

Media Contacts:
Brian Cant, Tartan Group: 250-592-3838 or brian@tartangroup.ca
Avril Matthews, Inn at Laurel Point: 250-414-6731 or avril.matthews@laurelpoint.com

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